If This Offends You… Why?

Posted on 15. Dec, 2010 by Yvonne Smith in Blog

I don’t desire to be that vegan. You know, the one with no sense of humor. The one whom omnivores are afraid to invite out to eat with them because there may be comments made about what they order.

I don’t do that. But I feel compelled to say that while I can laugh at myself as much as the next person, when you joke to me about how much you love bacon or foie gras, it really does tear me up a little inside. What I don’t think most people realize is that for many vegans like me, killing a pig for your taste buds is not much, if at all, different than killing and eating a dog, or even a human being. I try not to put myself above animals. I don’t believe that they are here for us to use and abuse.

Every once in a while I post something on my Facebook page about animal abuse. I don’t do it all the time, but sometimes a video or article will really grab me and I feel it’s worth sharing. I will always be indebted to PETA for sending me that magazine with photographs of animal abuse that caused me to go vegetarian many years ago, so you never know when a message will touch someone.

What’s interesting is how few people comment on these links, or even bother to watch them. I have thousands of friends on Facebook and when I post certain things, I get tons of views and comments. Not so with the animal videos.

If you are unable to watch what really goes on in factory farms and slaughterhouses, shouldn’t you at least reconsider what you put in your body?

I know lots of people who tell me they only eat animals from “humane” farms, yet they order meat in restaurants all the time. And really, what is a humane farm anyway? Most of these animals, even if they may have actually eaten things nature intended them to eat and their feet have actually touched grass, end up in the same slaughterhouses as the factory farmed animals. Really, don’t kid yourself. If you order meat, dairy, etc., you are paying someone to abuse an animal. Period.

I really, truly believe that so much of the violence in our society starts with how we treat our animals. If we continue to ignore the way our fellow earthlings are treated and what that does to those who torture and consume these wonderful creatures, we are doing ourselves and our world a disservice.

Veganism is pure joy to me. I am so thankful for the way I look and feel and to know that with the things I eat, wear, etc., I am voting for a more compassionate world. I don’t feel like I’m missing out on anything. I do realize though, that everyone is on their own path, and that’s why I don’t judge others for making different decisions than the ones I make.

I love you just the way you are and I love to laugh and be happy, just as you do. I’m not asking you to change for me. I really can endure a lot. But please consider my feelings when you make jokes about killing my friends.

Tags: animals, bacon, factory farming, foie gras, humane, humane farming, PETA, slaughterhouse, The Traveling Vegetarian, Vegan, vegetarian, violence, Yvonne Smith

67 Responses to “If This Offends You… Why?”

Beth Miner

15. Dec, 2010

Amen, Sista! My thoughts exactly.
Kayleigh

15. Dec, 2010

Beautiful and well said! Thank you for speaking your truth! (c:
Jillian

15. Dec, 2010

I had a craving for chicken the other night, then watched a documentary about factory farming, and I am so glad I didn’t eat the chicken!!! I am becoming more loving every day, and I attribute that partially to my food choices. I truly believe that once you know, you can’t not know. It is so nice to be surrounded by such supportive people.
Rev. Kelly Jo Singleton

15. Dec, 2010

Beautifully said.
Debbie

20. Dec, 2010

Thank you. Very eloquent, Yvonne. I wish more people had the courage to speak out & show compassion for animals.

Humans have to learn to think beyond themselves to the pain & suffering AND DEATH caused by their choices in food, clothing, cosmetics & household products, etc. This world isn`t just about us. We are sharing it with other living beings who have just as much right to their lives as we do. I wish people could see the big picture !
Ray George

23. Dec, 2010

Hi Yvonne,
We’re facebook friends, and I live where you grew up, in Santa Rosa, CA (actually Sebastopol, but close enough). I have been vegetarian for 3 years, mostly vegan, and mostly raw. I am working on the complete elimination of all animal products and hope that this new year will be the catalyst for my will power to exercise that choice and stick with it. I have read Will Tuttle’s book and I am in complete agreement with him and you and all those who are choosing this path, For me it is both spiritual and physical. I don’t want to harm another being, especially for my palate, and I don’t want to put dead corpses into my body.
Thank you for being an inspiration to so many.
blessings,
Ray
Brian

29. Dec, 2010

Excellent piece. Thanks for sharing.
Kristie Agee

04. Jan, 2011

Well said, Yvonne. Even though PETA really pisses me off sometimes with their radical campaigns that take aim at certain people (fat people or even cancer victims!), it was their Meet Your Meat video that got me thinking about veganism a few years ago. My favorite thing that you said is that “veganism is pure joy” to you. I feel exactly the same way.
Veggie Brothers

21. Jan, 2011

Hi Yvonne. Love your website, and love this post. Well said! Oh hey, and it’s awesome that you spent some time with Steve-O! Nice!!
Heidi

28. Jan, 2011

I just found you, yet I feel like you know how I have felt about being vegan/veggie for years. My brother and Dad love to tease me, but it is more than a tease. I actually fought with my brother tonight over his comments on one of my FB posts tonight. He says if I put it out there, he can say what he wants. I say I just need a brother, a friend. It comes down to respect, and lack of it. Thank you for confirming that for me.
Michelle

13. Feb, 2011

Well said. PS that photo is freakin’ ADORABLE! PSS i miss you.
Nessa

13. Mar, 2011

I love animals and as far as I am concerned they don’t get enough recognition. I think we should have a stat holiday called ” LUV YOUR ANIMAL DAY”
Nigel Sturge

11. Aug, 2011

How seriously is animal cruelty weighed, if we consider non-vegetarians as merely “making different decisions than the ones I make.” If we’re all on “different paths”, why condemn anything? If a man wishes to assault you, should we accept his actions as a “personal choice”, and do nothing more than shake our heads in disappointment? C’mon. Yvonne, you might feel good about yourself for being vegan, but, make no mistake, a pacifist attitude does not help animals. Being enraged 24/7 doesn’t help them either, but somewhere in between, (reasonable and damn serious) gives the whole matter the gravity it deserves, that others will pick up on I think you mean well Yvonne. I didn’t come to your blog to pick a fight, I followed the link from Turtle Mountain/ So Delicious just to read a product review!
Stephanie

21. Sep, 2011

Wonderful post!
Janet

08. Jan, 2012

Oh my goodness. Thank you for articulating what I often can’t. I’d like to cut and paste your words on my wall
Brittany

25. Aug, 2012

Amen!! This post sums up my eating habits to the tee! Well said!
Joanna

02. Apr, 2013

Well said! Thank you for sharing.
Clarisse Gastronomy

26. Apr, 2013

Hello, you are right; we have to change our point of view, about how we treat animals in general. I also have friends who post about this kind of subject and I really think it is brave. We have to see animals differently and to accept them as our friends. Thanks
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The Traveling Vegetarian

If This Offends You… Why?

67 Responses to “If This Offends You… Why?”

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