Animals don’t celebrate independence

As we celebrate the Fourth of July with friends, festivities and flags, basking in life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, let’s pause to consider those denied even the most basic freedoms — not just people, but animals.

Whether hunted in the wild, confined in laboratories, imprisoned in zoos or circuses, caught in traps or caged, raised and killed for their fur, skin. feathers, flesh, or byproducts, animals have no freedom!

Consider farmed animals: billions live in confinement, deprived of autonomy, dignity, and joy. Chickens never spread their wings, pigs never root in the soil, and cows never feel the sun on their bodies. They’re bred solely for exploitation — caged, mutilated, and killed, with no say in their fate.

If freedom is a value we truly cherish, shouldn’t it extend beyond our own species?

Choosing a plant-based lifestyle is one powerful way to put our values into action. On this Independence Day, let’s widen our circle of compassion. Liberation shouldn't stop with humans — it should include every living being who longs to live freely.

If the roles were reversed, wouldn’t we want the same?

Think about it.

Charlie Reutner

Cedar Rapids