Vegan lifestyle articles that discuss ways of living in peace with humans, animals, and the environment.
Paul Pinfield,
Armory of the Revolution
September 2017
Beyond our small, personal commitment to not causing pain and suffering our desire is that everyone else does the same. And that we have no control over. We can only inform, plead and persuade to achieve our end.
Vegans fall into several categories, though only two have the staying
power to last beyond a matter of a year or two. The testimony of long term
advocate friends tells me that long transitioners mostly revert to omnivores
or vegetarians, and i think it’s safe to say a high proportion of “Wrong
Reason Vegans” do also. By this term I’m referring to those who embrace
veganism for financial gain, because it’s trendy, for personal status and
kudos or as a result of peer pressure, and so on. The recidivism rate
amongst these groups is in all probability also very high, and, if our wish
is that the movement continues to expand, and eventually achieve the
critical mass that turns Planet Earth predominantly, or totally, vegan, then
they needn’t concern us here, as the total is likely to remain pretty
stable, with near equal numbers ebbing and flowing.
Long term-ists commit for reasons weighted towards personal health (health
vegans) or to reduce the suffering of Animals (ethical vegans). In most
cases both elements are present, but with one being the primary motivator.
Ethical vegans come in for a lot of flak from non vegans and from health
vegans for being angry, aggressive, intolerant and judgemental. (Though,
given the facts related to AnimAg, quite why one might not reasonably be
expected to be all these things is beyond me!). However, the goal oriented
position of the omnivore and the health vegan is quite achievable and under
their own control. Nobody can screw with the primary motivation of these two
groups. You want to stay healthy eating a vegan diet, nobody can stop you or
thwart your intention. Likewise, if you’re determined to suffer from a diet
of Animal products you can do so without more ado, (so long as you give good
Denial or Dissonance, of course!)
But for the Ethical vegan, whose motivation is altruistic, the situation is
quite different. They, we, have no control over the realization of our
intent. We are constantly facing the direct, perverse and violent thwarting
of what we would like. We are repeatedly threatened with retaliatory abuse
in one form or another from meat eaters especially… “Yummy ribs for dinner!”
and hunters “Gonna go shoot me a fat Deer!” etc, as a direct result of our
assertively stating our view or criticising others for their actions.
Is it any wonder we’re a little vociferous?
At least fellow vegans of all persuasions, but particularly health vegans,
could be a tad more tolerant... you control what you get, but beyond our
small, personal commitment to not causing pain and suffering our desire is
that everyone else does the same. And that we have no control over. We can
only inform, plead and persuade to achieve our end.
Give us a break, huh?
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