Me, taking the initiative

1121:

In one way particularly, we humans have lost our ‘moral compass’ – we always try to get what we want, despite anything.  That is the human way today.  It’s not as if we’re blind to the terrible suffering of animals on farms, it’s just that if we want to eat them, we will.  If we want to suck the milk out of cows’ udders, we will.  Killing, milking, caging – none of it is likely to be brought to mind if we want it enough - what animals can provide us with.

The relationship between animals and humans can prove to be a most beautiful interspecies friendship or it can show the human to be a most immoral and exploitative gaoler of animals.  Our track record says everything we humans are not to be trusted around animals; if any animal is useful it will certainly be exploited.

Veganism speaks of a no-touch-animals policy.  By ‘no-touch’ I mean ‘exploit’, in the same way that it’s applied to not-abusing children.  Harmlessness, as an ideal, is there to remind us that if we’re ever in doubt we must play safe - cut it out, hold back, do without, reject temptation at all costs.

The principle of harmlessness not only governs the food we eat but also the relationships we have with one another, and starting at home.  Our own personal standards of harmlessness are an insistence on greater harmony and good communication.  And it could be that these standards can then be applied to today’s global problems, sustainable practices, sharing one’s good fortune, rejection of war, etc.

The best practice grounds for harmlessness are at home, where this principle is the basis of a vegan lifestyle and all other constructive changes-for-the-future.   By avoiding corrupt foods we make a conscious attempt to steer clear of harm.  If things are to change, it will have to start by many individuals making their own choices.  We have to take the initiative for ourselves without waiting for others to do it first, or waiting for an inspired government to act.  We can’t rely on outside help or statesman-like leadership since it would be political suicide to merely suggest closing abattoirs or outlawing animal farms.  But it’s a Catch 22, because all the time these places stay open, humans will remain close-minded.

If we want to have an open and independent mind, if we want to be inspired by great new possibilities, we first have to stop believing what our politicians, academics, churches and media tell us about appropriate practice and acceptable behaviour. It’s likely they’re caught up in the same harm-making as everyone else, so are hardly going to advise people to do what they don’t do themselves.  As meat-eaters and therefore animal-abusers, their authority disappears when they preach peace but practise violence.