Consistency and Double Standards

1704: 

Being conscious of Animal Rights doesn’t stop at dietary change because it suggests the need for a much deeper attitude change towards non-violence. The way we treat animals and the way we treat each other often involves violence and violation. It's not usually about wanton cruelty as much as wanting a quick-fix. Violence and force are used to extract benefit, so when we see a forest we think of the timber we can take from it, without regard for the inhabitants of the forest. We fish out the oceans, dump poisons in rivers, plant ugly pylons in the landscape – we justify it by our need for fish, timber and electricity. Some inconsistencies are less difficult to fix; perhaps we can boycott fish by no longer eating them. But it’s not so easy to boycott timber and electricity. If we did, we’d be the only ones to do it, and we’d end up being resentful about it.

It’s almost impossible not to have double standards. We often feel as though we aren’t doing enough. We can't work out what we should prioritise. Take the average vegan who is boycotting a great many products already, who is being a strict vegan - should they therefore also be a hard-working activist as well? And if we are that, then should we be working at an animal shelter? Or should we just try being a nice person?

Take the average vegetarian who has stopped eating meat but is still unable to be vegan. Or a dietary vegan who can’t let go of their leather shoes and their favourite leather jacket. Or the sincere animal lovers who take on the care of a carnivorous companion animal (albeit rescued) for whom many other animals are killed to feed it. 

Animal Rights consciousness is relatively new to many of us and is the testing ground for deeper practising of non-violence. As we test ourselves and see in what ways we are falling short, we need to also see what progress we’re making and acknowledge that. But, at the same time, we need to keep an eye on our inconsistencies of lifestyle. Whilst none of us can ever be perfect, nonetheless consistency must be the ultimate aim of us all. Cognitive dissonance is what we don't need!!