Yes the "oh I can't watch, it hurts me too much" is an intersting phenomonom. I'm researching this very topic right now. I'm also analysing the closely related culture blame-game which I believe is a deflection of guilt.
gary francione talks about this phenomenon too.
i can see george orwells double think happening all too often around me.
it's the whole "happy meats" thing. hiding the truth behind a humane treatment disguise...
"I don't want to watch it it's sick!" -most common repsonse from my friends, who then continue to eat their chicken sandwiches. Hmmm
Well, today I was walking around at lunch with my friends and one says "I can't belive you don't eat fish" and I responded with the usual I'm a vegetarian. "But I know a vegetarian who eats fish. All vegetarians eat fish. Fish aren't meat" Umm.. if you eat fish your not vegetarian, fish are meat.
No, ofcourse she's always right, fish are just dumb things that swim in water. Their not meat.
And, also according to her "Sheep are just dumb animals who eat grass and follow each other all day."
I was just watching Nine's "20 to 1 Celebrity Sins and Sensations".
One celebrity Isabel Lucas (from Home & Away days) was saving Dolphins from slaughter in Japan (I think thru Sea Shepherd?). The "guest" celebrities were applauding her (Hey! I was too! She's fantastic!!!) but I find it really hypocriticial coming from meat eaters! I even said that to my omni b'friend and he agreed (must be rubbing off!!! ;P). It's so disappointing to see meat eaters defending one animal (cute, fluffy, intelligent, whatever...) and not the one "on their plate".
As I've said before I have petitions up at work about animal cruelty and most of the signatures are from omni's. They, unfortunately, don't make the connection
It's so disappointing to see meat eaters defending one animal (cute, fluffy, intelligent, whatever...) and not the one "on their plate".
As I've said before I have petitions up at work about animal cruelty and most of the signatures are from omni's. They, unfortunately, don't make the connection
I understand your frustration, but at least this shows they have some compassion in them. That to me is a sign of hope - we just need to nurture that compassion. I'd be more worried if they didn't care about any animals.
I understand your frustration, but at least this shows they have some compassion in them. That to me is a sign of hope - we just need to nurture that compassion. I'd be more worried if they didn't care about any animals.
I agree.
I think lots and lots of people who aren't vegan do indeed have compassion for animals. It's just about connecting the dots.
I was listening to a Gary L. Francione podcast the other day and he made a good point of bring up veganism and connecting those 'dots'. - comparing politically incorrect acts of animal cruelty to accepted acts of animal cruelty. For example, when we hear of people getting arrested for things such as dog fighting or cock fighting on the news, it's a good time to bring up the same cruelty suffered by farm animals in agribusiness, with those people who worry for, and sympathize with, those dogs and roosters involved in the news story. I think it's a great way to help people connect those dots we all desperately want connected.
Also..
I think when start saying that non-vegans don't care about animals (which Ckimina wasn't!) it isolates us and makes us sound in many ways elitist - turning people away from veganism.
I get angry sometimes.. BUT I also understand ignorance is bliss.. in all aspects of life... and the human mind is so amazing and devious we find it hard to detach emotions to different things.
When i was 1st gave up meat i was about 7 and then when i wa slike 12 i started to research things and i atchually lost faith in humanity, and started to hate people, and have dangerous thoughts about people that eat meat,
but as ive analysed, grown up ive realized ignorance is bliss.. i have friends/family that eat meat and they are the kindest people, they are not evil or stupid just very ignorant and try to justify things when they do know, and with the government spreading our need and greatness of meat ( any1 seen the red meat advert where hes dancing.. THAT angers me, tricking people to be un healthy and cruel for money ), but yeh i dont feel anger over the average person,
