At the moment our human world is based on the suffering and destruction of millions of non-humans. To perceive this and to do something to change it in personal and public ways is to undergo a change of perception akin to a religious conversion. Nothing can ever be seen in quite the same way again because once you have admitted the terror and pain of other species you will, unless you resist conversion, be always aware of the endless permutations of suffering that support our society.
~Arthur Conan Doyle
This quote kind of says it all, but because I’m a loud mouth, I’ll happily add my own two cents to it!
People often ask me why I made the decision to go vegan. I can point to certain events leading up to that moment that are helpful in explaining how I got here, but at the same time, when I really think about it, it’s almost as if it wasn’t a choice at all. Of course I wasn’t forced to be vegan – that’s not what I mean. What I mean is that it was almost like I had been asleep before and suddenly I woke up and saw the cruelty and suffering around me; being vegan seemed like something I simply had to do. I couldn’t ignore the fact that I had been contributing to animal suffering for 26+ years. I couldn’t look the other way anymore and continue to act as though I hadn’t just had a complete change in perception.
One of my favorite parts of Doyle’s comment is when he states that “nothing can ever be seen in quite the same way again”. We all experience awakenings throughout our lives, whether it’s because we fall in love or get our hearts broken, find religion, have children or any number of other major life events. These things change us permanently and profoundly–just as my awakening changed me. You see, I had always considered myself to be an animal lover, and yet I ate some animal or animal product every single day. What I really was was a dog and cat lover. Then, somehow I opened up my eyes to the beauty and wonder of all non-human animals; I forced myself to imagine the pain and suffering that farmed animals must experience every single day on factory farms, how excruciating each day must be for them… For me, it was virtually impossible not to have a complete change in perception.
I believe that most humans have the capacity to connect with non-human animals, but that we are discouraged from doing so from a very young age. We are taught that dogs and cats are companions, and cows, chickens, pigs, sheep, turkeys, etc. are for eating and/or using in some other way. It isn’t always easy and it can be scary (as change often is), but if you can open your heart up to the joy and beauty of other non-human animals, you will realize that they are not here to serve human purposes, and they most certainly are not here to endure senseless pain and cruelty only to be brutally killed for our dinner. They are here for their own reasons: to play in wide open pastures, to forage for food to nourish their own bodies, to create and nurture their families, and just to enjoy life. Who are we to take that from them?
My hope is that more people will allow themselves to see animals for the amazing individuals that they are; that more people will have their very own vegan awakening.
Excellent!
Hey, mmg, how great to see you in my blog! I feel flattered – I really think your blog is awesome!
Unfortunately, there are not many German vegan blogs… but we enjoy talking to our German friends about our new vegan lifestyle there, even if the reactions are not always approving….
Holy cow, this post is AWESOME. I’d repost it to my blog, if you’ll allow it. I’m definitely flaunting it on Facebook.
s.
HASE– Thanks! And even though I can’t read it, I’m glad you have a German language vegan blog. Spread the word in German! YAY!!
NOTHONEY – Aw, thanks! Go for it, I’m flattered!
Yes, isn’t it amazing how we can go for most of our lives and think we are “compassionate” – yet still be eating animals. The awakening comes like a lightening bolt – and nothing is ever the same.
It’s wonderful to be aware – to be Vegan!
Thanks for posting
Thanks, Bea. And yes, it is wonderful to be vegan, isn’t it???
On seeing things differently:
I was at a concert once at First Ave. and I saw everyone jumping up and down on the floor I started thinking about how they look like crammed chickens. And then I thought about what would happen if the dance floor was surrounded on all four sides by fences. How long would it take for people to peck each other to death? Would they mind living in their own feces?
Um … yeah, so I hear you on seeing things differently.
[...] Why Vegan? “I can point to certain events leading up to that moment that are helpful in explaining how I got here, but at the same time, when I really think about it, it’s almost as if it wasn’t a choice at all. Of course I wasn’t forced to be vegan – that’s not what I mean. What I mean is that it was almost like I had been asleep before and suddenly I woke up and saw the cruelty and suffering around me; being vegan seemed like something I simply had to do.” (link) [...]
[...] Why Vegan? “I can point to certain events leading up to that moment that are helpful in explaining how I got here, but at the same time, when I really think about it, it’s almost as if it wasn’t a choice at all. Of course I wasn’t forced to be vegan – that’s not what I mean. What I mean is that it was almost like I had been asleep before and suddenly I woke up and saw the cruelty and suffering around me; being vegan seemed like something I simply had to do.” (link) [...]
Nice post. Here is a quick story:
When my, at the time, friend went vegetarian, it was almost just out of respect for me(we were almost going out, but I would never go out with a meat-eater and she knew that so she stopped eating animals). She would always think I was extreme in my thoughts, what I said, did, ect. ect. Anyway, a few months into us hanging out(I wasn’t going to go out with her until she truly was an AR advocate(wow I have high standards don’t I?)), we were at a party and the topic of animal rights came up. I’m not entirely sure how we got to the subject, but I said something about how they are just like out cats and dogs– they both have eyes, hearts, arteries, brains, ect., ect.. Neither of them want to be treated like shit…. before they get their throats slit, they all try and escape(you get the point). Anyway, a few minutes after the conversation, my friend slipped into a back room for a few minutes. When I went to find her, she was just shocked. She kept telling me how right I was. I would say, that was her conversion.
[...] The Vegan Awakening [...]
this is the PERFECT post. discussing the conscientious awareness of living beings. i was relating to every word. i also used to eat meat. but now, having a kind love and respect for ALL living beings, i am now a vegan. once again, simplicity. it is this awareness joined with action, in diet and elsewhere, that will put an end to this horrible reality of killing or harming living beings. thank you for sharing your sensitivity to these changes.