Peaceable Kingdom - I was moved - frustration!

July 31, 2004

Hey all,

Saw movie last night - was moved, saddened and anger about the mistreatment

of animals.

Strangely, I had a conversation with my DSL phone support person this AM

and her 2 comments where:

1. I couldn't afford to be vegetarian - as I'm so thin now. I would wither

away.

My response: There are plenty of fat vegetarians. There is no need to worry.

2. After explaining about the 52,100,000,000 animals killed in factory

farms each year, she said, " They should really put their energy into

helping abandoned kids. "

My response: I'm sure there are thousands not billions of kids abandoned

each year. Don't you think animals need more help? She changed topic....

Ugh - we have such a long way to go - to convince folks that animals are

not, as they said, " economic agricultural units. "

Saddened and Not Hopeful,

Clyde

July 31, 2004

I thought the topic of the film was very sad, but also very inspiring to see how others are making a difference... and I think there is hope. For example, the 900-seat screening at the Herbst Theatre sold out! Several people brought meat-eating friends or co-workers to see it, giving them a huge education on factory farming. For me, understanding what really happens in factory farming convinced me to go vegan.

I think Tribe of Heart has given us a great educational tool to use in the form of a 70 minute movie called Peaceable Kingdom. We just need everyone to see it! For those who would like to see Peaceable Kingdom on a big screen, or want an opportunity to share it with family & friends, it is playing at the Red Vic on 8/22 & 8/23. Not eating animals and animal products is the best way to help the animals.

http://www.redvicmoviehouse.com/august04/08_22_04.html

And, next time someone asks why we are concerned with animal issues rather than human issues... well, I like how United Poultry Concerns responds to this question in their list of 'Frequently Asked Questions'

What about human problems? Why concentrate on animals when so many suffering people need help?

Are Mothers Against Drunk Drivers (MADD) badgered with why they are not working instead for battered women or abused children or some other cause? Were Americans who fought against slavery attacked for ignoring the plight of white people? Choosing a particular issue does not mean that one is indifferent to other concerns. Animal abuse, like child abuse and spouse abuse, is a human problem. The world that we have made for farm animals to live in hurts people as well as the animals and offers good evidence that hardening of the sensibilities is an even worse disease than hardening of the arteries. As human beings, we have a responsibility to the victims of our society and our species, whoever and wherever those victims may be. Every social justice movement in history has been scorned by the mainstream, which is made up ironically of people whose own freedoms and rights were won by revolutionaries at an earlier time.

http://www.upc-online.org/ethics_questions.html#12

Cheers,

Tammy