1863:
I know that my feeling of
empathy and compassion for animals is right. Of course it is, because it’s
anti-slavery. It feels right in the same way as non-violence feels right. I’ve
never heard anyone denounce vegan principle or say that it was in any way
wrong.
But the subject agitates
people. They show plainly that they don’t want to discuss it. They don’t like
me voicing my opinion on animal matters in general. And if I attack their
views, if my arguments get at all heated, I know I’ve gone too far and then I wish
I’d withdrawn earlier.
I’m always having to remind
myself that, in a free world, each person is entitled to their own opinion and
it’s ridiculous to wage war. As soon as we do the shutters come down. We need
to take care to NOT antagonise for the sake of it. But just as important, we
don’t need to make a rod for our own backs. I don’t need everyone to agree with
me, and I don’t need to take on every red neck I meet. I don’t need to parry
every joke made at my expense, and by the same token I mustn’t feel intimidated
by what others say, even if they’re powerful political figures or corporations.
Vegans can be confident
simply by virtue of the fact that we are vegan. In the end, our own example is
the most powerful weapon we have. If we start to get aggressive it means we’re
afraid of defeat. And we should know well enough that we needn’t be afraid of
anyone, since our arguments are water-tight and it seems that no one has the
courage to take any of us on in serious debate.
As far as I know, this is the
only subject which non-vegans don’t dare to talk about in public.
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