RE: [100% veg*n ] Questioning Vegan

[Guest guest]

Anyone who takes a path that is different from the so-called mainstream

probably questions their path. We're only human. Ask yourself what it is

you're missing, and try to come up with a vegan alternative. And yes, we

will always be a party to animal suffering. The idea behind being vegan

isn't to eliminate all forms, but to reduce wherever possible animal

exploitation. By shunning meat, eggs, dairy, honey and wearing the flesh of

animals, we do what we can. OK, so there may be animal fat in our car's

tires or of the bus that takes us to work. We really can't do anything

about that. We can, however, control what we eat, choose kinder clothing

and refrain from going to places that exploit animals, such as zoos,

circuses, carnivals, fairs.

 

There's the story of a boy who is walking along a beach, and he's picking up

starfish and flinging them into the ocean. A man sees him and says, " You

can't possibly get them all. Do you think you're making a difference? " The

boy hurls a starfish into the water and says, " It makes a difference to that

starfish. "

 

If by our example, we can get one person to go vegan, or even cut his

consumption of animal products in half, and he convinces someone else to do

the same, we've made a difference.

 

Danielle

 

 

 

 

----Original Message Follows----

" sometimesimcold " <thatisthequestion

vegan-network

vegan-network

[100% veg*n ] Questioning Vegan

Sat, 16 Oct 2004 17:38:21 -0000

 

 

 

Hi all.

 

I am an adult woman with a child and husband. We have all been vegans

for many years. For some reason lately I have been questioning

veganism more. I know my husband has as well.

That's why I've decided to join all kinds of mailing lists to get all

kinds of perspectives on concerns or just feelings I have been having.

I will then post all relevant responses on a website if anyone is

interested.

 

Ok I think part of my questioning is for selfish reasons, mainly that

by even allowing myself to question veganism, I have opened myself up

to the possibility of eating dairy products again which is something I

have not done for years. By being in this frame of mine, I find

myself entertaining so many delicious possibilities for food choices

that I have not, nor never thought I would have again. When you

believe in what you are doing very strongly and don't even entertain

the possibility of anything else then it's not hard but like I said

that hasn't been the case lately.

 

I have started really absorbing the fact that to even exist, there is

no way to prevent contributing to animal cruelty because just about

every material possession we have probably in some way caused a living

being to suffer or die.

 

I also feel very badly for my child who has been a vegan for as long

as he can remember. I have tried to explain to him why we choose this

lifestyle but I know he still feels like an outsider in so many

situations. I know that sometimes in life, we have to sacrifice for

the greater good. Of course I know that. That's why I chose the

lifestyle I have, but I just don't know how much good I'm really doing

and I just don't know if the immense amount of inconvenience my family

and I have gone through is worth the amount of good we are doing.

 

My son is happy in many ways and I know he is lucky, especially in

comparison to so many animals that go through such horrific tragedies

because of the selfish human race. I don't want to be part of the

uncaring people who take part in their suffering but I don't believe I

can avoid it anyway so I find myself wondering what the hell I am

really doing.

 

If I could snap my fingers and make the entire meat/dairy industry go

away, I would do it in a minute. I would cut off a limb for that to

happen, I swear. It's not that I don't HATE it all. Like I said, I

just don't know if the small amount I'm probably contributing is worth

it all. And also, the arguments saying that eating the products I do

eat that I believe are more humane, actually contribute to animal

suffering in some way, really make me question the amount of good I'm

really doing.

 

I always thought that I would always be a vegan and that still may

very well be the case. Sometimes you just need a kick in the butt and

in some part that's what I'm reaching out for. But mainly, I'm

wanting to really truly examine my choices and see if I can in good

conscience choose a different lifestyle or to be convinced that this

is in fact making a difference and enough of a difference to continue on.

 

I will post this in different types of communities to get all sorts of

opinions.

I have so much more to say that has been running through my mind but

for some reason I'm drawing a blank at this particular moment so I'll

just let this email start it all off and add more as responses to

replies. I'm sure there will be plenty because like I said, I am going

to be posting this to many mailing lists.

 

 

Sincerely,

ExistingHuman

 

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