One thing that really got me thinking about how wrong it is to eat animals was a comment I heard about eating dogs. Sure we cringe and feel that is outrageous, but when you think about it how is that really any different form eating a cow, pig, or bird? Sure we have an emotional attachment to our pets, but if you had to murder your meal before you ate it could you? Could you listen to the cries of a mother cow after her baby was taken form her to be sent to the veal factory? Could you listen to the screams of a pig while it tries to run for safety? Could you toss a live baby chick into a grinder because it is a male? I know I certainly couldn’t. I can’t even watch the videos all the way through of these horrifying acts. If these innocent lives were really put here for us to eat why do they struggle for their lives? Why not just go willingly? That right there proves to me that while animals may not speak our langue, or show emotion like us, that doesn’t mean given the chance they wouldn’t choose to live. I can’t justify eating a living thing capable feeling or acting emotionally. Any pet owner has seen this first hand. I had a dog that would cower and curl up next to me during a thunder storm. Are you going to tell me that wasn’t an indication of her being scared? Animals have shown a wide range of emotion, such as being scared, excited, depressed. Animals play and learn, they yawn and hic-up just as you and I. Animals act on body language, which has been proven to be stronger than any verbal exchange even among humans. Calves, piglets, and chicks are no different. They know to stay close to their mothers for safety, they learn to walk, they play with each other. These animals trust us, as our pets do, not to harm them. I for one can no longer stand by and watch while innocent lives are being taken. What about you?

I’ve given a lot of thought to this next subject. I do not feel animals should be considered our ’property’. Therefore I’ve recently been debating myself on the issue of pet guardianship (ownership). It’s taken a lot for me to come to these terms, but I feel having a pet, or any kind, is extremely selfish and in turn wrong. A domesticated animal is a product of human need/want. We seek companionship, but we should not subject innocent animals to our selfish demands. Animals were not meant to be locked up in cages, or dressed up like children. Essentially we have created these now dependant creatures to please our own egos. Growing up I’ve always had a pet, more than one in may occasions. I love animals but this does not mean I am deserved one for my own keeping. I do currently have a dog. A 2 year old, spunky, loveable, female boxer named Savita. I cherish her. But the more I think about it the more I know it is wrong for me to have her. I am gone at least 8-9 hours a day leaving her alone. I know she get bored and lonely. She’s told me so by acting out. I know now my motivations for having her are purely selfish. It shouldn’t be up to her to fill a void in my life, to be there when I want comforting. I’ve recently heard an interview on this topic with a man named Gary Francione. His views proved to me I can no longer make excuses as to why having a pet is ok. He does say now that we’ve altered these once self-sufficient creatures it is now our responsibility to care for them. But he feels the only way to stop the cycle is to stop breeding them. I cannot imagine a world without puppies and kittens, but that’s my self appeasing side. Ultimately I know he is right. I highly recommend checking out his blogs, I’ve provided a link on this page under ‘being vegan’. As for right now I will continue to care for and love Savita, but in the future I won’t be so quick to accept pet ownership as a natural or good thing.

Brainwash.:

- to persuade completely, often through coercion; “The propaganda brainwashed many people”

- submit to brainwashing; indoctrinate forcibly

- Brainwashing or thought reform is the application of coercive techniques to change the beliefs or behavior of one or more people for political purposes.

These are all definitions of the term brainwash. Now for the past few months I’ve been learning and researching about animal rights and veganism. During this time I’ve shared my discoveries with others thinking they may find some of my discoveries as puzzling and astonishing as I have. But I have since come to the conclusion I was mistaken. I have since been called ignorant, close-minded, and told I’ve been brainwashed. I find this somewhat ironic. The very people accusing me of such things are the same people that selfishly eat flesh, turn their backs on suffering, and don’t want to learn anything that may be against what they’ve been told to believe their entire life. How is it that I can be the one that’s brainwashed when I’ve now seen both sides. I’ve eaten meat and once excepted that animals were here merely for us to consume. Now I’ve also learned what I believe to be the real truth about the meat and dairy industry. There are countless studies on what is and isn’t healthy/necessary for us to thrive. I’ve done research, and I’ve seen many of these studies. Thus have formed opinions based on my new found knowledge. Is it not more likely that ‘meat eaters’ are the ones more brainwashed than I? Turn on the radio or TV, commercial after commercial is about needing milk, eggs and dairy, or that one company provides a less fatty chicken than another, or how this companies ‘meat product” provides more nutrition than that company. To me being brainwashed is continually defending something that you know is wrong. Being brainwashed is being unwilling to accept any information presented to you that apposes your beliefs. I for one certainly am not brainwashed, call me what you will but I shall continue my venture to uncover the truth.

One day I was telling a friend about a video put out by PETA that I watched and posted. I told him how hard it was to watch and how I had to get up away from the computer because I was crying so hard. He asked why I would put myself through such torture. I never really had thought of it that way, but I told him no matter how much I am tormented by watching such acts of cruelty its nothing compared to what the animals go through. So I will continue to endure the pain. People say ‘ignorance is bliss’, and I agree. But what do you do when you are no longer ignorant to a situation? You can’t unlearn things. I certainly could not simple close my eyes and erase all that I’ve seen and read. I could not turn my back on the 10 billion land animals killed every year in our country just so I could continue to ‘fit in’ with family and friends. It’s important to uncover the truth, and now that I’ve seen what is probably just the tip of the iceberg I want to help more people see through the lies. The lies we’ve all been told our entire life, and the lies most people continue to teach today simply because they don’t realize. I recently came across a great quote “Just because everyone believes something is true, doesn’t mean it is.” Think about that.

Recently dog fighting has been a popular topic in the news.  I’m sure by now most of us have heard, and cringed about, the horrific things that have been done to dogs.  None the less, by someone we’d never suspect.  Now I don’t know this man personally.  I don’t know if is a nice guy?  I don’t know if he felt what he was doing was wrong?  Sure most of us look at him and think he’s a terrible person, how could he do such evil things to innocent dogs?  What he did is against the law, which is why he is being punished.  We don’t know if he feels sorry for what he did or just sorry for getting caught.  My point is we all do/have done things we know to be against the law.  Speeding, underage drinking, maybe smoking pot, etc.  Why is it we do these things even though we know they are wrong?  Now don’t get me wrong I am in no way sticking up for or defending this guy.  But what about the things we’ve done unknowingly that were wrong, things that are punishable by law unbeknownst to us.  I’ve heard some people say he was raised where dog fighting was acceptable, which to me isn’t a plausible excuse.  Do we get off conviction just because “oh I didn’t know I would get in trouble”?  No.  it’s our responsibility as citizens to know the laws, to know right from wrong. 

Further more I believe everyone of us, without any psychological impairments, are born with a certain instinct about things that are right and wrong.  For instance the first time a child sees an animal hurt or suffering it’s that child’s instinct to help the injured animal.  As we grow up we are desensitized to this.  While we may feel concern for a harmed cat or dog, we are taught cows and chickens are food therefore we disconcert ourselves with their wellbeing.  Everyone following me here?  What Vic did was wrong. Even if it wasn’t against the law we all know it is very wrong, right?  Even if he felt what he was doing was perfectly normal.  So where does that lead us… killing and torturing animals for our own pleasure is WRONG.  So what’s so different about a guy like Vick and people who continue to eat ‘meat’?  ok,ok I know some of you are throwing hissy fits right now.  But seriously think abut it.  Someone who eats meat isn’t physically harming the animal, the blood isn’t on their hand literally, but you can’t say they don’t share some of the blame.  By eating meat people are contributing to cruelty, torment, and killing.  I know some of you will have responses to this.  Just please think about what I’ve said and in turn think about your response before posting them.

With all the information available today who’s to know what to trust?  I certainly don’t.  But you have to consider the source of all information, for example, vegans vs. the meet/dairy/egg industry.  Seriously, think about who has more to lose?  Who has more to gain?  How many corporations and business do you know that aren’t out to make a profit?  Not that’s necessarily a bad thing, except when the bottom line becomes more important than a life.  And what do most animal rights groups and activists have to gain?  Certainly no monetary profit.  That said who is more likely to lie?  I’ll admit some activists groups may be a little extreme at times, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t any truth to what they are saying.  For example video footage shown by PETA on slaughter houses.  They may show the worst of the worst, but does that really matter?  If someone is only harmed every other day instead of every day does that make it any better?  Basically what it all comes down to is we believe what we want to believe.  And I for one have never had any reason to believe corporations, so why start now?  Why start with one of the biggest profit making industries that have a lot to hide?

Of course not!  No vegan thinks they are.  We’re not claiming to be perfect or superior.  (well maybe some think they are)  but we too are merely human.  I can’t help that I live in a home build by wood that was most likely a previous home to another living creature.  I can’t help that when I drive my car or walk through grass an innocent insect may be harmed.  And I can’t help that when I breathe unseen organisms are being killed.  All I can do is what I’m doing.  I can stop contributing the torment of animals for my own consumption.  I can continue learning about things and ways I can help prevent such acts.  I can and am (slowly) getting my word out.  No one is capable of living a life of no harm, but I choose to live one causing the least amount possible.

Simply for the record I want to state just because I now feel more compassion for animals and their right to live does not mean I am against humans. Quite the contrary. I actually feel more compassion for all living things in my present quest to live a better life. I don’t believe any living creature, animal or human should be tortured, harmed, or killed. Now that I feel that my eyes have been opened my heart has been too. There is plenty of room in each of us to feel empathy and compassion for all walks of life, human and non. And I am grateful to be in the state of mind I’ve stumbled upon. To be quite honest I find myself worrying of my new softer interior. I fear for the harm of myself, where before I knew I had a barrier, I had protection. Yet now I am open and I hope ultimately only good will come of it. Every day I believe more that the more one lets in good the more the good will outweigh the bad. So being pro animal doesn’t equal anti human.

This topic is the argument about killing plants being deemed just as ‘murderous’ as killing animals. Let’s be honest here. No one ever feels bad about eating broccoli, lettuce or any other kind of vegetable/fruit plant until a vegan brings up the horrific acts performed on animals. Why is that? One reason may be people get defensive when they are doing something that others question. Which is understandable. As we grow up we aren’t given all the facts. The more I discover about the ‘animal food’ industry the more I realize this. Unfortunately we are brought up told how good milk is and we need meat to grow strong and healthy. (yet I believe the food pyramid portion of meat has shrunken significantly in the past decades) We are quick to point the finger in another direction when it’s points at us, are we not?

Next, I find it very hard to believe that the very same people that have no problem eating a tortured animal feels the slightest bit of pain for a stalk of celery. So cut the crap. This argument won’t work with me. And guess what, these very same people are then ‘torturing’ not only animals for consumption, but the very same plants as well. So while these people kill everything for their own personal pleasure, vegans have chosen what we believe to be the lesser of two evils.

Lastly, plants don’t share quite the same genetic make up as animals and humans. I will tell you straight up I am not a botanists, nor do I claim to know much about plants. But I have not read anything that would suggest plants have a brain, central nervous system, internal organs etc. Yes plants are living organisms, but I do not believe they feel pain being that they lack our complex make up of nerve endings. Animals actually scream in pain when being sliced and mutilated for the pleasure of our taste buds. So it can’t be denied they don’t feel pain. Animals would chose to live, to breathe, to play, to sleep, if given the chance. Where plants just don’t have the capability to do that since they lack a brain.