Sunday, August 30, 2009

Murder is not vegan

Murder is not the answer. Murder should not be on our menus, especially when we have not exhausted all other options. Vegans are in the minority and we need more vegans to step-up and become activists. Along with increased numbers of vegan abolition activists, we need more creative vegan education taking place in schools and society at large.

The educated man looks for more creative solutions rather than opting for violence only to claim that nothing else works. What kind of message does this send to our children?

“Do as I say, not as I do” never works; while, children are excellent at imitating our behaviors. The hereditary ignorance passed to our children is in our hands.

My parents never hit me and I have a hard time advocating something I can not do myself. I will leave the promotion of violence to those who actually carry it out – otherwise, it's all just empty words and embarrassing stuff.

And as far as those who advocate violence without carrying any out themselves, well they are simply poseurs. I try my best to walk the walk with my activism/writing and therefore don’t feel I should be the one advocating violence. Yes, I did at one time, but I am a free thinking individual whose thoughts are always evolving and I was narrow in my view on this one. Don’t forget the children learn from what we do, not what we say and if we want violence to end, then we have to make it stop with ourselves first.

Who, how, what, where, when, and why should all be considerations when planning good activism. One example of good activism would be for vegans to go across the street from a school (where) armed with bullhorns and literature (how), alerting children (who) lining-up in the morning (when), that the food their school is serving is unhealthy and damaging to the planet and that animals are our friends – not food (what). Children have not been fully indoctrinated and many still have open minds and hearts (why). Video tape the activism and post it on You Tube. Now that would be good activism.

We need more people putting pressure on our leaders to address factory farming, the National School Lunch Program, and to adopt vegan diets themselves so they can live by example instead of just delivering empty words.

“All ancient philosophy was oriented toward the simplicity of life and taught a certain kind of modesty in one’s need. In light of this, the few philosophic vegetarians have done more for mankind than all new philosophers, and as long as philosophers do not take courage to seek out a totally changed way of life and to demonstrate it by their example, they are worth nothing.” Nietzsche

We need more vegan activists approaching and educating their local school boards and administrators to include Humane Education and vegan school lunches for the impressionable and trusting children.

More vegan teachers need to step forward and educate their fellow teachers and administrators.
Start a vegan blog (they are free – go to blogspot.com), teach some animal rights classes, write some books, make some vegan art, music, and movies, promote vegan abolition in personal interactions and at work, be honest with children and everyone you meet everywhere you go---as silence is complicity---and yes, promote peace.

Be the change you want to see and show us---not tell us---how to be better activists.

If we murder our fellow man, we sink to their level---proving vegansim is not the answer----setting a bad example for our children and perpetuating the hereditary ignorance, becoming the problem instead of the solution. “An eye for an eye just makes the whole world blind” Gandhi

Veggie Pride Parade post rally in Union Square Park, New York City May 17, 2009

Barack Obama knows the horrors of Factory Farming and chooses to do nothing about the National School Lunch Program.

“The world is a dangerous place to live; not because of the people who are evil, but because of the people who don’t do anything about it” Albert Einstein

"As soon as one sees the truth contained in vegetarism and continues to eat meat, he is no longer innocent and ignorant of his mistake. He is guilty of crime." "Shall We Eat Flesh?" Rational Living Library, B. Liber 1934



History cares not of pride, nor, conformists, only to a gasp at how primitive they must have been; whereas, we always remember those who are able to change with great reverence, for they put aside pride and refused to conform to evil.



We the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common good, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish veganism for the United States of America

"Never be afraid to do what's right, especially if the well-being of a person or animal is at stake. Society's punishments are small compared to the wounds we inflict on our soul when we look the other way." Martin Luther King, Jr.



Audio Engaging Children:
http://inslide.com/WarwakEngagingChildrenAnimalRightsConference2009.mp3

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3 comments:

  1. Hey Dave,

    It's Brendan from AR 2008.

    Long time since I've heard from you!

    Just wanted to let you know that I love this post. Education is the answer - violence simply can't be justified. I was on the fence about this issue for a while, but your right - being the change is very important.

    Anyways, great blog - hope all is well.
    Peace,
    Brendan

    P.S. I used your search factory farm "business card" idea here in my hometown last year, and we went to like a buncha highschools in the area - it was super effective! planning on doing it again this year!

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  2. Excellent post Dave! You are right - if violence is used it will only send the message that we are mindless thugs, and have no different a message than the abusers are. We will have no credibility that we want a better world for all.

    There is a difference between "violence" and "aggressive vegan advocacy"... One destroys, the other teaches. We won't get anywhere unless we educate and expose the villans. We just have to avoid becoming the "villans" in the process.

    Thanks again for your wise advice.

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  3. Positive post and I am pleased to see that you are open enough to change your view point if you feel that is correct.

    ReplyDelete