Why I am not a vegan

[Diana]

What I'm trying to say is that you are never going to logic someone into changing their behaviour if they don't want to change. It doesn't matter how many rational and effective and convincing arguments you want to muster (all backed by solid evidence), it's a personal choice at the end of the day. It's a choice you made at a certain age, and it's a switch that I made at a certain age.

I didn't drop meat to save the animals. And it's not a cause celebre for me.

why do you think this thread (and other's like it in the past) generate so much heat and friction? is it because you are trying to change other people's behaviour by implying that what they are doing is wrong, uncompassionate, and guilt-worthy? Because behind many of your reasoned arguments, that is the emotional tone being conveyed.

My dear Plenum, I am not trying to "logic" anyone into anything. This is the central point and thank you for so clearly stating it.

I am here because this is a discussion on a subject that matters to me. When in a discussion, doesn't one endeavor to make one's point? I feel I may have been maligned into a person trying to control the B4 members. I am not trying to do that. I am only here discussing a subject with individuals I think smart enough and spiritually minded enough to talk about it.

I would love my words to understood. I would love to know that I got my points across. This is my ego at work, admittedly. But I certainly am intelligent enough to know that I cannot convert anyone to anything.

For anyone who fancies themselves a wanderer, or anyone who has spent their life being the "different" one, you will know that this place can be isolating for those out of the box. I would like to think I can talk to members here about any subject dear to my heart (or not), and not be so misunderstood.

By the way, I could say the same of anyone who eats meat: That their points and arguments are aimed at converting me to a meat-eater. But I know that is not possible and I'm pretty sure it's not true.

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"Setting an example" is a good idea which has been around for a long time, but lets look at that idea a little more deeply and see what exactly it means to "set an example".

An example can be set on a small or on a large scale. We see small scale setting of examples in families and from parents and peers. We see large scale setting of examples through the media.

How can setting of examples on large or small scales affect the choices of others?

I can give you many examples from my own life, and have done so here on B4 a few times. In being an example, though, I must add the caveat that it wasn't my intention to be; I just did what I do and others noticed.

I'll repeat one here: On a trip to Costa Rica I was on a boat with several others in the jungle, and upset because we pulled alongside another boat to admire a huge fish caught, flopping around trying to get off the hook, and being held up to be admired. I was crying privately not wanting to be seen doing so, against my boyfriend's chest. The guide noticed this and sent our boat on to our destination. Afterwards, he told my boyfriend that seeing me sincerely sad over that made him really start to question his "great white hunting" (he apparently used to take people on shooting safaris for sport).

His choices to shoot and kill animals for sport will now always have to include the awareness he has as a result of this incident. He may ignore it, but he will not be able to erase what he became aware of.

I didn't intend to, but I set the example for him of compassion for animals.

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I agree, now, where my thought is going, is what do you think the soul history of all of these individuals who inflict this suffering are?

I know I keep bringing it back to humans, but that is because it is humans who are doing these things. Heal humans, and you heal their actions. Lets step beyond the "suffering and torture is cruel" which we all know and accept, and look at the nature of the souls whom are part of this big drama.

Well, there is the obvious:

1. Some souls are closer to predator/prey behavior. Perhaps they have not evolved much into 3D yet, so the whole fight-or-flight, survival instinct is very much at the forefront. Survival—food—would be paramount and therefore gotten in any way one can, commiserate with the animal kingdom of predator/prey.

2. While traversing 3D and utilizing free will, one learns cause and effect from experience. At some point presumably, the individual puts 2 and 2 together and makes the connection that what one does one does to one's self.

3. Perhaps the soul is on the so-called karmic wheel, and is retaliating for lifetimes as a victim, trying to polarize toward love of self and shutting out love of others in order to do it.

There are infinite possibilities. What do you think?