I finally finished reading Peter Singer's Animal Liberation, which is apparently one of the first and most imformative works on animal rights. If I wasn't already vegan, this would have done the trick. Although he certainly argues for veganism, the information is presented in a very clear and constructive way, which makes for a good argument.
I have been vegan for six weeks now, and now as I think of it, I can't understand why I hadn't been vegan for the first 27 years of my life. Well, I know why- social norms. I didn't even start thinking about animal rights until I got my first pet six years ago. So I know to some it may appear I am self-righteous about something I only adopted less than two months ago. However, becoming vegan is the closest thing I have ever come to a spiritual transformation, if I could even call it that. I am trying as hard as I can to not be condescending when I talk about it. I do not condemn or look down upon anyone who eats meat. People have to make their own choices and I've made mine.
What does bother me is when I tell people I have become vegan, they make it seem like I am some big martyr or something. I am not doing it to torture myself. And helloooooo, I am far from malnourished, if you know what I mean. I guess I would just ask that people acknowledge the practices meat industry and the impact of it. They don't need to do this while they are actually eating, but it is best not be completely ignorant of food productiion. I am far from perfect. I know that some 11 year old made the shirt I am wearing for about two cents an hour, but right now I have not come to the decision not to shop at the Gap.
What's my point? Oh yea, Animal Liberation is a great read, whether or not you are into animal rights. He explains specieism very well, a concept that I really hadn't understood before. I had always thought that individuals who oppose specieism meant that they think of their pets as people. It's more than that, and ties into all other -isms out there. As I had once read, animal rights are very much tied to women's rights and reproductive rights (see also Femmefatalities.org).
While I am on the subject, in honor of meat, one of the best Wondershowzen skits (blood tastes sooooooooo gooooooood):
so that i can make this about me, we requested vegan food for the reception for you and erin. probably some kind of tofu polenta.
i can see the benefits of becoming vegan, but personally for myself i dont think i could do it…i mean i do love vegetables and eating tofu and all that jazz…but to give up meat is difficult for me…i do need to have some protein, and i know i can get it through other ways, but i just have to say I LIKE CHICKEN!
but i definitely give props to you for making the change.
That’s fine and totally my point. I would just say that you don’t shield yourself from the realities of the meat industry. I guess what I am saying is that a lot of people are all “I love meat so I want to be completely ignorant of all food production!”. It’s a very western thing to be completely separated to how our food is prepared.