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There have been several
key points in the evolution
of Vegan Outreach, with an important
one being the publication of the
essay On Being Vegan. In
preparation for this summer's new
version of our Vegan Starter
Kit (which will now be titled
Guide to Cruelty-Free Eating),
we have revised this essay, and
are presenting it here.
Cowardice
asks the question, 'Is it safe?'
Expediency asks the question, 'Is
it politic?'
Vanity asks the question, 'Is it
popular?'
But conscience asks the question,
'Is it right?'
And there comes a point when one
must take a position that is
neither safe, nor politic, nor popular,
but one must take it because one's
conscience tells one that
it is right.
-Martin Luther King, Jr.
Choosing Compassion
What we choose to eat makes a powerful
statement about our ethics and our
view of the world -- about our very
humanity. By not buying meat, eggs,
and dairy products, we withdraw
our support from cruelty to animals,
undertake an economic boycott of
factory farms, and support the production
of cruelty-free foods.
Choosing to act with compassion
is the ultimate affirmation of our
humanity. From children and athletes
to celebrities and grandparents,
compassionate living is spreading
-- and easier than ever! Today,
even small-town grocery stores can
feature a variety of veggie burgers,
dogs, deli slices, plant-based milks,
nondairy desserts -- a bounty unimaginable
only a decade ago!
Opposing Cruelty: A Results-Based
Approach
When you first discover the reality
of modern animal agriculture, avoiding
all products from factory farms
might seem too big a change. But
don't be overwhelmed -- just take
small steps. For example, you could
eliminate meat from certain meals
or on certain days. As you get used
to eating less meat and find alternatives
you enjoy, it may become easier
to eliminate meat altogether.
At some point, you might decide
to try to root out every product
associated with modern animal agriculture.
But some type of connection can
be found everywhere if one looks
hard enough. Some examples are organic
foods (manure used as fertilizer),
bicycles (animal fat used in the
vulcanization of tires), books (hooves
and bones in binding glue), roads
and buildings (animal products used
in curing concrete), and even water
(bone char used for filtration by
some water treatment plants).
Ultimately, living with compassion
means striving to maximize the good
we accomplish, not following a set
of rules or trying to fit a certain
label. From eating less meat to
being vegan, our actions are only
a means to an end: decreasing suffering.
For this reason, we believe that
the consequences of our actions
should guide our choices. Oftentimes,
there's more to consider than whether
or not an item is completely animal-free.
For example, it can be prohibitively
expensive and time-consuming to
shun every minor or hidden animal-derived
ingredient. More importantly, avoiding
an ever-increasing list of these
ingredients can make us appear obsessive
and lead others to believe that
compassionate living is impossible.
This defeats our purpose: ending
cruelty to animals!
Our desire to oppose and help end
cruelty to animals can help guide
our choices, as well as provide
a simple, easy-to-understand explanation
of our actions. The question isn't,
"Is this vegan?" but,
"What is best for preventing
suffering?"
Dealing with Others
When you share your new discoveries
and ideas, some friends and family
members may not only show resistance,
but might even react with mockery
or anger. In order to prevent suffering,
however, we must let the compassion
we feel for animals shine through
the pain and anger we feel about
what happens to them in factory
farms and industrial slaughterhouses.
Unless others can respect us --
as opposed to finding us cold and
judgmental -- they will have little
interest in taking steps to end
cruelty to animals.
Instead of expecting others to
change immediately, we need to be
understanding, giving everyone time
to consider the realities of factory
farms on their own time and within
their unique situations. Burning
bridges with anger only serves to
create enemies and feed the stereotype
that vegans are self-righteous.
Although it may be tempting to
get into arguments about our prehistoric
ancestors' diet, the simplest statement
can be the most powerful: "I
know that I don't want to suffer.
Therefore, I don’t want to cause
others to suffer."
As long as we remain respectful,
our positive example and the information
we provide will ultimately be the
 best
voice for the animals.
Vegan
Outreach
P.O. Box 38492
Pittsburgh, PA 15238-8492
VO is a 501(c)(3) non-profit
organization; all donations
are tax-deductible. |
