I’ve heard many people refer to a vegan lifestyle as restrictive. At first glance I can understand where this deception may come from. All you hear about is people concentrating on the things they ‘cant’ have. Yet if someone were allergic to something that’s not held against them. Yet when I point out to someone it’s not that I ‘cant’ have something but I chose not to they look at me like I’m being stubborn, or pretentious. The word restrict means to confine within limits. I find it some what ironic that this word is used to describe a vegan lifestyle when becoming vegan has opened up so many more options to me. If you think about the different types of ‘meat’ available to the average omnivore, that is restrictive, cows, pigs, and chickens. At first glance you hear vegetarian you think lettuce, carrots, tomatoes. I’ve heard people refer to these foods as ‘rabbit food’. Yet, there are over 40 varieties of lettuce, 50 plus kinds of vegetables, countless types of legumes and beans, rice, grains, and so much more.

I’ll tell you what a vegan lifestyle is restrictive to. Vegans are restricted to the types of cancer and serious illness apt to suffer. We are restricted to the amount of money we’ll spend on healthcare, and the amount of medications we’ll have to take just to sustain. And most of all we are restricting the amount of suffering caused by our personal choices.

If our society was more conscious of the environment and our health more people would be raised vegan and thus the lifestyle wouldn’t seem so difficult. It’s much harder to make this transition mid journey, but that doesn’t mean its not worth while. The right thing to do in life often is what’s hardest.

I wouldn’t say I’m an angry person. But maybe people reading my blogs wouldn’t know this. Yea, sometimes when I write I may come off a certain way. But that doesn’t define me every moment of every day. I think there is a lot to be angry about in this word. But I know there’s also a lot to be happy, sad, excited, and every other emotion about too. When I write it’s a release. If I’m angry about something I write it so it’s out of me that’s it, I’m done with that anger. I don’t understand why anger has such a bad rap anyway? I think anger is a good thing, natural, and healthy even. Anger can be a motivator. Do you think all the good that’s been done in this world was done merely by people who are happy all the time? Don’t you realize if people like Martin Luther King weren’t angry about the way the world was it would still be that way? Anger, when not used maliciously, is most definitely a good thing. I’m not afraid to show or feel my anger. I refuse to be happy and bubbly all the time for the comfort of others. Anger is part of passion, and I am passionate about a lot of things in this world. Passion involves many feelings from anger to zealously, and I think happiness and joy would be meaningless without anger. I am a great many things and feel a great many things. I can be goofy and silly, annoyed and testy, happy and sad, and angry and passive. Think of it as a rainbow of expressions, I want to feel all the colors, not just the pretty ones. Just goes to show you we shouldn’t judge others when only seeing them through a peep whole into their lives.

Oh boy, I really don’t know where to start with this one. Plain and simple I just don’t get people. I don’t know if it’s commitment issues, lack of knowledge, or just plain laziness? I’ve said many times being vegan isn’t about being perfect. It’s about choosing the path that causes less harm. Our society doesn’t always give us a choice, so we may have to do something we are opposed to. For example medications. Some medications have herbal substitutes, but some do not. Some medications are the result of many animals being tortured, but we cant always control that. So of course I don’t consider myself or anyone else less vegan for having to consume something they would normally be against in order to be healthy. The difference lies where we do have choices.

I will apologize to my friends in advance if the things I am about to say offend you, but I must say them.

I have a friend, whose vegan, that I sometimes wonder where his/her ethics stand? There’s been times when he/she carelessly would purchase products to only find out while consuming them they contain an animal product. Ok, this is an honest mistake, we’ve all done it. But for them to say ‘I bought it I’m eating it’ makes me question where their motive is coming form? I just don’t understand how someone passionate about something can put money above their ethical values? I’m sure they don’t think about it that way, at least I hope not. Another example, and I’m sure some of you will think I’m on my high and mighty horse here, but I’m really not trying to judge or point fingers, just want to understand what motivates people. I’m afraid in to many cases it’s money. And I think its extremely sad for people to put money before their beliefs and values. I digress, another instance where I can’t figure out people’s mind set is when someone openly fights for a cause then turns around and supports the opposing side. Lets say for example, there’s an industry or company that openly is against something you stand for. Why would you support that company buy purchasing it’s goods? It would be like me protesting against leather then turning around and purchasing something, doesn’t have to be leather, but from a leather shop. Does that not seem a little hypocritical? I believe the saying ‘practice what you preach’, otherwise you have virtually no credibility.

Next, what about vegans/vegetarians that ‘cheat’ by tasting certain animal products they would normally be opposed to? I just for the life of me don’t get it. If you are vegan/vegetarian for ethical reasons aren’t you ‘cheating’ on your ethical beliefs? Its one thing if you don’t have a choice. I recently heard a story of a vegan traveling on a 20+ hour flight being so distraught by the fact she had to eat non-vegetarian because the airline lost her preordered vegan meal. this girl had no choice, we need to eat and if there’s no options we have to eat what’s given to us. But to have veg food in front of you and reach across the table to try non-veg food is beyond me. Why do people want to identify with vegan/vegetarians if they don’t really live their lives that way? I’ve had non-vegetarians say to me, ‘you can cheat, I cheat on my diet all the time.” I want to say, ‘yea that’s why your still a fat ass” but I don’t. I simply remind them I have no reason to cheat because I’m not missing out on anything by choosing living my life cruelty free.

I may be wrong, but wouldn’t it be fair to say people who don’t smoke, don’t because it may cause cancer or other horrendous diseases? So it stands to say if there were a label on any and all products that could have a negative effect people may be less likely to consume it. Such as ‘beef’ or cow products. There are numerous studies available that show eating meet may lead to certain types of cancers. Why is this not general public knowledge? Basic common sense should tell us this, but most of the time is fails us. So we need a warning label until it is generally known. Maybe it isn’t general knowledge that the animals we consume are pumped with all kinds of hormones and steroids, but I think it‘s becoming more so. It’s just easy to dismiss when we’re hungry and don’t realize the consequences and or alternatives. There are cultures around the world that don’t suffer the diseases and cancer rates we do in america. These very same cultures have a high percentage of vegan/vegetarian based diets. Coincidence? I think not. Americans consume the most ‘animal products’ across the globe, and Americans suffer the most from illnesses such as heart disease, high cholesterol, and colon cancer, and contribute the most waste. So why is it that we don’t require a warning label suggesting such products may cause cancer on meat/flesh? I’ve seen labels on certain cheeses containing casein, which is in every cow based cheese. Casein, in case you don’t know, is a protein found in cows milk that has been linked to causing cancer.

On the flip side we have products using this ‘may’ tag as an advertising ploy. We’ve all seen or heard the commercials for products making claim that by consuming that specific products “may lower cholesterol”, “may help you lose weight”. “may … fill in the blank.” So why is it more acceptable to use such ploys for advertising purposes? I guess that’s obvious, good ‘mays’ sell products, bad ones don’t. So why are we, as consumers, taking the advice of the party that has only profit to gain? We need to demand a high standard for the way our foods are labeled. Until that happens, its up to us as consumers to be conscious of the products we are buying and ingesting. Learn to read between the lines, if something sounds too good to be true, it is! There’s no miracle pill or cure for anything. Take responsibility for being over weight or eating foods that are making you ill, and stop the bad habits. If you’re not watching out for yourself who will, the industry trying to make a profit off your stupidity? (sorry, harsh, shall I say lack of knowledge instead)

This blog comes with a heavy caution and disclaimer. If you’re sensitive to foul words and religious content please don’t read. I don’t want any whiny comments in regards to the opinions that follow.

First of all, fuck religion. That right I said it. And I’ll say it again, fuck religion. Why do we need books and ominous figures to tell us how we should live? Seriously, look at all the negativity that has come along with religion. How many wars have begun, and destroyed because of different religious beliefs? How many people cop out and give the bullshit line ‘I’ve found god/religion again’ to excuse their unforgivable behavior. I don’t need a book, preacher, rabbi, or make believe figure to tell me what is right and wrong. That is something we all already have within us. It’s because of religion that so much bad occurs in the world today. Religion divides us, and turns us against one another. Without religion it would be a lot harder for people to excuse the horrendous acts we commit on all living creature, human and non human alike. 

How long can people use religion to hide the fact that the way in which they act is discriminative (against homosexuals), and murderous (animals are here for use to eat)? If it weren’t for religion this shit would not fly! We cannot go around harming others, regardless of what some bullshit book has printed in it (the bible).

I think religion is a weakness.

And for fuck sake, I’ve been letting people off the hook too easy by putting them under the blanket statement ‘ignorance is bliss.’ It’s true it is bliss, as long as you are unaware. But anyone that knows me, or has ever spoke with me about being vegan can no longer be let off the hook with this statement. By knowing me you are no longer in the dark about the pain and suffering you cause. Just by knowing what it is to be vegan and why people are vegan condemns you to intolerable acts of cruelty and torture and I no longer will stand by and protect you by covering up your actions with the phrase that ignorance is bliss.

Need something to believe in? Start with yourself. Your own ability to know suffering and stop it when you can. Your own ability to help other in need when you are able. How about simply respecting other living things, and living by the law of live and let live.

More disturbing news…

This story is sad in may ways, but it defines the true laws of nature. Instead of summing up the story here it is;

DOG ATTACKS GATOR , GETS OBIT

Freddy was a cairn terrier, 5 years old, 19 pounds of ferocious. His favorite toy was a rubber goldfish that squeaked when he chomped on it. Once he chased a possum and made it play dead. Once he chased a UPS truck and nearly got run over. Every day, when Sarah Frey took him for a walk and her two cats tagged along, Freddy chased away anything that got near the cats.
On Tuesday, she took him to Al Lopez Park in Tampa. He was not wearing a leash. Suddenly he took off. Only he knows why. Frey did not see what happened next. She is grateful for this. Other people did: Freddy saw a gator and ran to the edge of the water. The gator was about seven feet long. Freddy stared down at the armor-plated carnivore and began to bark. But he did not stop with mere barking. He jumped into the black water. And became a meal. A statelicensed trapper will kill the gator . — Thomas Lake/tbt*

We’re so quick to say eating meat is ‘the food chain’ or ‘law of nature’ yet when a truly natural thing occurs in nature we contort it. I am extremely offended, disturbed, and outraged at the fact the gator was destroyed. WTF would you expect a gator to do when food willing walks into it’s territory!? The owner of this animas should consider herself lucky I am not allowed to sentence her, because she would be in jail for being responsible to destroying 2 lives. There are reasons pets should be kept on leashes, mostly for their own safety. I try not to hate people, but this woman gets my blood boiling. This is the second instance in just a few months where food has willing walked directly into it’s demise and the gator is punished for doing as nature intended. Why aren’t we as humans punished so harshly?

The response to the undercover video footage lead schools to (temporarily) take meat of the school lunch menu (due to health hazards, not the mistreatment). I find this rather sickening, but as they say beggars cant be choosers. Regardless of the flawed reasoning behind the schools decisions I’m glad to see, at least for a while, meat will not be an option.

Another recent article I’ve read is titled ‘Diet Soda can be fattening. Rats!’ ok people, I have a bumper sticker on my car that reads “Torturing one is cruelty, torturing many is science!” I cant help but have a WTF reaction to why people, who don’t normally associate themselves with rats, or have a genetic make up similar to rats, don’t have a problem with being told an outcome on our two different species can have anything to do with one another. The entire subject of animal testing is very contradictory. Either we can kill and torture animals because they are nothing like us humans, or we can test out products on animals to be deemed safe for humans because they are so similar to us. Which is it people?? Are we really like rats? I think yes and no. Genetically no of course, but when the phrase ‘dirty rat’ comes to mind yes, humans are, as rats are thought to be, are clever sneaky creatures.

*WTF; What the Fuck

I’m not sure where to start. First off I’d like to bring attention to a local news paper called the Tampa Bay Times (TBT). I’ve been reading this paper for about a month now and have been astonished at some of the stories I’ve uncovered. This is a free local paper distributed all over the Tampa Bay area, and thus very mainstream. I’m not sure if it’s a journalism trend right now, but I’ve found several stories related to slaughterhouses and animal abuse. These stories don’t point out Veganism per say, but I’ll be dammed if at least one of these stories doesn’t stick with people and maybe one day lead them to the connection of the destruction and harmful behavior they are causing not only to the animals, the workers, but also themselves.

The very first story I came across was about secret undercover video under covering slaughterhouse cruelty shot by the Humane Society in a California slaughterhouse. The article was a mere snippet into the story, but powerful non-the-less. There even appeared a picture of a cow that was unable to stand where the caption read ‘In a scene from the undercover video, a slaughterhouse worker kicks a cow that is too sick to stand or move.” Just the fact that this had any mention at all in such a mainstream paper had me abashed. Of course as Vegan’s, this kind of thing isn’t anything new or even shocking. Here is the corresponding link to the story:

http://tampabaytimes.fl.newsmemory.com/ 

 

Several questions arose upon reading this article. Why is it worse to torture than to take a life?, and How can anyone think what is revealed in this video is so wrong if killing isn’t?

 

A coworker of mine also read the story, and when I inquired about the story to another in her presence she could not listen, and was nearly brought to tears at the mere mention. Yet the very same women continues to eat meat. I really don’t get this. How can anyone care so much for animals they are brought to tears at the thought of them being harmed, yet eat the very same animals? She even admitted to having to talk herself into eating burgers some times. Out of all the horrible things I’ve learned since becoming Vegan I must say this has shocked and horrified me the most. Knowing something is wrong but still doing it is so unconscionable, is it not? Still I sit he in bafflement, stunned into silence with no words to describe my query into this woman’s train of thought and corresponding actions, and people like her.

To me, American today represents greed, wealth, selfishness, and censorship. Is this the foundation of our freedom? I don’t think so. We are considered to be the free world, but what’s so free about having to work 40+ hours a week just to barley pay bills. What’s so free about being in debt half our lives in order to pay for an education that gets us the 40+ hour work week job?

My views may offend some, and seem un-American to many, but to be un-American is in essence to be American, is it not? Having the right to choose to want to be something, or not want to be something.

I wish I could better articulate my thoughts when it comes to my recent decision to turn in my voting card. Literally, I’ve sent it to the democratic national committee. I feel by doing so I’m freeing myself of a burden, not giving something up. It’s impossible to give something up when its already been taken away. Yes, I can still vote, but do I want to? Do I want to participate in a system so obviously flawed? Is there even really a difference between a democratic and republican? At the end of they day the presidential candidates all sleep well covered in their luxuries. The entire election process seems to be a mere façade. Sure we hear candidates tell us how they want to change the world and better our country, but when it comes down to it how much power do they really have to accomplish the impossible? Not to mention we only hear of a select few of the participants in the running. Are theses select individuals really the best we have to offer, no. of course not. They are merely the privileged few with enough money and backing to be heard.

Please don’t misunderstand me. I am thankful for the right to vote, but I don’t feel today’s elections reflect a fair and just process- and maybe they never really did. By giving up my choice, not my right, to vote I feel I am taking away ‘the man’s’ power to make me feel helpless, powerless, and infuriated with things I virtually have no control over- such as my vote being merely symbolic in the recent primary election.

I guarantee a large majority of voters didn’t even recognize half the names on the ballot. When we have people like this deciding our country’s fate how worthy can the process really be? I will however hold myself to my own standards of believing if one doesn’t participate in the political process one forges their right to have a meaningful opinion on it. With that I wipe my hands clean of American politics, at least for now.

The thing about killing animals for food is that it’s a job that no one really wants to do. Think about it. Working in a slaughter house is nobody’s dream job. Unfortunately the people most likely working these horrific jobs are people with no other options. I know a lot of people think that caring for animals means someone cares less for humans. But that’s simply not true. I think its just the opposite. Yes I care what happens to animals, but I care so much about what the people have to go through in order to provide the animals for others to consume as well. When you think about it, its un-humanitarian to consume animal products. There’s a big difference between someone saying they could kill an animal for food if they had to and people virtually being forced to kill billions day after day. Think about what these people go through. Think about how you would feel having to look in the eyes of the innocent as you slit their throats. Is this a position you would ever want your loved ones to be in? Can you imagine being proud as a parent to have you child have to do this for a living? Put aside the health benefits, the impact our out of control meat eating has over the planets energy crisis, and the 10 billion needlessly mutilated and killed animals, and think about what you are doing to your fellow humans. Is eating animals really worth destroying another human being?