When people find out I volunteer my time to help save cats and dog, people applaud me and think its commendable. When people find out Im vegan- they think Im absolutely out of my mind, absurd, stupid, pathetic, a tree-hugging liberal, unprofessional, or just following some trend. My reason for being vegan is simply that I dont want to support an industry that forces 60 billion animals to suffer every year. Its really that simple. My compassion extends to other animals, not just our beloved cats and dogs. For some reason people assume farm animals dont endure pain. When I try to defend other species, thats when Im usually lambasted and considered a worthless being. I wonder if its even worth my time trying to argue with people regarding whether or not animals feel pain. Most people would understand that their dog or cat feels pain, but cant fathom the idea of chickens, cows, calves, pigs, geese, turkeys, and ducks suffering for human purposes. To you its just a meal or accessory, to them its LIFE itself. Not to mention the life they live of confinement, oppression, abuse, neglect, depression, and torture - on a daily basis. I was once someone who didnt make the connection, but once I did it changed my life. I feel that I have a moral obligation to fight for those whom are oppressed and abused, regardless of species. I wont give up, nor will I stop advocating. Call me what you will, youre only fueling my passion to fight. Humans–who enslave, castrate, experiment on, and fillet other animals–have had an understandable penchant for pretending animals do not feel pain. A sharp distinction between humans and “animals” is essential if we are to bend them to our will, make them work for us, wear them, eat them–without any disquieting tinges of guilt or regret. It is unseemly of us, who often behave so unfeelingly toward other animals, to contend that only humans can suffer. The behavior of other animals renders such pretensions specious. They are just too much like us. - Carl Sagan
Posted on: Sat, 31 May 2014 23:40:05 +0000