I SEE THE PICTURE TOO - HUMANE SLAUGHTER IS A MYTH

To continue on to a personal side of a post I wrote as Provoked - I wanted to elaborate on mental health, art and slaughterhouses... And how they all tie together for me.

You see I can understand the bane of being "different" or judged as psychologically or emotionally "odd". The "normal world" does not take kindly to those who "don't fit", or who thump at the status quo... I know that challenging "traditional" or "popular" convention, isn't for the faint of heart... But I also know, it has it's rewards.

I was always told that I'm "too" inquisitive, "too" analytical, too "intense", too "absorbed" and "too serious". My thought processes are "too extreme". I was the kid (grown to woman), who always asked the endless "why?". But, to say that this is "too much" - Is to say that I am "too me".

I know my "type" of (critical, obsessive compulsive, autistic, etc.) person is exhausting to most. I also know the painful pressure to abide by accepted, restrained and "approved" expectations. To not do so, may make someone "anti-social", a "radical" or a "lone wolf"... Or it may make them an activist, advocate, doer, mover, shaker, progressive, "rule-breaker", independent-thinker, "pioneer", explorer, scientist, designer and/or creator.

We all hold, nourish or repress these attributes to differing degrees... Abstraction and expression through art is no different.

Right Brain Thinking and Seeing In Pictures:

Always consumed by the creative process... It wasn't dolls or balls that filled my childhood; But rather word games, puzzles and other "cerebral" challenges. I've always enjoyed organizing physical things as well as constructs. I was fortunate to own a large business, that required frequent and efficient re-arrangement of stock. Such exercise is good for the body and the brain...

At home, I'm meticulous about the placement of objects - I'm happiest with balanced space and matter, and have devised practical schemes to suit my needs. This attention to detail, inspired the remodeling of two homes. Seeking order, in imaginative ways has been satisfying to me, even as recreation. I'm also not ashamed to say I study and marvel at the complexity of feathers, intricate leaves, flowers, spider webs and other "useless" objects in my yard. I am amazed, and can get "lost" in the discovery of pattern within chaos. I'm gratified that I've been able to convey my aesthetic voice through gardening, sewing and expression through my art.

But the first thing I had to do in order to visualize a different way, or argue a logical premise, or aspire for a better world, was to have the courage to investigate my preconceived ideas. I needed to suspend my inherited notions about conformity and listen for my own truth; Even though this path meant going against critics, doubters and opponents.

And the same exacting and analytical vision that allowed me to approach an easel for the first time, or that made me think I could complete prize winning quilts, or thought that I could run a business, was the same mind that came to know:

THE TRUTH ABOUT HUMANE SLAUGHTER

Nothing "humane" happens in the bowels of a kill floor.

"Humane" means to be concerned with the alleviation of suffering. These beings are not ill, maimed or otherwise "unhealthy". They are not in an aging pain. They are delivered "fit for living", so there is no "suffering to alleviate". Nor do they go willfully to be extinguished. They are physically forced to their early, unhappy and unjust end. They are being slashed from this earth by a perpetual machine that must be fed... This machine is run by a conning, yet intellectually lazy culture that says to so is "necessary". And to do so for profit is even better...

From the time we're born we're taught that animals are our irreplaceable "food". This false and archaic idea of "necessity", along with dogmatic social habits and demands, is what is required to believe the myth of "humane slaughter". Indeed the wrongness of animal use, is an idea that must be rationally inspected and rightfully discarded for the bung that it is!

My own body, and millions of others show, and experts say, there is no "need" to eat animals. So with no justification, and only the violence caused in wasting life, how can there be "humane" slaughter at all?

Yet... Here is T Grandin, "gifted" to know what animals want... And smart enough to know what the meat industry needs... They need a public who is content to not question presupposed, erroneous ideology. They need consumers who do not inspect ancient indoctrinations. They need complicity and consensus within a society that doesn't not hunger for truth; But is gorged with flesh instead.

They need followers, not audacious individuals...

It takes unique, self-reliant and passionate truth seekers to really look inside a slaughterhouse. And when one does they will see it for the cruel, gluttonous, and macabre hell pit that it is... As I did, they too will see it in pictures:

And the inescapable imperative is obvious: Go Vegan

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A Changed View - My Story Has Hope For Animal Rights

Yes, it's been a long time since my last post --- But I can't think of a better way to start anew than to share this adorable Baby Vegan Story:

One of the reasons I've been lax in my postings here, is that I get so tied up opining as Provoked. I also thought of this journal being in the form of a podcast - But in truth... I'm a much better typist than orator - Oh, I'll podcast again... At a future time. For now though, I want to get back to my original intent - And that was to be able to voice a more personal side to my vegan experience. I wanted to do so as "therapy".

I suppose that a little more than 2 years ago, (before my trigger event), today would have been quite a typical Saturday. I would have thrown myself into the routine hunt of "stuff" in the used market... haunting thriftstores, plundering yard-sales and waiting in line for "goodies" at estate sales. You see I've been in the secondhand business for 3 decades. Even though I'm retired now... I still enjoy it as a hobby.

Though it's not so easy to do now... The quest for recycled stuff now has a complex layer. Things that once were acceptable and ordinary, now assault my senses like never before.

Looking through a stack of old books... I might find several on how to cook pigs or cows... Seeing dinnerware - I might find a "turkey platter" or a "milk creamer"... And the reality hits me like a ton of bricks. The reality that I am so awake and aware - But others around me are not. The reality that I am so awake and aware "now"... But was once "not".

It gets me to wondering... What exactly was I thinking? Where was my head? My heart?

I thought nothing once of seeing an old grill with a $20 tag on it... Now, I ponder and lament... How many body parts were scorched on the grate? A discarded grill will never be the same.

I glance over to a table with items removed from someones closet... There they are - The leather shoes and alligator handbags... The fur trimmed sweater or vintage kid gloves. The accessories will never be the same.

I might see a pile of sporting goods - a pigskin football... fishing rigs... a bow and arrow set --- And sometimes --- Like today - a mounted deer head "trophy"... No, yardsales as a vegan will never be the same.

I also used to enjoy a stroll through the flea market - Where there were always treasures to be found. But now, I hold my breath to avoid the stench of the sausage stand; And pause to take pity on the caged "exotic birds" that are sold there... Yes, my visits to flea markets have changed as well.

So I make a stop in my favorite charity thriftstore - And it's the stuffed animals that catch my eye... A cuddly tan and white farm cow --- A bright yellow, fluffy chick --- And a pink pig who says "oink" when you squeeze him. These are such innocent and endearing things... But my field of vision has been expanded --- And plush animal friends aren't the same anymore either.

I realize that from now on - everything is seen in a different perspective. Living my vegan life has been a choice I'd never turn back on. And honestly - I just don't think I ever could... Perhaps if a reader thinks this could ever be so... I ask for your advice... How can I ever see this novelty item:

And not recall seeing this?

Try as I might - "Once you know... You can never unknow."

My challenge is to continue living my vegan life with as much hope for change that I can muster. To continue shopping and socializing where I always did before... But now, because things can NEVER be the same... I can take these opportunities to point out to others what we all are indoctrinated to be blinded about... I can be vocal about the pain involved in making a wool scarf, or the "calf hide" belt... I can remark that "The pottery creamer is lovely... But do you know what is involved in "dairy"?" I can look through the stack of cookbooks - and ask "Do you have any VEGAN cookbooks?" :) I can also mention to the yardsale with the mounted decapitated deer souvenir that I find the hunting and killing of animals very offensive --- And unacceptable in my world. :) I can place books, brochures and other literature throughout my home, where visitors will be encouraged to connect what the reality is... And to shun the lies they were told. :)

There's a thousand ways I can advocate! And I don't ever intend to be silenced... I'm in this for life. And I plan on this vegan life being as enthusiastic and vocal as is necessary to help create a just world.

No, Saturdays aren't the same as they were... Nor are interactions with others... Or bucolic scenes with grazing cattle, or paint brushes made of squirrel hair, or the contents of a candy bar.

But these truths - the realization of the insatiable appetite we have to use animals has given me a clearer view. A truthful view...

It is the recognition of what really is: We do not treat animals kindly, let alone fairly. And what I know, I refuse to ever un-know.

And back to little Miss Baby Vegan - Her story will be a better one. She will have a more intergrated time of it, knowing what to expect from the world. And she won't have to redefine her life in her 50's, due to a sham she never learned to question earlier. Her story is part of my story... Because it gives me hope.

I am vegan ~ I am for animal rights

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Another Vegan Story - Meat Free by 2060 Video

Across an ocean - somewhere in England here's this Vegan Story:



Cheers!

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Choosing Peace for Animal Rights ~ Once Upon a Vegan podcast 3

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I really messed up on this - I embedded the wrong podcast - Thank you Jordan Wyatt of Coexisting with Nonhuman Animals podcast for alerting me to the error!

ORIGINAL ENTRY: In this podcast I explain some of the reasons for a very long absence... And most of it was because of conflict. So I guess the "theme" of this podcast is "peace".


I make reference to two movies - one is The Peaceful Warrior - The story of (vegetarian or raw vegan)(?), gymnast Dan Millman who during the 1980's overcame great obstacles in order to continue to compete in his sport.


And I also noted the recent release of the movie Hunger, based on the starvation strike that IRA prisoners engaged in.

And here is the link to the peaceful protest against "The Army Experience" - where 7 women were arrested. This Army Experience is intended as propaganda to encourage young kids to join the military. Nothing like indoctrinating young kids to join war causes in the future. Guaranteed soldiers means a certainty of constant war...

The "We Are Not Your Soldiers" members "strongly believe that when the U.S. Empire's military can no longer prey on the youth it will no longer be able to wage illegitimate and immoral wars that cause untold suffering. This is the reason they have focused on this predatory pilot program by the military."

And it's because of the knowledge that we live in a very violent world that I'd like to state my position of being committed to a nonviolent Animal Rights movement. However I do reassert my belief that not all "direct action" is "violent". I see no harm in certain acts which save animals or gather undercover video as long as there is no harm to living beings and no property damage.

But here... even John Lennon knew the futility of property destruction as a means to convert the world.

So I think that the reason so many opt for violence is that violence is the easy way out... It's simple to lash and destroy rather than work for change. And too, change takes the strength to be patience. I hope that all of us can find the way to this strength for ourselves, each other and our animal kin.
So thanks for listening... "Peace" and Go Vegan.

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VEGANS TELL YOUR STORY - WORLD VEGAN DAY NOV 1

World Vegan Day presents a unique opportunity for vegans to tell their story. How did you make the wise decision to forgo animal products? If the information made an effect on you - it will to someone else! Tell your story! Spread the word & participate!

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Yard Sale Freebies & Spreading the Vegan Message

I wrote about a stressful experience at a

recent yardsale.

But on the flip side... I figured to counter this negative and ugly event with some new and fun vegan advocacy: I took the clothing I would normally sell and folded each garment into a plastic bag. The front was visible and attractive... the reverse contained vegan literature.

I eventually did this with linens, towels, books and other desirable items that would fit into the plastic bags...

I filled tubs with signs on them that said "free"...

This was a great conversation starter - Many people felt open and receptive to a chat. Maybe somehow they felt "obligated" to listen since they received a "free" gift for doing so? Or maybe it was me... who felt in someway that I had given them "something" for their time to listen? In any case it was well received, and some people even asked for more brochures for someone else to look over!

It made the yardsale more productive than I thought possible... And I also used this yardsale to dump the last of my leather and silk --- YIPPEE!

I'll talk a bit more about this yardsale experience and other news in my next podcast.

In the meantime... here's a beautifully expressed vegan story at Thomas Paine's Corner - as told by Alison Banville: The Road Not Taken

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