Also a good question, but not quite what I had in mind. Below are seven sets of questions -- one for each day of the week.
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- What one step can I take today to increase public awareness of the plight of farmed animals? What is the best way for me to help spread the word? How can I help someone else connect the dots?
- How can I be the best ambassador possible for veganism? How can I show that being vegan is the healthiest, most responsible and most compassionate way of being? How can I be more welcoming to new vegans and vegans-to-be?
- What specific skills and strengths can I bring to the table to forward the cause of animal liberation? Because doing what you're good at, and what you enjoy, will make you more effective.
- What can I do to show that animal rights are human rights as well? How can I show the intersections between human and animal oppressions? How can I demonstrate the various ways they're linked?
- How can I help bridge the gap between vegans and non-vegans? (Or between different factions of vegans?) How can I show where there's common ground?
- How can I protect myself from fatigue and burnout so I'm stronger for the long haul? What would stop me from being vegan? What can I learn from detractors of our cause?
- How can I be proactive instead of reactive? How can I highlight gains rather than losses? How can I move from focusing on problems to developing solutions?
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Obviously, questions are a lot easier to ask than answer (and more fun in my opinion), so I'll leave the hard work of actually answering them up to you. ;)
All very good questions. The only one I can answer right off the top of my head is part of #6. The only thing that would stop me being vegan is if it were to save the life or prevent some kind of torture to a loved one or if I were 'required' to physically or psychologically torture another living creature (excluding child/'animal' molesters, rapists, murderers - those kinds of people) or be vegan. Neither of those choices will present itself so I'm safe. I don't know exactly what prevents others, besides unawareness. But then, what about those who know, but just go on and participate in the cruelty anyway? Which is where all the other questions come in and why they're so crucial. When I think back on my 'animal lover' days...before I was vegan...it just kind of blows my mind because I knew...I hadn't seen photos or anything, but I knew. And yet there I was doing it, too. What stopped me back then? I just don't know. As for what can we learn from detractors of basic decency. I have no idea about that either. That's a very generous outlook and question.
Question #2 worries me. Am I a good ambassador? What if I’m the only vegan someone has ever talked to? Am I setting a positive example of a very easy way to live? While I am sick far, far less than I was before going vegan I still feel guilty if I catch a cold or something because I don’t want anyone to think it is because I’m vegan. Am I gracious when I go out to eat with others or do I come off as demanding when I ask questions about something on the menu? I just don’t know. I try to be a good ambassador but I’m not perfect.
Question number 4 addresses an issue that intrigues me. There seems to be a lot of fog surrounding this.
As always, really helpful food for thought. Thank you. We sometimes become so happily ensconced in our vegan bubble that we forget how much work there is out there to be done.
Great list! I think I'm working my way backwards on it. #10 used to be the most challenging new habit to develop. Reacting (negatively or defensively) is very easy to do. And it certainly doesn't accomplish much.
The way I "cured" myself when I dealt with derogatory remarks about us AR/vegan "wackos" was to not take it personally. It's either a defense mechanism in them or just a lack of knowledge. I sure don't want to prove them right by flying off the handle! Better to stay collected and focused on the issues and not be sensitive to the misconceptions. Like I said... Most of the time, it's not personal - So I try not to make it so.
#9 - #1 solutions are in the works! ;)
Thanks everyone for your input! These questions are, of course, ones that I struggle with all the time. And my apologies for being so late in replying -- where has this month gone?!
@Krissa: For me, the only thing that would stop me from being vegan I think, is if I were to be convinced that veganism was hurting animals more than actually helping them -- that another approach would be of greater benefit. As for detractors? I think it's vital to be aware of how they view us, of the arguments they put forth and the questions they have, because ultimately they're the ones we're trying to reach and convince. Also there's a bit of a "keep your friends close and your enemies closer" strategy involved there, snort.
@Debbie: This question worries me too. Especially when I get riled up reading some online article and end up leaving caustic remarks, which no doubt do more harm than good. Gotta watch that temper of mine! And I hate getting colds now because invariably someone will link it to my being vegan. Grrr!
@veganelder: One of my favourite examples to cite for question #4 is domestic violence because there's such a clear link between the two. Where there's domestic assault, there's very likely animal cruelty as well. Studies show that many women don't leave abusive situations because they fear for the safety of their pets. That their pets have been hurt or have been threatened with violence as a means of control. That children exposed to domestic violence are more likely to be cruel to animals, and so forth. This is a subject worthy of its own post sometime, but also a good way to start the conversation about how helping animals helps humans too.
@Tom: Thanks. Yep, the vegan bubble is alive and well, and perhaps a bit too comfortable. Although veganism is making great strides in becoming more mainstream, reading online comments helps me remember how we're still regarded as a wacky minority by most.
@Bea: Being reactive is something I still have to work on. A lot! And sadly, an issue that probably interferes with every other question on the list. Hmmm, I definitely need to start answering these questions for myself. :)
Hi there!
I'm so delighted to find these questions from you. I'm not vegan but have decided to act on my values to commit to a vegan lunch for a month. Usually when I hang out with vegans I feel guilty for being 'only' vegetarian, so I'm happy to see that you speak in the language of 'bridging the gap' rather than everyone's got to be 'all vegan, all the time'. It's a journey for me, and I want to get there someday.