Turning the other cheek

Gypsy the Queen

At this time in my life I was living in an apartment and had 2 cats.  One evening I came home and outside my window was a grey cat.  The cat was hollering so much I thought it was hurt.  I brought the cat in and put her on my screened in front porch.  She seemed fine, just upset that she was outside.  Over the next few days I tried to find her owners with no luck.  So, I said to myself that I would keep her until I could find someone to adopt her.  A couple of months later I was at work and heard a cat screaming.  I went outside to find that a cat had crawled into the engine of my car to keep warm.  After getting her out of my engine I realized that she needed immediate vet care (her leg was broken, teeth knocked out, bloddy, flea infested, ect.) so off we went.  I decided that I would fix her up and keep her until I could find someone to adopt her.  This happened to me 7 more times.  I did find homes for 2 of the cats but it still left me with 7 cats.  I lost one of my original cats a couple of years to cancer but I still have 6 of the strays that I found when I lived in that apartment.

These cats taught me a lot about helping animals.  Each one is a gift and they thank me every day that I took them in and fixed them up.  Because of their affection, I could no longer distinguish between loving one animal and eating another.  I never ate meat again and went vegan three years ago.  I will never again consume animal products and couldn’t be happier about it.

Joee loves Loki

For me, the reason that I am vegan has nothing to do with my health.  The health advantages I get, for me, are a side benefit.  I am vegan because I believe in an animals’ right to life.  I want them to have every advantage, opportunity and agenda that they are intended to have.  I believe that humans have no rights to the other lives on this earth.  I think that reason alone supersedes any other.

And that, the rights of animals, is why veganism is more than a diet.  Most often the first thing that people think about veganism is the things that we choose not to eat.  I suppose it’s to be understood since it’s a pretty big part of veganism.  If you search around around the internet you’ll finds thousands of awesome blogs on vegan food.  Which is great, but I want to see more sites talk about the ethics behind veganism.  I say it over and over again that veganism isn’t a diet, it is a way of life.

Some people believe that any mention of veganism is positive.  The more exposure to the benefits of a plant-based diet the better.  That we must be cautious in our responses to non-vegans for fear that we aid in the negative stereotyping of veganism.  And I think that there is wisdom in that.  I have said over and over again that we, as vegans, have a responsibility to our cause to act in a manner appropriate to promoting veganism in a positive light.  But I think that about people in general, not simply about veganism.  Whenever you want to express your beliefs you should do so in a polite, educated manner.  It should never be “forced” on anyone, rather discussed in a respectful way.  My momma always said that you “get more with honey than with vinegar” and I really think that’s true.  No one wants to listen to anyone who is over the top radical.  Not about animal rights, not about anything.

But I am cautious to praise people who talk about veganism as a “diet” or use it as a “cleanse” without also mentioning the ethical reasons behind being vegan.  Because for the animals, veganism is a matter of life and death.  I wouldn’t want anyone to take my life lightly and I afford the same respect to the animals I share this earth with.  Veganism is important.  Yes, it is important to show meat eaters that you can live (happily) on a plant based diet.  But it is equally important, if not more so, to educate why we should abstain from meat.  We need to remember that we are discussing morals and ethics.  These are the important parts, the ones that need reinforced.

So do we condemn someone who isn’t as vegan as we’d like them to be?  Maybe a vegan who still has a leather jacket or leather car seats?  How about a vegan who is “only vegan a couple of days a week”?  No, I don’t think we should.  I think that we should support our fellow vegans, regardless if they are 100% or not.  But do we stay silent about promoting the ethics of veganism for fear of negative press?  No.  Be respectful and intelligent but talk about why a pig deserves to live.  Because you never know when your intelligent and thoughtful conversation will influence someone to rethink their behaviour.  And maybe, just maybe, an animals life will be spared.  And, isn’t that what veganism is all about?