Here's a thought....

[Guest guest]

By living in this country in this time period, we as veg*ns have to make many difficult choices and compromises in order to get along in everyday life. We have families and children and lovers and friends that are compassionate loving caring people, who just don't choose to pay attention to the reality of the farming industry in this country because it would force them to face something that may be life altering, that may require that they make major changes and sacrifices in their everyday lives, which for some is not worth it, and for others may not even be possible... veg*nism requires a certain level of privilege to be enacted healthfully. And there are those around us who have educated themselves, and still decide to continue to use animals for their flesh and their skin consciously, for whatever reason, that if we respect them, we believe they are entitled to. Most of us want to continue to have " normal " relationships with the meat eaters in our lives that we love, which demands that we find a common ground on many occasions. Just by being, we constantly challenge the traditions and culture and lifestyles of everyone around us. We are constantly the party-pooper, or the rebel, or the self righteous hippy, or the snob. We must constantly decline offers, or withdraw ourselves from festivities, and we must do this gracefully, without isolating ourselves or condemning, or making our loved ones feel judged. Its not an easy lifestyle in itself, and certainly not easy to balance amongst the greater culture. I am always getting blurry and wondering, what are my lines? what do i stand indignant for and where do i flex? how far is too far if there even is a too far for me?

A few years back i had a realization regarding faux fur... i decided that it wasnt much better than the real industry. why mimic a fashion that is the result of the brutal murder of millions of animals? Why would i wear something that even resembles the exterior of an animal, and promote the trendiness of something that is the result of such brutality? what if my coat were admired by others who didn't know it was faux, and they went out and bought a real one of their own? More simply and personally, why would i emulate something that i feel is so horrific? as i realized this, i decided on behalf of the animals, to boycott faux fur. This same sort of thinking just awakened in me after watching " I am an animal: the story of ingrid newkirk " regarding turkeys. Thanksgiving is a holiday that celebrates the history of our nation, one that involves the genocide of almost an entire race of people, and the continued massacre of millions of animals each year. Why would i even acknowledge this holiday or worse yet, buy a faux turkey and eat it in the name of " thanksgiving " ? this is a stretch, but wouldnt that be similar to an abolitionist buying a cardboard replica of a slave during the 1800's and abusing it so that he could fit in with everyone else, but not hurt anyone? Why do i want to eat anything that even resembles a dead bird on a day when so many millions of birds are being tortured and killed so people all over the country can mindlessly stuff themselves? Why would i even acknowledge this practice and try to replicate it, even if compassionately? Any thoughts? -Joelle

[Guest guest]

I absolutely agree with you. I wish I would have seen the HBO special

on Ingrid. I cant wait for it to be on sale. I have never liked

fur. I think of dead animals when people even wear the faux stuff.

Same with leather coats or pleather for that matter. I think of

animal skins.

 

I am sad to say I still have some old wool sweaters. But when I can

find cotton ones to replace them - they will be gone too. Same with

my leather shoes. I dislike when people say they like those shoes. I

feel as if I'm promoting something negative.

 

I love wearing my vegan tees on the weekends! I love wearing my vegan

enviornmentalist tee too! Be positive!

 

But this was very well put for my personal viewpoints.

 

Mari Stoe