Think, then Go Vegan!

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5. Vegan abolitionists tell it like it is

What does matter to me, is if the slave is sentient. That’s all that should matter to anyone who stands against slavery. Because, slavery is wrong. It hurts, it kills, and it cannot ever be made right. It can only be abolished.

As an abolitionist, I educate the public about the horrors of slavery and how we all need to do our part to end it. I feel that part is twofold—stop funding it and inspire others to do the same. Sure, there will be those who continue to support slavery. That is out of our hands. All we can do is change ourselves, educate the masses, and be living examples of what it means to be vegan abolitionists.

Think, then Go Vegan!

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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!

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In fact, the idea of an “animal lover” sounds rather odd to me. Seriously, who really loves all animals? Or, most likely to be more precise, who loves all nonhuman animals? Now, I’m sure there will be comments from folks who claim to love all animals, but I still think it’s an odd statement. First and foremost, how can someone love someone else (and we’re talking trillions of them here) who they’ve never met?

Secondly, what about ticks? Yes, they are animals just like humans, kittens, puppies, and baby seals are animals. Do “animal lovers” love ticks? All ticks? Because, if they don’t then the term “animal lover” needs to be downgraded to something less encompassing such as “loves some animals” which, of course, would apply to me as well.

Lastly, for me the term “animal lover” when used in the context of animal rights, or let’s just call it what it is—the other antislavery movement, sounds too much like what proslavers called abolitionists of the past. That is, back in the days when human slavery was all the rage, it was common for an antislavery advocate to be called an “‘N’ word lover” by those who supported slavery and was most certainly not meant as a compliment.

But, to each his/her own. Now, back to me. I may not love every human and nonhuman animal on this planet, but I most certainly respect them enough not to use them as slaves. Hence the reason I am vegan.

Being vegan, for me, simply means standing up against those who enslave others. That is, everyday I make an effort not to support industries that enslave, torture, and/or murder others regardless of who or what species they are. Why? That’s simple, I am vegan because slavery is wrong. Hey, now that would make an excellent quote.

Think, then Go Vegan!

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Think, then Go Vegan!

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I would rather fail in a cause that will ultimately succeed than succeed in a cause that will ultimately fail.
~ Woodrow Wilson

Think, then Go Vegan!

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Think, then Go Vegan!

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1. Denying their sentience and personhood

When I asked him about his mode of transport he snapped at me saying “I don’t have to take the bus I choose to take it”. I quickly extinguished the situation stating that I totally understood and had been using public transport for years.

This conversation of ours got me thinking. So many people will say, “Randy cannot eat that” or “Oh, that’s right, you can’t eat [or wear, etc.] this” in regards to my veganism. Almost as if they’re saying I’d have my vegan club card revoked if I ever dared to consume something non-vegan.

Thus, similar to my workmate who could have easily used his car to get to work, I choose not to participate in the exploitation of others. That is, it’s not that I cannot eat a burger made out of someone’s flesh, drink a cold glass of someone’s secretions, wear someone’s skin, etcetera—because I could anytime I want. It’s that I choose not to because that would mean I was obviously contributing towards the continuance of an industry that enslaves and uses others to death. An industry that I stand wholeheartedly against.

Think, then Go Vegan!

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The negro slaves of the South are the happiest, and, in some sense, the freest people in the world.
~ George Fitzhugh (1857)

Can you imagine someone saying this today? Sure, I can believe someone might utter this nonsense, but I cannot imagine many folks who would nod their heads in agreement. Interestingly, unlike today, in 1857 there were lots of people who agreed with George Fitzhugh. Remember, in 1857 slavery was not only legal but also supported by a wide variety of people.

So, what changed between now and then? Well, one thing for sure changed, that is the hearts and minds of the masses. That’s why most of us are repulsed by the idea of enslaving another human being. But how did this change come about? Might I suggest that the underlying factor to this change was people standing up for the rights of others not to be thought of as mere commodities—things—that could be used to death. People who, in some cases, gave their lives to the cause of eventual emancipation.

Why would these people do this? They themselves nor their loved ones were slaves. In fact, if they had just gone along with everyone else they most likely would have had much better lives. That is, the lives of most, if not all, antislavery folks were extremely arduous not to mention deadly.

I believe they did what they did because, before it was common amongst the masses, their hearts and minds had changed. They could no longer participate in an industry of enslavement and death. Thus, they just said “No!” to what most people hadn’t yet identified as the exploitation of others.

I ask you to think about this the next time you hear someone bravely say “No!” to the current day exploitation of others even if you yourself have not yet identified the particular act as exploitative and obviously wrong.

Think, then Go Vegan!

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Like everything human, justice is imperfect. It’s flawed. But it’s those very imperfections that separates us from the machines and maybe even makes us a species worth saving.
~ Doyle Franks, Battlestar Galactica

Why is it that we try so hard to prove we are separate from other animals (or in this case machines)? We seem to pick something we feel is uniquely human and then use it to prove our superiority. I find this hugely disturbing. Especially since we generally do this so that we can justify the horrific things we do to those we determine are inferior to us.

Think, then Go Vegan!

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