Sometimes I feel like the world holds vegans to a much higher standard when it comes to morality and right actions. I'm not necessarily complaining, because to be honest, as a society who causes so much harm to our planet and to other beings, we really do need to start questioning what is moral, what isn't moral, and how we can do better. I'm grateful that veganism can be something that gets that conversation going. However, with these passing judgments come the inevitable criticism and scrutiny of the lifestyle. Are we doing enough? Are we hypocritical? Why care so much about animals when there's so many other problems going on in the world?
I believe that these criticisms arise because of a certain stereotype that haunts vegans: the "morally superior" stereotype. Many non-vegans have this idea that all of us are self-absorbed, elitist, and will look down upon anyone who eats meat. I mean, yeah, maybe there's some like that, but we all know that narcissism and superiority complexes aren't limited only to vegans. I'm sure you've met plenty of people in your life who fall under those categories who enjoy cheeseburgers. Being completely honest, I don't think I'm any better of a person than someone who eats animal products. Sure, based on my beliefs, I obviously think that my own lifestyle choices are more ethically sound compared to someone who isn't vegan, but that's a given... since I've chosen this lifestyle for ethical reasons. However, I know humans are complex and I'm not so arrogant as to only base my judgment of someone's character on the food they eat and makeup they buy. I may disagree with your lifestyle choices, but that doesn't give me the right to not offer you basic respect, as long as you return the favour. One of the main attacks against vegans that I see that angers me is claiming that we only care about animals and not about human lives. As a very passionate and proud feminist, Black Lives Matter supporter, LGBTQA+ supporter, anti-Islamophobia advocate - honestly, the list could go on forever - this offends me. It irks me that people would judge me based on the fact that I also care about animal welfare and wellbeing, as if this is a bad thing, and assume that I don't also care about the lives of other oppressed groups of people. Of course I do. Animal rights and human rights are my two biggest passions in life, and I'm sure that many other vegans, especially others around my age, would say the same thing. Just because I find it equally as important to stand up for animals who are being tortured and slaughtered for selfish human indulgence does not mean I can't be equally as opposed to unfair prejudices, discrimination, and killings of minority groups. When I went vegan, one of the biggest changes that occurred to me was becoming much more humble and connected to nature. I don't think I ever consciously believed that humans were more important than animals, however now I can look back and reflect on how that is what our society subliminally teaches us. Most of us see little to no problem with enslaving and exploiting other living beings for our own gain when there are so many other easier, cheaper, healthier, more sustainable ways of doing these things. People defend their "necessity" for eating meat by claiming that we're at the top of the food chain - which is just not true, but it's what we are taught to believe, and this is the sort of ideology that enforces the human superiority complex that I despise so much. We are taught to believe that humans are the most important beings - we don't even refer to ourselves as animals, even though that's exactly what we are, just so that we can separate ourselves - and that everything else on this planet is meant for us to take. And to take, and to take, and to take. And to never give. When I went vegan and I realised how much I value other animal's lives and wellbeing, this mindset changed. I don't put myself before them. I don't put any of our lives before them. So does that mean the jeopardized lives of black people or women aren't important to me? Does that mean I put animal's lives before theirs? Of course not. That's why I openly voice my support for them, and all oppressed groups, which include animals. For the sake of this planet, nature, and all of us, I hope that one day we all learn how to live in harmony, respecting each other and not placing importance on one specific group. To me, veganism is a huge step in that direction. C
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Authoradmirer of beautiful things, amateur artist, perpetually confused. Archives
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