Various threads

[Guest guest]

>*what do you tell people who say that we are intellectually superior to

>animals? People tell me that because of our Scientific and Technological

> " achievents " we have a superior brain capacity.

 

 

This isn't really for your friend. I was just thinking about that particular

issue the other day. I find your friend's insistence to constantly challenge

your choices and to prove you wrong is just an attempt to rationalize his

participation in something that he desperately needs to believe is OK. He

was raised that way I guess. It's hard to think for yourself and stray from

the societal norm. Singer refers to a meat-eating cult in his 'Animal

Liberation'. I will look up the passage tomorrow. Anyway here are my

thoughts....

 

 

I think it's unfair to judge animals' worth and intelligence based on human

principles. There are many things about animals that we can never hope to

understand. They all have value and purpose in the kingdom and I think it's

safe to assume that being force factory farmed, fed antibiotics and then

ground up and placed in a sesame seed bun probably isn't their designated

purpose. Assuming for a minute that humans are 'intellectually superior' (I

interpret that to mean being more self-aware and conscious of our

existence), surely we, as humans, should use that knowledge not as an excuse

to torture and exploit animals but instead to apply our special gifts (e.g.

the ability to empathize) to show compassion for their suffering and respect

for their lives. After all, who understands more about life and suffering

than the human? What do all our 'technological achievements' mean if we are

destroying the earth and causing mass suffering and destruction? We are

becoming dangerously out of touch with each other and the planet. I think a

big part of this is that many humans believe they have no one to answer to

because they are at the top of the food chain. Many humans don't show

respect, reverence or even awareness of what is happening around us. I think

deep down somewhere in the sub-conscious mind, people know the truth about

what is happening in our world but they choose to ignore it or try and come

up with many reasons to rationalize their behaviour or even try to blame it

on something/someone else. That is not intelligence, it is fear. It seems

ridiculous to me to disregard other species (plants also) for their lack of

'intelligence'. Our achievements haven't made us any wiser or any closer to

finding the meaning of life. In fact, I think we are going backwards. I

believe if we started to become aware of our surroundings and care for them,

then things would start to improve. Let's not forget that we are animals too

and that we don't own this planet, we share it.

 

------------------------

 

>No one is perfect and if we all try and take the hard core approach all the

>time to the vegan lifestyle many of us will fail. My family balks at veganism

>so I am slowly but surely moving them along. Ultimately you are right but

>let's encourage steps in the right direction and not discourage by expecting

>too much too soon.

 

 

I'm pretty sure this post was directed at me. I had no intention of being

right or wrong. I only do what feels right for me. I think that you have a

very good point when you say:

 

>let's encourage steps in the right direction and not discourage by expecting

>too much too soon.

 

It's imperative to take things at a pace that feels comfortable for you when

you first become vegan.

 

When I first became vegan, it took a little while before I figured out where

I stood in regards to various trace animal products. Fortunately, I didn't

have any cravings for animal foods like some people do but I guess that

would make it even harder. I got very frustrated and was very hard on myself

when trying to figure everything out. I thought I could do everything

overnight and be done with it. It took me a month or two, and some research,

before I was at peace with myself and began to feel happy about what I was

doing and could see 'the big picture'.

 

I understand if some people don't go out of their way to avoid 'emulsifier

481' or whatever. I know it's impossible to be perfect. I only try to

eliminate animal products whenever I can. I was staying over at a friend's

house the other day and I was thinking " Should I use her shampoo/soap or not

use it and wait until I get home to my vegan-friendly stuff? " It's weird to

be having thoughts like those in the shower. I guess it's just one of the

myriad personal decisions we all have to make every day.

 

Anyway, I agree that it's a good idea to encourage and compliment people on

whatever steps they take to reduce animal suffering and not judge them and

put them down for what they don't do yet. If you tell people they are wrong,

it tends to make them resistant to your suggestions and angry at your

self-righteousness. I had a vegetarian friend and I always congratulated her

on her dietary decisions. She then asked me why I was vegan and I explained

to her how I arrived at that decision. I let her know (in a nice way) that

if she ever wanted any information on the subject then she only needed to

ask. Sure enough, the next week she asked me about it again and I whipped

out some pamphlets and told her about a few websites. I guess the rest is up

to her. I don't think applying pressure or passing judgment helps very much,

at least not in most situations. I always try to find a nice, positive way

to approach these things.

 

 

 

 

>They are from a book called

> " Sweet and Natural " by Meredith McCarty. Its over 120 naturally sweet

>dairy free desserts. I recommend the book highly. But if you need

>anything specific I would be more than happy to help if I can.

 

I just wanted to thank the people who responded with cooking tips about

replacing fat in recipes. I never thought of using tahini. I might order a

copy of that cookbook too. Strangely, today I found a suitable soy margarine

in a supermarket in another suburb. It was very expensive but I bought it

anyway. I'll see how it works out. Although maple syrup, tahini and apple

sauce sound so much nicer than soy margarine don't they?

 

AV