Your Choice

[Guest guest]

Do we always have to choose among items/theories/ideologies as

presented to us by presumably knowledgeable people? It is an

interesting thought, because to be honest, we don't have to choose.

Just the fact that you are made to choose indicates that the person

providing you with choices has narrowed down the answers to what 'he'

or 'she' thinks perceives as the only possibilities. This thought

occurred to me when I read an article 'Confronting Empire' written by

Arundhati Roy. Quoting from the article, George Bush provides you this

choice 'You are either with us or them' (i.e with the U.S or the

Terrorists). Arundhati's question is, do we really have to choose

between an imperialistic United States of America and some fanatic

terrorists. The answer is; we don't have to.

 

More often than not, you and me have been presented with choices to

become a non-vegetarian, a vegetarian, a vegan or a fruitarian. But do

we really need to make a decision just because someone has made the

classifications? Many a times I have spoken to my friends about why I

am a vegetarian. But not once I have asked anyone to become one. The

reason again is the same. I hate to ask someone to choose a lifestyle

which I believe is correct. What I do believe is in facts, and the

kind of facts from which you make your own deductions. Your choice

(categorically) does not matter; but what matters is whether you have

understood the impact of your actions and whether you are true to your

own self.

 

What prompted me to write this article is the documentary called

'Earthlings' which I recently watched (links provided at the end).

This documentary according to me is one of the most meaningful,

emotional and powerful ones I have watched till date. It is about the

abuse of nature (specifically animals) to satiate the homo sapein's

greed. Incidentally 'Homo Sapien' means 'Wise Man'; but its left for

us to decide if we have been true to that nomenclature.

 

There is nothing shown in 'Earthlings' that I did not know. But at the

same time, it is disturbing and makes me hang my head in shame. The

documentary talks about the various reasons for which animals are

abused and treated like inanimate objects. Specifically, the areas of

abuse are for food, clothing, entertainment, sports and in the name of

science.

 

Although almost always the arguments raised by individuals fighting

for animal rights delve into the area of non-vegetarianism, many of

them forget that eating animals is not something that can be entirely

avoided or eradicated. So the issue that needs to be looked into first

is not whether we all need to start eating veggies, but what are our

sensibilities and knowledge regarding how the meat comes to your

table. Most my non-vegetarian friends have never really put a thought

into how the animal is killed; how much blood is shed; how much pain

is undergone by the animal and how many times it must have silently

pleaded to the butcher before it lost its life and satisfied their

palate. Many of my friends have dismissed these thoughts are sheer

panic and melodrama, but I wish they knew better.

 

It is not just food we must be worried about (although that is the

larger worry), but it is the utter disregard by human beings for the

welfare of other creations of god when it comes to satisfying many of

his other needs (greeds?). Clothing for one. How many of us have

really bothered how that leather wallet in our pocket was made; or how

that expensive lacoste belt was manufactured. Did we bother to

inquire? When such topics come up, the usual argument is that from

ancient ages man has been using animal products and we continue to do

so. But that is far from the truth. Man was only worried about his

needs then. And more often than not, he took his bit from the forest;

just what he needed, and left the rest as it is. But in the current

world, animals are being bred, grown, tortured and killed just for

providing us with that expensive bag or coat. Remember that these

animals might not have even got their mothers milk and warmth; they

would not have known what the plants, insects and the sun looks like.

They just lived to die and satify our greed.

 

We are all currently part of a world that is slowly, but surely

disintegrating (and in a way responding to our exploitation). It all

started with a Tsunami a few years ago, and there has been no looking

back. If you really look closely you will see the connection between

our lack of respect for nature and all the issues that we face in this

world today. Take a break from your daily race and put a few minutes

of thought.

 

Hoping for a better world.

 

- Ratheesh Pisharody

 

Links to Earthlings Documentary -

 

Direct Link (Good quality download):

http://dl.veg-tv.info/Earthlings.avi

 

(I have not verified if these are good or full):

Google Video version

video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-1282796533661048967

 

Youtube versions (3 parts):

http://in.youtube.com/watch?v=GhxKnys7Ryw

http://in.youtube.com/watch?v=7sRiH_Owq9U

http://in.youtube.com/watch?v=N8U9dw-9U4E

[Guest guest]

Animal persons help me with answers for the points below.

 

I know humans cannot interpret animal language. But PAIN, TORTURE,

ABUSE & KILLINGS can always be felt.

But do we as animal people actually feel their PAIN:

 

1. Choice of choosing LIFE over DEATH?

 

2. Choice of being USED & ABUSED by humans?

 

3. Choice for FREEDOM.

 

When we as humans do not have the RIGHT to end our own lives, we have

no business then deciding DEATH for others.

 

Azam