 |
|
| Vegan (alt.food.vegan) This newsgroup exists to share ideas and issues of concern among vegans. We are always happy to share our recipes- perhaps especially with omnivores who are simply curious- or even better, accomodating a vegan guest for a meal! |
|
|
LinkBack | Thread Tools | Display Modes |
|
|
|||
|
|||
CF Animal Advocates & Vegan Bingo Breeders
Nina Paley wrote:
> I've avoided animal rights groups because I can't stand the hypocrisy and > pronatalism. You know, "as long as I'm vegan I can do no wrong - my > children are messengers for the animals!" > > Recently I received a fan letter from an animal advocate who really liked > "The Stork." He tells me there's a small but quiet contingent of animal > welfare advocates who don't breed, and are committed enough to get > snipped. I am heartened. When they go from quiet to loud, I'll join in. > > I complained about the dearth of CF articles in the vegetarian press > (VegNews, Vegetarian Times, etc.), and the letter-writer pointed me to a > brief "point-counterpoint" from 4 years ago: > > http://www.cok.net/abol/10/9.php (point) > http://www.cok.net/abol/10/10.php (counter-point, aka Breeder Bingo) > > The first article simply asks "If we're opposed to breeding cats and dogs, > why aren't we opposed to breeding humans?" and points out the negative > consequences of human breeding on animals and the environment. Right on. > > The second is retch-worthy, from the first fallacious line to the > delusional last. I present it here for your shredding pleasure. > > --Nina > > > http://www.cok.net/abol/10/10.php > Counter-Point: > "Procreation" Is Not a Bad Word > > By Erica Fredericks > > The animal rights and eco movements are notorious for their criticism of > human breeding. > > Why do we create such divisions among people working toward the same goal? > Are my actions on behalf of animals somehow less pure because I have > chosen simultaneously to create human life? Has this rendered my activism > less potent? I think not. In fact, I believe that not only have I, by > having children, not obstructed the path to animal liberation, but, > perhaps, I have helped to pave that road. > > While we spend countless hours visiting schools trying to impart our > message to our youth, in one fell swoop I have given the animals two more > messengers. Rather than banking on other people's children, why not create > our own little army of animal advocates?What could be more natural than > having a child? The will to survive is our most basic instinct. We guard > our lives jealously, aware that our presence on this earth is contingent > upon our reproduction. Biologically, we are programmed for long-term > species survival. While our minds may remind us that we suffer no threat > of extinction, our bodies and hearts know no such logic. They are > programmed to want a child. To deny someone the fulfillment of what is > arguably the most basic, unrelenting longing, is both callous and > unreasonable. > > Many people believe that bringing yet another human life into this world > is selfish, but I feel the exact opposite. Having children has taught me > the true meaning of altruism, and, luckily for them, my new sentiments > have extended themselves towards the earth and her creatures. > > Since having my children, I have experienced compassion, empathy, > sacrifice, and love at depths far greater than I thought possible. I now > know what it is to be truly at another's service, holding a life so sacred > that I extend myself towards it fully. These lessons have become gifts to > the animals for whom I work; rather than detracting from my ability to act > within the animal rights movement, they have strengthened and inspired me. > > It is not just I who has emerged from this mother-child partnership a > stronger advocate for the animals. My children, to whom I am imparting all > of my wisdom and values, are already using their voices on behalf of the > voiceless. The world now has two more members willing to stand up for the > animals. While we spend countless hours visiting schools trying to impart > our message to our youth, in one fell swoop I have given the animals two > more messengers. Rather than banking on other people's children, why not > create our own little army of animal advocates? > > People often ask me why I did not choose adoption. While I readily admit > that adoption can fulfill many people's needs, there are several > undeniable differences between it and having one's own biological > children. The first?the natural urge to reproduce?I have already > discussed. A second issue is one of health, and, while it may be deemed > selfish and peripheral by some, it is extremely relevant to many women. It > has been found that higher estrogen levels are linked to increased risk of > breast cancer. Child-bearing reduces a woman's estrogen levels, perhaps, > as I suspect, reflecting our natural conditioning toward child-bearing. > > Finally, for some, adoption simply involves too much bureaucracy. Adoption > in this country can be a nightmare. Countless couples, despite their clear > predisposition toward wonderful parenting, have been locked out of the > adoption system. When, in this case, they turn to natural reproduction > options, can we rightfully deny them this choice? What right have we to > deny them the fulfillment of so many dreams and desires? > > As such, I choose to bring into this world two beings from my own body?to > learn and grow and, one day, surpass me in my own activism for the > animals. > > ERICA FREDERICKS is a vegan activist and mother of two living in Richmond, > Va. |
| Thread Tools | Search this Thread |
| Display Modes | |
|
|
Similar Threads
|
||||
| Thread | Forum | |||
| a Vegan & Animal-friendly game for mobile | Vegan | |||
| Drive against animal slaughter by animal welfare groups | Vegan | |||
| Bee's Bingo Cherry Salad | Recipes (moderated) | |||
| Dangers of vegetarian/vegan diets and importans of animal foods for children | Vegan | |||
| Oysters Bingo question... | General Cooking | |||
Threaded Mode
