Sam I Am

[Sam Hillyer]

I do not eat green eggs and ham.

 

Or any eggs and ham for that matter. I've been a vegetarian for the majority of my teenage years and am now 20. I have just finished reading Animal Liberation by Peter Singer and have decided how can I get upset about the dolphins in Taiji, the black bears kept for their bile in Vietnam and China or even the minks farmed in Denmark and other nations for their fur if I continue to support the suffering of just as equal animals in my own country for their milk and eggs. I toyed with the idea of becoming vegan many a times, but my heart was never really in it and cheese was the one thing I could never avoid.

 

But I woke up, I was being speciest, choosing to ignore that mothers and babies are separated just so I could please my palette. I needn't say this because I am sure you will, but I hope you will all be supportive in helping me maintain a vegan diet and lifestyle.

 

A couple of other things you should know about me are I go to university, in the UK, Bournemouth to be exact and am studying a degree in Animal Welfare and Behaviour. I've come to understand that animal welfare isn't a term some animal rights folk are happy with because of the belief it's aiming and accepting below what should be aimed for, animal liberation. Although I agree, I believe it achieves more good than harm, and is a step at least. 
I've worked on a couple of farms, a dairy farm a few summers ago, and this year during the summer I was at a veal farm (and before people chuck me out, it wasn't the traditional European veal, but English rose veal, no crates, no milk only diet, and the calves live for quite a long time, they are the males the dairy farms don't want), as well as attending to agriculture colleges with farmed animals. I always enjoyed having the contact with the animals, it's my favourite thing in the world, and for a long time I have thought that I wanted to be a farmer. But now I don't know what I want to do, raising animals for their meat as if it were my right to do so just doesn't sit with me, I wouldn't do it with my dogs, they're my sisters and children, and that is how I view all animals now. This is something I may start another topic on, because people ask me what I want to do when I tell them what course I am on, and I never know what to tell them.

 

I've spoken to a couple of you already, and you've made me feel very welcome, you are lovely people I can tell, and already your posts have inspired and educated me.

 

Thank you,

from Sam :) x

[Tim Gier]

Hi Sam,

 

Thanks for sharing part of your story with us.  I recommend that you read the transcript to Prof. Robert Garner's ARZone transcript, if you have not already.  Garner calls himself an Animal Protectionist and some of what you have said is reminiscent of his positions.  There are some comments following the post of the transcript, from some of our members which I think you will also find interesting.

 

http://arzone.ning.com/profiles/blogs/transcript-of-rob-garners

 

tim

[Sam Hillyer]

I will give it a read now, my opinions, beliefs and perceptions are changing by the hour at the moment.

I will let you know what I think,

thank you 

[Sam Hillyer]

What I found most interesting was your analysis Tim. And I have to say I would agree with you. The case for nonhuman rights is very understandable, especially when you highlight marginal human, and that where it would be unjustifiable to treat a human in a certain way, it is equally unjustifiable in nonhumans. 
What approach do you believe can be successful with politicians, if welfare reforms are not a way forward? Do you agree that too much can be asked of the government and thus they find it easier to ignore? 

[Tim Gier]

I agree with Roger Yates; politicians are followers, and not leaders.  They will do what their constituencies require them to do.  While it is true that the powerful and monied interests do hold significant influence over politicians, politicians can't stay in power without the consent of the governed.  We need to change the hearts and minds of large numbers of people first, then the so-called leaders will follow!  

 

People need to think in moral terms about other animals, and turn their attention towards "other-regarding" and away from "self-regarding"; that's where Garner is right (I don't remember if this was addressed in the chat or if I read it in something he's written elsewhere, but I can look it for you if you'd like).  Basically, our moral consideration must include all others, and give equal consideration to similar interests.  This isn't a legal problem, it is a moral and ethical one.

[Sam Hillyer]

I agree that the problem lies in morality and I guess the best way to change attitudes and beliefs is to start with yourself and hope people will want to know about your decision, ask questions, take it upon themselves to find out more, become inspired and take action in their own lives. That's how change will happen, it's grass roots.

 

I would like to hold the belief that the government is by the people and for the people, but you do see so much fail because the large corporations have the money to sway.

[Sam Hillyer]

Thanks Roger,

 

I can not begin to thank this site enough for how much it's pushing me on in what I believe is the best direction. 

[Lisa Qualls]

Dear Sam,  I'm glad you were able to become vegetarian at such a young age and that now you are interested in becoming vegan.  I hope for the best.

It seems to me that you are still struggling to unlearn speciesism, but I think you are on some of the right tracks.  Even when one starts to understand it and accpets the logic of it, it can be difficult to apply to one's daily life and attitudes. 

When you say that you worked at a farm and then make a distinction between different types of veal it seems that you are saying that you believe that there are some types of exploitation that are not as bad as others?  Using animals for any purpose is wrong.  It does not matter if some are judged to be harmed less than others. Rose or not, it is exploitation.

Likewise, when you say that you want to be a farmer, but then you make the comparrison to farming companion animals whom you have loved, you seem to be struggling with the concept.   When I am trying to unlearn speciesism it helps me if I do not compare the traditionally farmed animals with animals typically thought of as companions.  I ask myself if I would want those things to happen to myself, or I ask myself how I feel about a human-similar situation (rape, child molestation, holocaust, slavery, etc.).  Milk is rape, murder, kidnapping, slavery, assault, theft, abuse, and more.

I don't know what the "Animal Welfare and Behavior" program you are studying is like, but those words do not inspire a lot of comfort for me.  I hope that you will be able to avoid loosing your desire to learn how to treat other animals with respect and compassion.  I hope that this forum helps.

 

[Sam Hillyer]

Thank you for your reply Lisa :)

 

I've realised it's not that difficult to be vegan after all, it's just the idea that cheese is necessary for everything and therefore you need to find a substitute I needed to get away from, and I have :)

 

I realise what I said about the veal farm suggests that. I strongly agree that any exploitation is still exploitation and wrong. I guess I was trying to make clear to people that I had at no point worked on a veal farm that employed the use of crates. Does that make sense?

 

Regarding the university course I am, I have learnt more here on this forum in less than a week of being here, than I probably have on the course. What I mean to say is it's had a bigger impact on me than what my lecturers have ever said. I believe I am on the path to treating other animals with respect and compassion, and I appreciate if you can point inconsistencies in how I view things, afterall it's better a friend can do so, and help you learn, than those who mean to weaken your argument.

My mission now is to strike up debate, and deeper thinking in my classroom about what it really is to have concern for animals, as this website does here. The potential is there with my classmates, they do care for the dolphins, dogs and orang-utans, I just want to help them see that they are making an unexplainable distinction between them, and when they choose to  have their ham sandwiches and chocolate milk. If they want to not only be taken seriously by others, but be able to take themselves seriously, they will wake up to the fact that a real care for animals should be a care for all animals as equals to ourselves, with the same moral considerations and an end to exploitation of them.

[Lisa Qualls]

That is really great!  I am so glad that this forum is so helpful!  :)

Good luck with your classmates.  I wonder if you would have an opportunity to show a good video?  We have some in the states.  If you show one in the UK it might help if it was filmed in the UK because sometime people will try to claim "it isn't like that here".  It even happens to me in the states.  They say "that is an issolated incident" or "they don't do that in my state".  Bottom line is that they are rationalizing based on degrees of exploitation and harm, and I have failed to communicate abolition to them.  I would hope that the people in your class are much more receptive.

I am a little bit new to learning how to communicate abolition.  I have participated in a lot of single-issue campaigns, so I am trying to adjust my activism. 

I have been vegan for about 6 years (started getting active in 2001).  I have been learning the entire time.  I'm glad that you have found this forum to help you.  I have been lucky enough to be surrounded by good people leading by good example.

I also find conferences useful.  Do you have AR conferences in your area?

[Sam Hillyer]

Any recommended literature would be a great help from you guys I believe. I don't have a lot of money or space, but (and personally I think this is a genius idea) my library lets me order books for it for a small fee therefore solving my problem, and stocking the library with inspiring books for unaware browsers.

 

Videos would be great Lisa if you know any particularly powerful ones? That send the message sensibly and with impact. My class are well aware of all the practices in the farming industry but seem to be able to (as was I) switch off and take the viewpoint that it is normal and welfare reforms are what should be aimed for. The concept that animals are being exploited has never been discussed in my class and I do plan to frequently bring it up and explain that specieism exists.

 

As for conferences I would not have a clue just yet? You may not be the person to help me either as you live in the states and I live in the UK, but if you do, or anyone else knows if there are organisations I can contact that would be great.

 

&Roger the Students Against Animal Cruelty page has inspired me to set up a society at my university this year to promote animal rights and a vegan lifestyle as nothing exists yet, and to bring like minded individuals together would benefit us all. It's also a great way to spread the message.

 

[Kate✯GO VEGAN+NOBODY GETS HURT Ⓥ]

Hi Sam. Thanks for your invitation to provide more information.

 

I think without a doubt the most important film for anyone to watch is the epic documentary EARTHLINGS. It's free to view online. www.earthlings.com.

 

In terms of literature, there are only two books that I recommend. I consider them to be the two most important books ever written. They're both by Joan Dunayer. They are

SPECIESISM, ISBN 0-9706475-6-5

ANIMAL EQUALITY: Language and Liberation, ISBN 0-9706475-5-7

 

Thank you Sam.

By the way when I was growing up I loved the books Green Eggs and Ham, The Cat in the Hat, Horton Hears a Who, and others by Dr Seuss, so I appreciated your joke about "Sam I am - I do not eat green eggs and ham". Thank you Sam I am. :)

[Lisa Qualls]

The books Kate lists sound great!

Even though they "know" about farming practices, seeing it on video might get through to them.  Kate is right, Earthlings is great.  It is very powerful. The narration is gentle, but direct, and it covers so much.

I have not watched it yet, but The Witness might be a good video because it shows how one man became active.  I have it, but I am waiting to watch it while showing it to someone. 

I do not know of any UK conferences, but there is a "vegan Camp" in the Vegan Society calendar which might be useful to you http://www.vegansociety.com/events-calendar/

If anyone knows of reasons why these suggestions would not be helpful, please correct me.