I choose not to participate in the exploitation of others

Several years ago I heard through the grapevine (i.e., office gossip) that a workmate of mine took public transport to work rather than his own car. I got so excited being that I too had kicked the car habit years before thanks in part to Al Gore’s 2006 documentary film entitled An Inconvenient Truth.

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!