Force

460:

Experimenting using force is little more than advantage-taking. Once we take out the ‘force factor’ in what we do, what are we left with? Perhaps we’ll seem less pushy, even ignorable but we free ourselves from the grip of the usual activist’s violence-based approach. At least people won’t have to be afraid of us, that we might attack them or humiliate or judge them. They’ll be more inclined to give us a hearing.
As humans we’re capable of wonderful things, not the least of which is our ability to ‘act on principle’ rather than from the ‘me-first’ position. One of the greatest principles is non-violence, not the do-nothing- passive approach but the active-provocateur-spirit that stirs without causing any harm. I think there’s such a thing as the non-violent wake-up call that mixes well with our own sense of rebellion. If we can find a balance in that we can be a little provoking or questioning without using any force. We can couch what we say in humour, where we are gently taking the piss out of those who have no argument to support their position. We can give them a serve but keep it light at the same time.
Take an omnivore for example. I’ll tell them they couldn’t boycott anything even if they tried, since they are so hooked on yummy food. No, they might not like that but they can hardly get too upset by my saying this to their face. They have to agree that we should all be working for a better world. Our suggestion is simply that we should all boycott the ugly stuff that makes the world a worse place.
By boycotting we withdraw our support of a world-that-need-not-be. Our pressure, as vegans, brings this world into focus, making compassion the new fashion. In whatever way we put that to other people, as long as we don’t get too heavy about it, they can hardly disagree. We know, first hand, that what we are suggesting can be difficult, and omnivores believe it’s probably too hard to live happily being a boycotting vegan. Our job is surely to awaken them to the possibility of overturning a notion that’s been planted, as part of the ‘conspiracy of misinformation’, by The Animal Industries. And just to give vegan eating a go.