Animals vs Humans

1603: 

Edited by CJ Tointon

Fifteen billion (edible??) animals live amongst seven billion humans on Earth today. How must we seem to the animals themselves? Perhaps as the makers of a great deception? We humans act like Grand Lords of the Harem, assuming that the animals should feel privileged to be bred, used, tortured or killed. The hen is pleased to provide a daily food parcel. The ape is proud to step forward for scientific research duties. The sow is delighted to offer up her babies for their tender flesh. The cow ever-ready to deny her calf milk in order that the Grand Lords may enjoy it. And the Grand Lords do accept these bounties. But in order to ensure supply, the Grand Lords must betray each and every creature. The hen ends up amongst ten thousand others in cages. The ape ends up insane. The sow is encased in an 'iron maiden' and her babies taken away and eaten. The cow is harnessed to a suction machine and her babies are also taken away.

We know things these days about animal cruelty that weren't widely known forty years ago. And most people are distressed when they hear about it. But how strange that it doesn't seem to change their eating habits? Perhaps this shows just how strong the impulse is to protect one's own food supply and one's own vital energy source. People refuse to alter their familiar food regimes if they consider there is no advantage in it for them. Nor will they choose a lifestyle that separates them from others. But guilt can have a sharp cutting edge. If we just cannot dismiss what we know is happening to farm animals; we won't feel too comfortable about our food choices if they're animal based! The ideas that vegans are putting forward only highlight this dilemma. Unfortunately, pointing it out is usually not welcomed. To the omnivore, we inflict discomfort just by bringing up 'animal' issues! For this reason, most people avoid talking to us - especially about food!

Vegans might be lonely because they deliberately disassociate from the lifestyle shared by almost everyone else. They not only boycott many products sold in shops, they also boycott events like barbecues, dinner parties and restaurants. Because vegans withdraw from social events, they're likely to be made into social 'misfits'. They need to find a way of dealing with this loneliness and vilification.

We all suffer of course; the omnivore from guilt and chronic stomach complaints - the vegan from social alienation. But vegans know they're standing up to a great hypocrisy in Society and they have a mountain of work to do to turn it around. We must strike a delicate balance. How do we advocate strenuously whilst not necessarily going on the attack? How do we remain friendly with those we judge? How do we stay emotionally detached and not let things get to us when we're cold-shouldered? There's a lot to handle here; especially when we're openly avoided for simply wanting to talk about these things closest to our hearts.  Yet, for the sake of the animals and their eventual liberation, we must find ways to handle it