The North Carolina State University College of Humanities and Social Sciences joins with the Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies to announce a workshop celebrating Professor Tom Regan’s contributions to ethical theory. The meeting is open to the public but seating is limited and available only on a first-come first-served basis. The gathering will be on the North Campus in Raleigh, NC, Withers Hall, room 331, on April 15 and 16.
In support of the festive occasion we invite well-wishers to leave greetings in the box below for Tom, seen here speaking at The Royal Institution, the world’s oldest independent research organization.
1. Fill in your name and email address. We do not make your address public; we use it to send you a message confirming that we’ve received your submission.
2. Copy and paste your remarks into the white box marked ‘Leave a Reply.’
3. Click on ‘Submit Comment.’
That’s it. Note that comments cannot be edited after posting, so please ensure that you’ve gotten things just the way you’d like them before pasting them into the box. You’ll receive a notice that your comment awaits moderation.
Congratulations Tom!
I remember the first time I met you, I knew instantly that I was in the presence of a rare and remarkable human being. It is impossible to adequately thank you for the good you have done in this world. Your wisdom, courage and integrity set a powerful example for all of us. Albert Schweitzer is one of my great heroes of the past. You are one of my great heroes of the present.
What a joy to hear that your contributions are being celebrated. I have no doubt that your teachings will continue to be celebrated for many generations to come.
With kindest wishes,
Brenda Davis
Tom,
You rekindled my love for Philosophy and appreciation for critical analysis. One of my greatest experiences at North Carolina State University is the course that you hosted for First Year Inquiry. It was my great pleasure to be a part of that course along with the other wonderful people that shared in the experience. Thank you for the opportunity of allowing me to have that time (and to present in Hawaii). What ever accolades come your way, they are well earned and truly well deserved. My very best wishes to you and to Nancy.
Brenda
A big hug from Italy to Tom and Nancy
with my most sincere thanks for what have you done for me during my Ph.D,
and infinite thanks your for your never ending inspiration concerning human and nonhuman liberation.
Yours sincerely
Alex
Brigitte and Isolde from Berlin Germany – Antivivisectionists
Congratulations Tom
For the first time we met Tom and Nancy in Berlin in 2000. Tom gave a lecture on animal rights. He was brilliant and very convincing.
Wie had the privilege to meet them again, on several occasions. It has always been an wonderful experience.
Tom and Nancy are deeply enclosed in our hearts.
Dear Tom,
My warmest congratulations on this occasion.
As a researcher in human-animal studies and as a person concerned with animal rights, I wish to thank you for your fundamental contribution to the cause. It made history.
My warmest and best wishes to you and Nancy.
Sabrina Tonutti – Italy
Hi, Tom and Nancy. Congratulations on all of your achievements! Your work on animal rights was my personal inspiration, Tom. Thank you, more than I can say! Many, many nonhuman animals would thank you too if they could post comments.
Warmest wishes to you both,
Evelyn Pluhar
Dear Tom and Nancy,
Thank you for all of your tireless work on behalf of human and non-human animals. It was wonderful to meet you both in Raleigh for the first ASI summer fellowship, and continually wonderful to see you again at other conferences.
All the best,
Liz Cherry
Tom and Nancy,
Congratulations on a great career and lives well-lived. I was impressed that Tom auto-reconsidered his position on animal experimentation in the revised edition of his wonderful book The Case for Animal Rights. I particularly love that Tom and Nancy, following Einstein’s dictum that the arts are more important than the sciences, have established a wonderful foundation to nurture creative expressions of animal awareness and transformation.
Warmest wishes,
John T. Maher
Prof. Animal Law
Touro Law Center
Central Islip, NY
Dear Tom: A well deserved honor! I can only thank you for being part of my life–for acting as a springboard for my getting “Students for the Ethical Treatment of Animals” off the ground at Harvard many years ago. May you have many more productive years of working on behalf of animals!
Dear Tom,
I left you a message of warm congratulations and best wishes yesterday. I hope you received it. Your Case for Animal Rights is the basis for all of our Movement’s work on behalf of animals and animal rights. Thank you for your continuing inspiration.
For the birds & all animals,
Karen Davis, PhD, President
United Poultry Concerns
Congratulations Nancy and Tom!
Your struggle is ours.
Your work is our inspiration.
Your comittment is unparalleled.
All the best!
Happy celebration!
Paola Segurini – Italy
Tom:
Think back to that fall in the late 1980s when three young housewives showed up in your moral philosophy class! So inexperienced in the realm of critical thinking. So unprepared for the life-long impact you would make on our lives.
I am grateful for that experience to this day and expect I will be for the rest of my life. I am also grateful that…..besides shaking up my dormant brain cells that semester, I gained two wonderful personal friends as well. Such a deal!
Please know that you have Bill’s and my deepest admiration and that we are adding our congratulations to all the others extented to you and Nancy on this special occasion.
Fondly, Carolyn (and Bill) Schwartz
Congrats Tom — you deserve it!
Blessings,
Jan
President, God’s Creatures Ministry
When I become distressed over the mistreatment of animals that parallels human existence, I am comforted by the counterforce of your influence on human thought, feelings, and action. Your ideas – enhanced by your charismatic personality and by your inspiring partnership with Nancy – are expanding like an ocean.
Thank you.
I was introduced to your work through gifts of your books from my mother, Jane Cullen. I then used your work as a source for a paper on Animal Rights for a Business Ethics course in graduate school, which at the time seemed to surprise some in my class. Having heard you speak in person, and revisited your websites often, I also enjoy introducing others to your work and your ideas. Thank you for being an inspiration to those of us struggling to find ways to make the world better through caring for those who cannot speak for themselves.
Dearest Tom,
Congratulations on this very special occasion! Generations to come will marvel at your great works and that you were so far ahead of your time. I am deeply grateful to you, and to Nancy, for being such an inspiration to me personally and to so many others as we continue to work for animal rights. I learned the meaning of animal rights means from you and continue to gather strength from that. I love and admire you both so much, you truly “walk the talk” and in such a profound way. You are heroes in this world, to so many of us and if the animals could send you a message, you are their heroes also.
With much love and congratulations!
Peggy
Thank you for your amazing gifts which you have generously shared with all.
Kathie Nelson
Portland Oregon
Congratulations, Tom. You will go down in history as one of the great pioneers of human moral progress. Your groundbreaking contributions to moral philosophy are not just a magnificent intellectual accomplishment, they have done, are doing, and will continue to do inestimable good for all beings who suffer and die at the hands of the human race.
All the best to you and Nancy,
Norm Phelps
Very best wishes to you, Tom, and much gratitude for creating a vision of a better world, and a map to get there. You have already saved countless lives and more yet to come, and enriched in so many ways the lives of your listeners and readers. Blessings.
Tom,
I became vegetarian in 1993 because I was concerned about damage to the environment from the overfishing of oceans and deforestation for grazing land. Animal Rights were, admittedly, not part of my reasoning for this life decision.
Fast forward to 1997, the year I was introduced to a beautiful, incredibly intelligent law student. After enjoying a couple of meals together, we realized that the neither one of us had eaten any animal products on our dates. In other words, we both realized that the other was vegetarian. This realization opened up a whole new world to our relationship. She started to expose me to the basics of moral philosophy and specifically to Animal Rights. After introducing me to her parents, she dragged me to my first AR conference (certainly a standard chain of events in every American courtship!). In the end, by her influence, the rationale for my lifestyle and dietary choices expanded to a more complete state. She had profoundly changed my life.
I married that incredible woman, who just happens to be your daughter. Thank you for Karen, and for welcoming me into your family nearly eleven years ago. Your work will outlive us all, not just through your writings, but through your grandchildren, who will pass it on to their children’s children.
Love,
Jon
Thank you, Tom and Nancy
April 15, 2011
Congratulations!
How fitting to celebrate 35 years of your work that has changed so many minds and hearts to cultivate a relationship with animals based on respect, compassion and justice.
You have inspired and renewed the commitment of many advocates in their own work on behalf of animals.
Truly the world is a better place because of the two of you.
More than a score of years has passed since I had the honor of working with you on
The Declaration of the Rights of Animals
that was presented on the steps of the Capitol in 1990.
This document has helped to define, inspire and unify our movement.
Thank you.
I am sure that there are numerous people who will write with greater eloquence, but my simple note is truly heartfelt. The most apropos words for me at the moment are inspired from Stephen Schwarz’s musical “Wicked”:
“I’ve heard it said that people come into our lives for a reason,
Bringing something we must learn
And we are led to those who help us most to grow if we let them and we help them in return…
But I know I’m who I am today because I knew you…
So much of me is made of what I learned from you
You’ll be with me like a handprint on my heart
And now whatever way our stories end I know you have re-written mine by being my friend…
Who can say if I’ve been changed for the better? I do believe I have been
And because I knew you…I have been changed for good!”
And if I could be with you today I would raise a glass in honor of you both, Nancy and Tom:
May love and laughter light your days,
And warm your heart and home.
May good and faithful friends be yours,
Wherever you may roam.
May peace and plenty bless your world
With joy that long endures.
May all life’s passing seasons
Bring the best to you and yours!
Fondly,
Peggy Cunniff
National Anti-Vivisection Society
Dad,
Let me add my voice to the chorus by thanking you and Mom. You have taught me many, many things throughout the years – not the least of which is compassion for all living animals and what it means to a live a life with the courage of one’s conviction. I cannot think of anyone I respect more than you and I am truly blessed to have you as my Dad.
With limitless love and heartfelt congratulations on this special occasion, Karen
Congratulations, Tom!
Thanks a lot changing lifes of human and non-human animals.
With respect and love
Christiane Neuhaus
Berlin, Germany
Dear Tom (and Nancy),
Congratulations for this well-deserved recognition, and belated thanks for all you have done towards awakening humankind from its long slumber when it comes to thinking about animals. Ever since discovering an essay titled “The Moral Basis for Vegetarianism” as a graduate student at the Carleton University library (Ottawa) in 1985, my work for animals has been driven and inspired by the absolute moral imperative that undelies the cause we share. I look forward to the next time our paths cross (it’s already been far too long since last time!).
With love and deep respect,
Jonathan Balcombe
Dear All,
We were so overwhelmed by the love you sent to both of us. If ever there has been an occasion when words fail us, this is it. We plan to collect your messages in a way that befits their beauty and to treasure them for the rest of our lives. Thank you, one and all.
With all good wishes to all of you.
— Nancy and Tom
Well deserved my friend – take care and be well and know you’ve made a HUGE difference for all animals, non-human and otherwise – peace and love, marc
You shall never know the difference you have made in so many lives including mine. When I count my blessings I count you twice.
Your Friend,
Harold Brown
Greetings Tom,
Thank you for laying down such a solid philosophical foundation. I have confidence in the continual evolution of mankind, and your work marks a turning point towards the path of the inevitable future where humankind recognizes the inherent rights of animals. Thank you for all that you have done, and will continue to do. You are an inspiration on so many levels.
Best,
Peter Keller
Northwest Animal Rights Network
As a non-philosopher, I can only observe with gratification the continuing intellectual debate illustrated by the arguments to which Tom forcefully replies in his Preface to the Second Edition.
By responding so vigorously and brilliantly to the points raised by other philosophers, he fends off arguments that, by providing respectable cover, could serve to abet animal abuse in its myriad forms.