transformational arguments

[Guest guest]

I had an interesting thing happen last night

or maybe I think its interesting but Im bored and no one

else is posting sooo.....

yeh last night my friend who is a

meater, asked me out of the blue as we were

walking to a party why I still wear my leather stuff.

I told her that I haven't actually purchased leather since I

became Vegan, and most leather (boots, gloves, jackets)

I have, Ive had for eons and I think it wasteful to throw it out. An animal died

for it

and Ive had it forever...

She suddenly suggested I wasn't very Vegan because I don't live like " KD Lang "

(leatherfree).

I pointed out that A) I'm not a spokesperson for MAC with thousands of dollars

to replace my whole wardrobe, B) I DID chose pleather over leather

in my last recent purchase and that its progress not perfection.

and C) Excuse me but don't you eat dead animals so aren't you contributing to

the problem?

This went on and on until I said " you know, I know I'm not perfect and I'm sure

you can find some

hypocrisies in my veganism, but really, as a person who eats dead animals,

how can you attack me for wearing a by product from an industry that YOU

fully support everytime you eat? Like what the fuck is your point??? " (I got

kinda mad)

This whole thing took me for a loop because this person and

I don't discuss our view on ethics around food (Please see Anthony's post on

" you can swat

flies and laugh about death... " ) but last night it all came out...she went on

for quite a bit

until I chose not to argue. I said to her " you can eat meat if you want, I don't

say anything about that

so why are you saying anything about my NOT eating it? "

Later she pointed out my hotheaded attitude about it all.

She wanted to know how deeply I felt or how far I held my views.

Its true I'm pretty vocal about my

veganism yet I realize its all part of the RAGE I feel after finding out the

SHAM of the whole MEAT and

DAIRY Industries lies and propaganda.

Its rage that I was so trusting of such inhumane practices - thinking that my

hamburgers etc

were somehow magically transformed into food from cow parts without harm or pain

to the animal.

Sorry about the rant, but I do have a point. The truth is that all my gentle

talk here and there

had been getting to her. She told Anji and I later that two nights ago, she was

preparing chicken,

and she could hear my voice saying " no thanks, I don't eat dead bodies " and she

couldn't do it.

She said she'd never thought about I that way before! (It being a DEAD BODY)

She said she got grossed out and threw the

dead chickens body away. She even talked to her roommate about the conditions in

factory farms and asked him if he knew about the cruelty. He was shocked

apparently. Then

they agreed to have less meat in the house.

I was amazed.

Ive never said anything directly to her or

tried to change her point of view, but her awareness is sprouting. I think

little things I've said finally got to her...hence the leather questioning.

The whole argument we had about leather

was really her way of wondering how possible it would be for her to go Vegan,

(could she do it) and where would she herself draw the line.

We drew parallels between human rights and animal rights; and I told her that

just like the first women

fighting for their rights, it might at first seem impossible, even overwhelming.

But EVERY EFFORT to

make this world better, to correct our mistakes and hypocrisies and awakenings,

helps. We can't be perfect.

Living in a first world country with every comfort

comes with the price of exploiting something or someone in return.

All we can do is make BETTER choices, as consumers, as first world country

inhabitants.

Anyhew I don't know if she'll eat meat or not but I'm glad she's thinking about

it all and questioning

MY choices and her own.

Hmmm there's more but this post is way too long.

It aint easy being green.

Peace,

Bliss.

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[Guest guest]

Nadine,

 

Very good post! We have all dealt with situation such as those.

 

Remember, people will always try to attack our lifestyle as it is a threat

to theirs.

 

The mere fact that we have made an effort to eliminate cruelty from our

lives, to what ever degree that may be - is irrelevant, is

a threat to them, as they have done nothing or little to better the planet.

These people have a low opinion of themselves.

 

I have to say however, that to be taken seriously in the public, we must be

good Vegans and not wear leather or other animal

bi-products. When I was in the animal rights movement, part of the reason I

became vegan was to make my voice heard even louder - media folk

would regularly ask questions about it ... I never wore leather anything ...

I know it seems unnecessary to us, but, we need to make a

good show from the commitment point of view. Like yourself, I have items,

such as wool suits that I have had before I became a vegan. I, too, feel it

would be a waste to throw them out.

 

People can't understand that one who makes an effort, is simply doing that,

making an effort. Absolutism is great, but it's not for everyone.

 

In my opinion, if people would just take that first step ... three times day

when they sit down to eat ... then we can start perfecting all aspects

of animal persecution. But, they have no right, in my opinion, to say

anything about our inability to achieve perfection.

 

peace out!

 

 

Vikas Sharma

[Guest guest]

Thanks Vik, you are so right.

oh it aint easy bein' greeeen...

Peace,

Blissed-out

 

" Vikas Sharma " <carnival

Wed, 22 Dec 1999 15:04:06 -0500

< >

RE: transformational arguments

 

" Vikas Sharma " <carnival

 

Nadine,

 

Very good post! We have all dealt with situation such as those.

 

Remember, people will always try to attack our lifestyle as it is a threat

to theirs.

 

The mere fact that we have made an effort to eliminate cruelty from our

lives, to what ever degree that may be - is irrelevant, is

a threat to them, as they have done nothing or little to better the planet.

These people have a low opinion of themselves.

 

I have to say however, that to be taken seriously in the public, we must be

good Vegans and not wear leather or other animal

bi-products. When I was in the animal rights movement, part of the reason I

became vegan was to make my voice heard even louder - media folk

would regularly ask questions about it ... I never wore leather anything ...

I know it seems unnecessary to us, but, we need to make a

good show from the commitment point of view. Like yourself, I have items,

such as wool suits that I have had before I became a vegan. I, too, feel it

would be a waste to throw them out.

 

People can't understand that one who makes an effort, is simply doing that,

making an effort. Absolutism is great, but it's not for everyone.

 

In my opinion, if people would just take that first step ... three times day

when they sit down to eat ... then we can start perfecting all aspects

of animal persecution. But, they have no right, in my opinion, to say

anything about our inability to achieve perfection.

 

peace out!

 

 

Vikas Sharma

 

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