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Second Thoughts on the Animal Activism Approach By Emily Weissman
Sep 5, 2006

I would like to bring attention to the issue of animal rights. I am an animal rights activist, as well as vegan. I choose not to eat meat. That is my choice. It is my personal belief that eating meat is wrong. That doesn’t make me right.

There is something else I would like to bring attention to. Each year, millions of animals are slaughtered in a cruel and unjust manner, for food, clothes, and for countless other uses. Animals do not deserve to be treated the way they are. I feel it is wrong. Most people would agree.

As an animal rights activist, my goal is to inform people about the atrocities that involve animals, including the horrific conditions in which animals live before being killed, and the manner in which they are slaughtered. If I focus on my personal beliefs and convey the message to others that “Eating meat is wrong,” meat-eaters will most likely defend their right to eat meat. While becoming angry, they might start a “controversial debate” and we might sit for hours arguing our personal beliefs—whether eating meat is right, or wrong.

Sometimes I wonder if I am the only activist with her head still attached. Have we all lost our minds somewhere along the way? Have we become so completely absorbed in our self-righteous attitudes that we can no longer process thoughts in a rational manner?

I have found that when I bring to light the alarming facts on how animals are treated in order to become food, people actually listen to what I have to say. When I speak of other atrocities involving animal cruelty, people maintain their interest, often listening closely. I provide facts; I speak about animals who are subjected to much abuse and torture throughout their lives. By not citing my personal belief that eating meat is “wrong,” more people opt to listen to what I am saying, instead of providing an immediate rebuttal. After providing these facts I might add, “I do not eat meat because of these facts… I feel it is wrong.”

There is much too much sadness in this day and age. There are too many sentient beings that suffer in pain and misery, while we sit on our leather couches, wash our hair with shampoo that was tested on animals, and live a sheltered life in front of our televisions and computers. If animal activists want to get through to people, we must pick an issue. We must provide facts to educate people. When trying to gain support we must prioritize. We can’t pick a million and one issues and expect people to pay attention. It is too overwhelming for them; for anyone. Truth is a lot to handle. Once your eyes are unveiled, truth pours in like harsh rays of sunshine.

We need to start small. Encourage people to eat less red meat. Educate them so that they may eventually choose to not eat meat at all. In order for someone to change their way of living, they must first obtain the desire to do so. We have become such fanatics that we will not accept others unless they have conformed to our perfect ways. We must be accepting of others’ diets, and inform them first of why we fight for our cause. If someone stops eating red meat, but still eats fish or chicken, I can’t jump down their throats screaming for them to stop. I am happy when they have stopped eating red meat—it is a step in the right direction. I would much rather people eat fish than cows. I would much rather people not harm any kind of creature, but I can’t tell them that they are “wrong” for what they eat. Hopefully that realization will come with time. Once they have adapted to a life without red meat, perhaps I will speak with them on shifting towards a vegan diet. I would rather they accept the vegan lifestyle first; let the diet come later.

Animal activists, more often than not, come across as “crazy.” I wonder if they realize that calmly educating with facts goes further than drowning someone’s ear in personal beliefs and opinions. I could tell you eating meat is wrong, but that is my opinion. I could show you how animals suffer in pain and that could be a fact you might come to understand and perhaps it might become a cause you deem worth fighting for. People have a right to their thoughts. If this article is printed, then I have had a right to mine.

Emily Weissman is an animal advocate and freelance poet from Long Island, New York. Her work appears regularly on the Internet. You can contact her at: MleWeissman@aol.com.


Morality Aside, is Violence an Effective Strategy?
By Michael Greger

http://www.care2.com/c2c/share/detail/169345


Goal: The Most Effective Activism for Animal Liberation
By Joyce Friedman

http://www.care2.com/c2c/share/detail/169340
Visibility: Everyone
Posted: Tuesday September 5, 2006, 2:08 am
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