March
2001
Second
Thoughts on the Animal Activism Approach
By Emily Weissman
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I would like to bring attention to the issue of animal
rights. I am an animal rights activist, as well as vegan. I choose
not to eat meat. That is my choice. It is my personal belief that eating
meat is wrong. That doesn’t make me right.
There is something else I would like to bring attention to. Each year,
millions of animals are slaughtered in a cruel and unjust manner, for
food, clothes, and for countless other uses. Animals do not deserve
to be treated the way they are. I feel it is wrong. Most people would
agree.
As an animal rights activist, my goal is to inform people about the
atrocities that involve animals, including the horrific conditions
in
which animals live before being killed, and the manner in which they
are slaughtered. If I focus on my personal beliefs and convey the message
to others that “Eating meat is wrong,” meat-eaters will most
likely defend their right to eat meat. While becoming angry, they might
start a “controversial debate” and we might sit for hours
arguing our personal beliefs—whether eating meat is right, or
wrong.
Sometimes I wonder if I am the only activist with her head still attached.
Have we all lost our minds somewhere along the way? Have we become so
completely absorbed in our self-righteous attitudes that we can no longer
process thoughts in a rational manner?
I have found that when I bring to light the alarming facts on how animals
are treated in order to become food, people actually listen to what
I have to say. When I speak of other atrocities involving animal cruelty,
people maintain their interest, often listening closely. I provide
facts;
I speak about animals who are subjected to much abuse and torture throughout
their lives. By not citing my personal belief that eating meat is “wrong,”
more people opt to listen to what I am saying, instead of providing
an immediate rebuttal. After providing these facts I might add, “I
do not eat meat because of these facts…I feel it is wrong.”
There is much too much sadness in this day and age. There are too many
sentient beings that suffer in pain and misery, while we sit on our
leather couches, wash our hair with shampoo that was tested on animals,
and live a sheltered life in front of our televisions and computers.
If animal activists want to get through to people, we must pick an
issue.
We must provide facts to educate people. When trying to gain support
we must prioritize. We can’t pick a million and one issues and
expect people to pay attention. It is too overwhelming for them; for
anyone. Truth is a lot to handle. Once your eyes are unveiled, truth
pours in like harsh rays of sunshine.
We need to start small. Encourage people to eat less red meat. Educate
them so that they may eventually choose to not eat meat at all. In
order
for someone to change their way of living, they must first obtain the
desire to do so. We have become such fanatics that we will not accept
others unless they have conformed to our perfect ways. We must be accepting
of others’ diets, and inform them first of why we fight for our
cause. If someone stops eating red meat, but still eats fish or chicken,
I can’t jump down their throats screaming for them to stop. I am
happy when they have stopped eating red meat—it is a step in the
right direction. I would much rather people eat fish than cows. I would
much rather people not harm any kind of creature, but I can’t tell
them that they are “wrong” for what they eat. Hopefully that
realization will come with time. Once they have adapted to a life without
red meat, perhaps I will speak with them on shifting towards a vegan
diet. I would rather they accept the vegan lifestyle first; let the
diet come later.
Animal activists, more often than not, come across as “crazy.”
I wonder if they realize that calmly educating with facts goes further
than drowning someone’s ear in personal beliefs and opinions.
I could tell you eating meat is wrong, but that is my opinion. I could
show you how animals suffer in pain and that could be a fact you might
come to understand and perhaps it might become a cause you deem worth
fighting for. People have a right to their thoughts. If this article
is printed, then I have had a right to mine.
Emily Weissman is an animal advocate and freelance poet from
Long Island, New York. Her work appears regularly on the Internet. You
can contact her at: MleWeissman@aol.com.