04-07-2012, 06:00 AM
(04-06-2012, 03:18 PM)Pablísimo Wrote: Do you really think that they don't care at all? That it's that simple, that they simply can't extend compassion towards farm animals? You could well be right, but that feels pretty bleak to me. I suspect the resistance from them is a complex blend of causes.
I've found that many meat eaters really just don't understand the actual living conditions that factory-farmed animals are raised under. We are insulated and isolated from that reality by shopping for little circles and squares of meat at the grocery store and restaurants. It's not like the fast food industry goes out of their way to show us how they can manage to produce all those burgers that get sold for $1 a piece. When the conversation is not accusatory or judgemental of themselves as people, I've found meat eaters to be usually very receptive to the idea of improving their conditions and reducing the suffering. They may believe it's OK for humans to eat meat and perfectly acceptable, but I doubt very many believe the way that most meat animals are raised and slaughtered is acceptable from either a moral or a health standpoint. IF and once they become aware of the reality, that is.
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This is one of those other complex reasons that I referred to. We are all subject to very strong cultural programming and bias. It's very difficult to question ANY commonly accepted societal norm, and the second anyone steps outside of the 'normal social paradigm', about any topic, they encounter fierce resistance from those still within that paradigm. I know I have had to do an enormous amount of work on myself over the years to de-program the crap I've picked up from movies, society, religion, politicians, etc. So it's not so difficult to me to extend some compassion in this space. However, I think really people are only going to change of their own accord and free will. We can plant seeds, gently try to raise awareness, be an example, but ultimately no amount of convincing or cajoling is going to change others behavior if they don't agree. So I'm trying to create a loving and non-judgemental atmosphere to discuss what is basically a painful topic for everyone, and respect other people's processes and free will to make up their own mind.
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Does their approach really work? I think that in some ways, those shocking images do help raise awareness. There are times when even I have felt it appropriate to share those images. And yet I feel that PETA has given a bad name to a cause I believe in. They are using guilt, controversy, and shame on many occasions to get their point across. I think this judgemental, full on frontal attack approach that they take is detrimental to raising awareness. When you make others feel guilty, angry, and defensive with your approach, then they aren't going to really HEAR your message. Most likely they'll shut down, block it out, or counter-attack. I suspect that it is precisely because of some of their ad campaigns that I run into people who explode about vegetarians and fanatical vegans all the time now.
Yes, I believe people should explore any feelings of guilt they have and convert it into positive action. But continually trying to make others feel guilty and shove their ads down people's throats doesn't seem to have the impact that we really want -- which is awareness and more humane treatment of our younger Brothers & Sisters.
Throwing fake blood on people, destroying property and using almost terroristic tactics just isn't cool in my book, even if I do agree with them about meat eating in general. For me, PETA's means don't justify their ends.
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I would combine this though with other "resistance factors" such as memories of Grandma's home cookin', some degree of social ostracizing, the idea they would have to give up things that they really enjoy the taste of, all the practical concerns, the social conditioning, and then the plain old guilt that some of them feel and don't want to face.
All this forms a complex tapestry of resistance, and I can really understand why. So for me, I want to use a gentle approach. I also have to be careful not to see people as just one thing and separate myself. It's not a fair spiritual litmus test, it is just one issue among many. People are complex, and I've known many meat eaters who are absolutely wonderful people. The animal suffering situation on this planet is appalling, but there are many other dynamics going on and we are all working on our evolution and processing complex catalyst that are not related to diet. Life is so hard here, in this crazy 3D world, I have to cut everybody some slack. We're all evolving in our own ways, and I am well aware that I don't have perfect understanding. Thus, non-judgement of the PEOPLE eating meat and a gentler approach works best for me.
Because these conversations get so charged and polarizing, I think it behooves those of us who are advocating change to go the extra mile and strive to be compassionate, considerate, and respectful to those who don't agree with us on this issue.
It is the "in your face" technique that I find difficult to accept. The analogy that came into my mind is someone walking up to a young fruit tree and start shaking it, yelling: "C'mon, tree! Give me those apples" when it's not yet ready to bear fruits. It is disrespectful and infringing. 3DMonkey raised a good point, which translated into my own understanding, was that strong conviction makes one to go "blind", not seeing the whole picture. Think about how each mind/body/spirit complex consists of mind complexes, body complexes, and spirit complex, which are *veiled*, i.e. not seen to the self (and even less to another third density self). Add to that the societal/cultural mind complexes, and what not more. So the life that each intelligence is living, is indeed so complex that not even the self living that life is clear about what is what. There is great confusion! So with all these things that are not seen to us, we are supposed to learn love. That's simply it.
So what I am trying to say is that, coming up to someone with "in your face" technique about issues that one has a strong conviction about is disrespectful and infringing. And I need to learn that even these people, as much as I am myself, do not have a clear picture and it's ok too. I guess that I just personally need to learn to accept that when I see it, and that I currently have difficulties with that.
You raised another point which I found interesting when you mentioned "Grandma's cooking", and that is when I go to visit someone for dinner, for instance family, relatives or friends who are not vegetarian. When there is no other alternatives than the meat at that dinner party, and people knowing that you are vegetarian, they ask you oftentimes what you would like to eat. Since I've been vegetarian for many years, that has happened to me in the past, for many years. I re-evaluate these experiences today, and think that when/if I become vegetarian again, I will not announce it to anyone. When going to these parties in the future, I will eat what they have to offer, but perhaps will eat less of the meat offered. I don't want it to become a thing of giving my near and dear problems, i.e. more work. It doesn't have to be complicated, as the life in third density already is. And it doesn't have to become "all or nothing" thing for me personally either.
Another thing is the "waste" that I find of importance when considering these issues. Since the meat is already prepared for many to eat, I'd rather take a little taste of this dish, instead of forcing others to buy (=adds to consuming) and prepare (adds to more work for another self) in order for me to eat that other dish.
That makes my mind to slide into another issue, which is the poisining and polluting of our environment. All that is done to the soil and the air when we grow our grains, fruits, vegetables etc. Where does this product come from? I've read about great amounts of grain and other products that are wasted and thrown away in some countries. Many countries are completely inconsiderate about how they grow their grains, vegetables and fruits in regards to the environment. Also, the transportations of these products that are in our grocery stores is something that is of importance for me personally. The longer this product has to travel to reach my local grocery story, the more it adds to the pollution of this already burdened planet.
Another issue is, while the slaughter of the animals is a topic by itself, which I will not go into, it is how these animals are kept that is an issue for me. Whether cows and chickens are kept to be slaughtered or for their milk and eggs, it is how they are kept that is important for me personally.
In Sweden, we have something that is called "ecological", and I think that in US it is called "organic", but I am not sure. What an ecological product means is that this product is made with an outmost consideration for the environment and the animal producing it. For me it is of no difference whether one eats the chicken or it's egg, if that chicken is held in a minimal cage causing that animal great suffering and pain, and the same goes with cows and all other animals. I even think that sometimes it is better that this animal is slaughtered perhaps, instead of kept alive it's whole life in these conditions for what it is producing, like eggs and milk.
All these things are of personal consideration to me, but should I load others, when they are not interested, with all that, and especially using "in your face" technique? I do what I can in choices like foodstuff I buy, or by supporting organisations involved in these issues, such as Greenpeace, WWF etc. And someone else does more than that. I guess that I just need to find acceptance even for those using "in your face" approach, whether this approach regard food choices, spiritual growth or something else.