Props

639:

Animal Right activists are concerned about attitude, including our own. If we’ve walked away from using animals it’s something we can be proud of but pride can be connected to both accomplishment and arrogance. The vegan animal activist might be proud of their self discipline but needs to downplay it, and never be arrogant or boast about it if they want to be listened to.

It has to be said that if a person is still a user of animals they can hardly advise others to abstain. It seems obvious to say this but there are so many well-meaning activists who are unwilling to

Reduce their dependency on certain material items they think they need. What vegans are on about is that we must be consistent, and have a plan of reduction which, in turn, leads to a reduction-in-demand. If that is multiplied by enough people it reduces the market for unethical commodities and raises awareness at the same time. It’s boycotting.

How can this possibly fail? Step by step we are creating a new market for ‘cruelty-free’ products. Slow it might be at first, but it is the start of a major shift in the planet’s destiny and the  transformation of our own species.

It requires a few sacrifices of some foods and, at this early stage, some acceptance by others. We have to be pioneer-types, and put up with some loneliness, and learn how to do without a few home comforts we’ve grown up with.

We’ve been spoiled and therefore, to a large extent, life has been spoiled. We can no longer enjoy living in a state of unselfconsciousness.

Life is possible with just a little food and not very much more. Even bare survival would surely be better than all the luxuries we have today, if we could rid ourselves of the shame we feel and the lost innocence, and unselfconsciousness we so badly miss. We humans have some atoning to do.

Most of the items we’ve been attached to are merely material props. They’ve been our comforts while growing up. Now we have a chance to be fully mature and can shake off our need for little luxuries, particularly the fancy foods and clothes we spend most of our money on. They are props we just don’t need.