selective compassion

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Sowing Seeds of Compassion

by Joanne Stepaniak

http://www.vegsource.org/joanne/seeds.htm

 

Compassion can be described as " empathy in action. " Vegans have not cornered the

market on compassion — there are many types of compassion and many ways to be

compassionate. However, most people construe compassion strictly in terms of

human-to-human interaction, and even then often only in light of certain groups.

For example, it's common to feel empathic towards children; victims of crime,

illness or tragedy; single mothers; the elderly; etc. However, some people who

express compassion for one group of humans may withhold it from another. For

instance, we may be compassionate towards our own ethnic group but not towards

someone else's. This does not in any way diminish or devalue the emotion itself

nor the positive outcomes it might proffer. Nevertheless, the compassion is

confined to a very limited segment of the population; and, consequently, its

ability to ignite inclusive and far-reaching social change is stymied.

 

There are some people or groups of people who do include non-humans in their

circle of compassion, but frequently this involves just a few specific " special

interest " animals (such as spotted owls, wolves, bears, tigers, elephants,

whales, etc.) who may be abused, threatened or endangered. Other people focus

their attention exclusively on domestic companion animals and issues related to

their safety, overbreeding and adoption. Although these pursuits are

unquestionably important, urgent, and have great merit, the scope of the

compassion is often relatively narrow.

 

There is a degree of irony in selectively applying compassion. It is as if there

were truth to the slogan George Orwell's characters in Animal Farm came to

believe, " All animals are created equal, but some are more equal than others. "

One example of this paradox is consumers who intentionally purchase

" dolphin-free " tuna (i.e. tuna fishes that were caught and killed without

injuring dolphins in the process). Their concern is solely for the dolphins

(apparently because they are mammals, like us) with no regard for the dead

tunas. Another illustration of incongruous compassion is a bird watcher who eats

poultry. Or an anti-abortionist who supports capital punishment. Or an animal

rights activist who wears leather.

 

The vegan ethic stands in stark contrast to convention because it applies

compassion indiscriminately. In theory, vegans are concerned about every group

or individual who is exploited, human or non-human. Although outsiders often

view vegan principles as being " strict, " they are in reality far less stringent

than they are consistent.

 

Implementing a compassionate perspective which embraces all Life is at the heart

of being vegan. On the surface, this precept sounds reasonable and

relatively easy to adopt. In practice, however, it can be quite daunting. Not

because there are individuals who are not worthy of respect and justice, but

because our cultural conditioning, prejudices and habits have trained us to

respond in predictable patterns of apathy and insensitivity.

 

To become wholly compassionate requires us to open our eyes and hearts, to

behold the pain and exploitation our culture obscures, to arouse deadened

emotions and rise above our egos. This is not an instantaneous transformation,

as most of us possess deep-seated intolerances that often reveal themselves only

after profound and deliberate examination of our innermost beliefs and feelings.

Compassion follows only when we come to perceive and value diversity, and when

we realize that the Life force flowing through us is no different than that

which flows through all others.

 

Being vegan does not automatically make us more tolerant, more open-minded, more

patient or more loving. However, since vegan principles strongly advocate

lifting the social veils of oppression, there is more incentive and opportunity

for vegans to grow in their compassion.

 

Oftentimes compassionate people become so enmeshed in their concern for others

that they forget about their own very real and equally valid needs. Because

veganism embraces all Life, it is essential that we include ourselves in our

circle of compassion. Sincerely honoring the vegan ethic dictates that we

respect and cherish who we are. Hence, taking time for our physical, emotional,

intellectual and spiritual needs is as crucial as all other vegan action.

Learning to accept or transform our shortcomings, and loving ourselves by caring

for our needs, not only makes us more compassionate activists, it makes us

happier, healthier and more fulfilled human beings.

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