After the Debate

After the talking is over we might have to agree to disagree. And then move on. Work to be done, repairs to be carried out, time over for talking. But whatever we are doing we always have to come back to getting ideas across, the temptation to try a new way of convincing people of the ‘bleedin obvious’, that vegan principle is universally relevant and important. If vegans are trying to establish veganism in the popular mindset we must be looking at how humans reason things out, whether it’s about animal rights, damage to the planet or starving children. We do have some pretty impressive arguments, we just need to know how they can best be packaged, so that they’ll make sense to those who are appearing to be too obstinate to listen.
We use reason to float our ideas but our effectiveness depends on how we communicate and how much store we seem to be setting on remaining friendly, in an atmosphere of provocation. It shows a lot about our character if we can rub along together and take up positions in opposition to one another but refuse to take umbrage; always regarding opposition as a positive challenge. Opposition doesn’t have to mean an assault. As long as we keep the focus on repair we can delve deep into issues concerning food, animals, health, planet, non-violence … and if we’ve been talking together constructively, it doesn’t matter if there’s been lot of disagreement.