Happy Vegan Day
The 18th century saw the beginnings of our democratic system, which was the first to hold that “all men are created equal” and which established, under the law, basic freedoms such as the rights to assemble peacefully, practice one’s chosen religion, say what one likes, and print what one likes. The 19th century abolished slavery in the developed world. The 20th century abolished child labor, criminalised child abuse, and gave women the vote and blacks wider rights. If we all do as much as we can, the 21st century CAN be the one for animal rights.
I suppose for me, it boils down to Socrates’ adage from 2600 years ago, “The unexamined life is not worth living.” It seems to me that what it means to be a person of integrity is that I try to ask questions, that I try not to support things that I oppose, that I try to make my life mean something.
That’s what I think it means to have integrity-that I try to lead a life that is in keeping with my professed values-my opposition to human exploitation, my view of myself as an environmentalist, my desire to be as healthy as possible, so I can work and play harder, my belief in kindness, toward other people and toward animals.
Please ask yourself: “Would you want to work on a factory farm, searing the beaks off of chickens or castrating pigs and cows without painkillers, and so on.” “Would you want to work on a factory fishing trawler?” “Are other areas of your life where you participate in practices that would repulse you if you had to watch them happening.” You know, most of us could watch grains being tilled or even spend an afternoon shucking corn or picking beans, fruits, or vegetables. Seriously, how many of us would want to spend an afternoon slitting open animals’ throats?
Some people go vegan overnight; others take a bit more time. I don’t want to discount the power that convenience, social pressure, and so on, can wield. Clearly, any decision to decrease consumption of animal products is to be celebrated, even as it’s seen as a step toward the transition to a totally vegan diet..
I think that ethics must include living a life that is, as much as possible, in keeping with our basic values. We can’t be perfect, but we really should all do as much as we can.
I have no doubt that in 100 years, human beings will look back on the human mistreatment of other animals with the same horror we presently reserve for historical injustices such as slavery and moral transgressions against human beings.
Animals suffer and die like we do. Animals are made of the same stuff we are. Eating them is an act of gluttony and disregard for our own health, for the environment, for the global poor, and most of all, for our fellow animals. If you are not a vegan, please work toward becoming one. If you are a vegan, thank you so much for caring and please become more active.
One of the exciting things about helping animals, the Earth, and your own health is that you don’t have to fill out a form or make a call. You can start today, by choosing a healthy, humane, vegan meal when you sit down to eat.
- Bruce Friedrich