1420:
If we are discussing the
merits of Animal Rights, the argument-advantage is always ours. We have a handle on the issues, whereas
non-vegans have the embarrassment of holding too many weak arguments. In terms of point-scoring, we have nothing to
fear whereas they do, despite being part of the majority's opinion. So we shouldn’t be trying to win arguments,
rather we should be seen to be encouraging discussion. For that reason alone, we should be careful,
like a card player, not to use all our trump cards too soon, if at all.
Where’s all this going? Me talking to you, you reacting to my tone, my
words, my looks, my arguments. Do you
see me trying to provoke an argument? Do
you see me as being on the attack?
How am I feeling in front of
you, when I wonder what will happen if I lose my advantage? Or if I lose control of my ‘vibrations’, and
you see through me? Or if I seem like a
book that has an unpalatable story? And how can I avoid you sensing hostility when
I bring up the subject of ‘Animal Rights’?
Perhaps I must bear in mind one
rule: I am NOT trying to change anyone’s
mind. I'm observing you but trying my
hardest not to judge you, because that's always going to be reciprocated. It's a neutral starting point I want from you,
about me. If any change of heart is to
take place for you, it's something you'll want to do for yourself, in your own
time. All I should be trying to do is
get useful information across. To that
end, I should be quick, or at least to the point. But, not cover issues too quickly, and not too
pointedly either.
This is how I see it: talk is
a two way road. I need to convince you
that I think listening is just as important as talking, and to show this I’ll listen
to you with an open mind and wait till it’s my turn to speak. If you make a response which isn't
to-my-liking, then it's up to me NOT to take umbrage. If I say something ‘vegan-inspired’ and you
rubbish it and my ego gets bruised, it's not for me to feel offended or show
that I've been offended. Hardened animal
advocates should be immune to any of these surface tensions.
I like to think of these
interactions as Big Events. However
they’re probably not big events to those we’re speaking with, who don’t realise
why we’re getting so excited over this animal thing. They won’t necessarily realise that we’re
‘being urgent’, both on the animals’ behalf and for them too. They might only think we're trying to get
their approval for our being vegan. Maybe
that's not fair, but we should be used to having our motives misjudged. That we care about people's well-being as much
as wanting rights for animals would probably be a foreign concept to most
non-vegans. Therefore, it's unlikely
that non-vegans would believe that the vegan-advocate wants to prevent
life-threatening dangers being visited on fellow humans just as much as wanting
animal liberation.
The logic behind vegan
principle is like the enjoyment you get from a good book or a good story. It’s all in the detail - details we think
about when we’re alone with our own private thoughts. The thread of logic, quite apart from the
empathy factor or promoting ethical values or compassion, runs right through
vegan principle, from the starting point to a very attractive end-point. It runs from the eating of healthy food,
through animal rights, through non-violence and ending up, one day, to there being
a sustainable and peaceful planet.
I hope whatever I have to say
on this subject will just seem like a good story. But knowing myself, I'll probably end up
coming on too strong. And when I’m
trampling the roses, getting confrontational or personal, that’s when I might start
to seem unfriendly. For any one of us, as
soon as we withdraw our affection, it shows. Every one of us, from babyhood to old age is
hard-wired to spot this danger in the other. We are for ever on the look-out to see if a
person has a nasty side. And that's when
we watch out for those nasty value judgements, which ultimately stop
people listening and slow down the process of changing-one's-views.
*********************************************************************
THE BLOG NOW continues with A
LONG ARTICLE, BROKEN UP INTO FIVE PARTS, starting (tomorrow) Monday through
Friday, all of which has been edited by my very dear vegan friend CJ Tointon. As usual, whenever you notice any good English
expression in these blogs, it's usually down to her good work. It's all done pro bono, and with skill and
enthusiasm on her part. And I'll take
this opportunity here to thank her most profoundly for her assistance.
From tomorrow: A Transubstantive Suggestion - in Five Parts
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