Being vegan has about as much to do with diet as gay rights has to do with parades. Sure, us vegans eat plants rather than animal “products” and some gay rights advocates have been known to throw pride parades. But these actions alone do not sum-up either movement.

That is, veganism is a social justice movement that stands against the exploitation of other-than-human animals just like gay rights is a social justice movement that stands against the exploitation of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community. Or, in other words, veganism strives to end speciesism and all its associated injustices just like gay rights strives to end heterosexism and all of its associated injustices.

Think, then Go Vegan and Support Gay Rights!

Zoos: The only prison where the inhabitants truly are all innocent.

Think, then Go Vegan!

Atheists do not believe in supreme beings commonly referred to as gods. Vegans do not believe other-than-human animals exist merely to serve human needs. That is, vegans believe nonhuman animals exist for the same reasons we do—their own.

Is there a common bond between atheism and veganism? I believe so and I suggest it is doubt. That is, in a society such as here in the USA where “more than 9 in 10 Americans continue to believe in God“, doubt is at the heart of what helps turn a believer or likely believer into a non-believer.

From my perspective, the same goes for veganism. In a world where other-than-humans are routinely thought of as things to be bought, sold, used, and possibly even killed for mostly trivial human needs, folks who think differently are a rarity. Once again, doubt, I believe, is key to acquiring this currently uncommon worldview.

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While walking to the grocery store today, I saw five of you running across my path. My initial thought was, “How awesome is this?” My secondary thought was, “I sure don’t see you guys all that much around here.” After that, my thoughts turned dark.

I couldn’t shake the realization that if I were someone else, I might be thinking, “Deer, tasty”, “Damn, I wish I had my gun”, and other even more disturbing things. Or, thoughts such as, “I need to feed my family, so ….” The same kind of pathetic excuse making that results in people robbing liquor stores and banks all the while feeling guiltless.

Then it hit me, this is the kind of world we live in. A world were humans can pretty much do whatever they wish to other-than-humans and not only get away with it, but get praise from those around them as well. For example, I don’t even want to tell you what some humans do with your heads, but take note, if they did the same with human heads they’d be locked away in prison for a very long time or worse.

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If YOU stand for Justice—Stand Tall—Be Vegan!

Think, then Go Vegan!

The truth will set you free. But first, it will piss you off.
~ Gloria Steinem

People can change for the better when they run out of excuses. Feeding folks lies about how slavery can be made acceptable adds to the non-vegan community’s bevy of excuses. Whereas telling them the truth, that slavery is always wrong, helps reduce their excuses to a whimper. Thus, if you really want to help end slavery, always tell the truth no matter how bitter the pill is perceived (by YOU) to swallow.

Think, then Go Vegan!

Being vegan isn’t about doing something “hip” or “cool”, it’s about doing something right rather than wrong.

Think, then Go Vegan!