Why should vegans lie to non-vegans about the virtues of abstaining from one kind of product of exploitation (i.e., flesh) but not all others (i.e., forced use, skin, secretions, blood, bones, etc.)? Veganism hits at the heart of the matter. That is, veganism makes the statement that slavery is wrong. Vegetarianism, on the other hand, simply states that slaves should be used to death just like any other form of non-veganism.
Think, then Go Vegan!
I’m an atheist because I do not believe in superior beings and I am vegan because I don’t believe in inferior ones either.
Think, then Go Vegan!
It shouldn’t matter what other human or nonhuman animals do or do not do. All that should matter is what YOU do and how YOU feel when you do it. I for one am vegan—which means I do my very best each day to avoid exploiting others (humans and nonhumans alike)—because it makes me feel like I am making a difference in this world by standing up for the rights of others not to be slaves. And I truly believe I am making a difference. As Gandhi said, “Be the change you want to see in the world.”
Think, then Go Vegan!
I think of an ex-vegan like I think of an ex-nonracist or ex-nonsexist. That is, the idea of them having ever been truly non-discriminatory seems extremely far-fetched.
Think, then Go Vegan!
VEGANISM: That thing you do when you finally start taking the rights of others seriously.
Think, then Go Vegan!
Being vegan is far different than just eating like one.
Think, then Go Vegan!
Why am I vegan? That’s simple. I am vegan because it’s wrong to exploit others.
Think, then Go Vegan!
Veganism is NOT about how easy or hard it is for YOU, it’s about every animal’s right not to be used as a slave.
Think, then Go Vegan!
During the days of the Bush administration, I could be found at various protests wearing my Bush mask, a Guantanamo Bay orange colored jumpsuit, fake handcuffs, and a sign that read “War Criminal” on one side and “Impeach Me” on the other. My goal was to focus the public’s attention on the serious allegations being brought against then President George W. Bush and his cohorts. When I got someone’s attention I always tried to be clear about my goal of wanting to see Bush, Cheney, Rice, et al., investigated to the fullest extent of the law and, if found guilty, dealt with appropriately.
During that time I monitored what other folks were saying regarding the matter. Sadly, even though many would talk about the allegations held against Bush and his buddies, they would hardly ever say anything about taking them to court and almost 100 percent of the time concluded with they’ll never be held accountable.
Well, I think we all know what happened—absolutely nothing. That is, Bush, Cheney, et al. walked out of the White House as free as they came in. Why? My guess is that although there existed (and continues to exist) evidence to, at the very least, get them into a court of law, it was all the negative chatter that helped suppress what could have been a huge public outcry if only we had had a unified voice calling for justice.
There are several roads to veganism and many individual views of it, but veganism is one thing and one thing only—a way of living which avoids exploitation whether it be of our fellow men, the animal population, or the soil upon which we all rely for our very existence.
~ Eva Batt (1964)
One can only guess how many more vegans there would be in the world today if in 1964 the majority of vegans took Eva’s simple yet powerfully clear message of what it means to be vegan to the non-vegan masses and continued to do so up to current times. My guess is a lot more. Sadly, instead, the majority of vegans took a different route. A route that has cost the lives of billions upon billions of sentient beings by suggesting one can exploit “humanely” thereby enabling folks to guiltlessly remain non-vegan. Or by suggesting that being vegetarian, one who continues to use other animals for everything except their flesh, is somehow morally different than any other non-vegan.
The good news is that each of us can reevaluate what we are saying to the non-vegan public and if we find we’re not being as clear as Eva was, we can change our message for the betterment of all.
Think, then Go Vegan!
