Animal Slavery

[sven]

That depends on what you mean by right. Before the slaves were emancipated in the USA, I believe slave holders had a legal right to own people as property. Do I believe that this was good from my etichal viewpont?

I'm speaking of morality or ethics.

No, not at all. I am a secular humanist, so I believe that we as human beings have to decide together what is acceptable human behavior. What I am trying to say is that humanity treats animals the way it does because it is able to. The opposition isn't strong enough to prevent it, and the animals obviously lack the ability. Those who are for animal rights must face a fait accompli type of situation that has been in place since human history began -- long before that, even.
Having a right and being right isn't always the same thing.

So, in your opinion, is human treatment of animals ethical?

In some cases: no. I'm not going to delve too deeply here, but one example is animal experiments in research that isn't necessary enough to humanity. (In my opinion, that is)
One example is in vitro fertilization research. I don't believe that it is a human right to have biological children of your own. It is more of a possibility. A lot of animals are experimented on and killed during this research -- I know this for a fact.
Empathy is a very important human trait. I believe the reason we think kittens are cute, for example, is that they remind us of our own young and defenceless. Being over-empathic can lead to problems, but lacking empathy is much worse.
I believe one of the causes of human suffering in the world today is that the leading 1% of the worlds population are empathically stunted, isolated and/or have psychopatic tendencies. Ironically, it is probably also these traits that have allowed them to reach the position they are in. (There are other people who suffer similarly, of course. Pedophiles come to mind).
Caring about the well being of animals is important, because it prevents us from becoming like those who cause much misery in the world, or have the power to improve life for all but choose not to. I do not believe that we should empathize so much with animals that we place their lives and well being over our own, however.