Vegan Philosophy
Veganism is not a diet and it's not a cult, it’s a philosophy… a school of thought. It’s the philosophy that animals have the right to live a life free of unnecessary pain, suffering, enslavement and death at the hands of self-serving humans. It's a perspective of equality that rejects discrimination on any basis, not just race, ethnicity and gender, but species as well. When we love, care for, and protect dogs and cats and confine, mutilate, and brutally kill cows, pigs, chickens, turkeys and fish, we perpetuate the most socially accepted form of discrimination there is: speciesism.
Most people think of food choices as "personal" choices. When people hear that we're vegan, many people will say to us "That's great that you're vegan. Good for you. But its not for me."
As vegans, we see our choices very differently. If someone said to you "I think its great that you don't kill other people. Good for you. But I'm ok with murder. That's my choice" what would you think?
Whether it's acceptable to kill other humans is not a personal choice. Whether it's acceptable to rape humans is not a personal choice. Whether it's acceptable to steal human babies from their mothers and fathers is not a personal choice. So is it a personal choice to participate in these activities with non-humans? Is it a personal choice to kill, rape, and steal babies from non-humans? When the suffering of others is involved, nothing is a personal choice. What we generally consider "personal" about our food choices is hardly so.
We see veganism as a moral and ethical imperative, the same way everyone views avoiding basic criminal acts which harm others as moral and ethical imperatives. We see veganism as a matter of justice and non-violence. We do not see it as a personal sacrifice. We do not see it as something that's great for us, but may not be the right choice for someone else.
Animal suffering is not the only reason that food choices are not just personal choices. Considering the permanent environmental destruction and rising healthcare costs that occur from consumption of animal products, our food choices have a powerful lasting impact on every other living being on the planet. Watch the videos below for a better understanding of the vegan philosophy:
Most people think of food choices as "personal" choices. When people hear that we're vegan, many people will say to us "That's great that you're vegan. Good for you. But its not for me."
As vegans, we see our choices very differently. If someone said to you "I think its great that you don't kill other people. Good for you. But I'm ok with murder. That's my choice" what would you think?
Whether it's acceptable to kill other humans is not a personal choice. Whether it's acceptable to rape humans is not a personal choice. Whether it's acceptable to steal human babies from their mothers and fathers is not a personal choice. So is it a personal choice to participate in these activities with non-humans? Is it a personal choice to kill, rape, and steal babies from non-humans? When the suffering of others is involved, nothing is a personal choice. What we generally consider "personal" about our food choices is hardly so.
We see veganism as a moral and ethical imperative, the same way everyone views avoiding basic criminal acts which harm others as moral and ethical imperatives. We see veganism as a matter of justice and non-violence. We do not see it as a personal sacrifice. We do not see it as something that's great for us, but may not be the right choice for someone else.
Animal suffering is not the only reason that food choices are not just personal choices. Considering the permanent environmental destruction and rising healthcare costs that occur from consumption of animal products, our food choices have a powerful lasting impact on every other living being on the planet. Watch the videos below for a better understanding of the vegan philosophy:
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This vlogger talks about how your food choices affect every living being on the planet. In this lecture, Dr. Melanie Joy, author of "Why We Love Dogs, Eat Pigs, and Wear Cows" explains how the invisible ideology of carnism makes it possible for us to continue to eat animals even though doing so is against our fundamental sense of morality and compassion. |
