Ignorance, Apathy, or Vegan?

The first time I ever recall hearing the word “vegan” I had one immediate thought…with no real information and little supporting evidence my immediate thought – No, my immediate KNOWLEDGE – was, “They are right.”

I knew it in an instant. It wasn’t “Maybe they are right,” or “I supposed it is possible they are right.” Nope. Immediately I knew. I seriously can’t believe others don’t. I hold my dog with love and recognize her uniqueness, I would never harm her any more than I would harm a human baby. I cannot believe I ever thought anyone else would be any different…Of course they aren’t!!!

I lived so long somehow easily omitting a blatant and obvious truth from myself because I went along with society blindly - while always believing I was of independent mind!

I was wrong. There was so much I didn’t understand, and so much I did that went unquestioned simply out of conformity.

Many people know me and think (in general) good things about me (not everyone of course, but IRL I think it safe to say most people like me ;) ). Some who know I am vegan surely think this is just a small *fault* in my thinking despite my acknowledged competence and overall-consistent happy outlook. They are so deeply entrenched in groupthink that it is never even contemplated that it is them who isn’t seeing the *whole picture.*

People intake their dead flesh or pus-filled breast milk and talk about health, their children, etc., often while feeling a bit righteous (“I’m gonna eat what I want”) sitting next to the vegan. The vegan sits there and wonders if they are ignorant or just apathetic. It is one or the other, because once you know the facts it is unjustifiable in every sense our being to not live vegan. People will go to great lengths to defend something they do not fully understand and insist that the well-informed vegan is the one who is not thinking correctly.

Nonviolence. Justice. Compassion. Helps ALL fellow earthlings. Immediate improvements for the environment. Sustainability. Health. Joy. Love. Ease suffering. Clean water, land, and air. A clear choice with only positive and beneficial results…while nonvegan choices lead to nothing but disease and death for all beings and even our planet.

There is no justifiable reason to not live vegan.

Yes, vegans know the truth. Nonvegans would know too if they only allowed themselves to wake up to the facts.

It boils down to 3 choices.

Ignorance, apathy, or vegan? I know which one I am.

I LOVE BEING VEGAN

#GoVeganandNobodyGetsHurt

#Vegan

Medicate to Death

TRUE STORY

“I am sorry to tell you, you have a disease.

We will put you on treatment, with no guarantees.”

“Radiation initially, we will do every day,

and then possibly chemo, if things go our way.”

The first few not so bad – “You are doing great!”

But skin burning a bit, area starting to ache.

“Go buy this lotion, and to help ease your pain,

we will give you some Oxy – we must be humane!”

Week number three – “You are feeling a mess?”

"Managing this? Yes, I’m under some stress.”

“Here’s a prescription for Ativan to help calm your mind,

and you should take these laxatives to ease your behind.”

“We need more blood work, we need a PET scan -

we must start chemo as soon as we possibly can.”

The Port is inserted and the cycles begun

Your body toxic from this *medication*

“Now you’re feeling depressed and stomach upset?

Prilosec you must take to avoid GI distress.”

“This prescription for Celexa will ease your depression,

and some as needed Zofran to use at your discretion.”

More time passes, not feeling much better

But following instructions, right down to the letter.

“Pervasive malaise, losing weight and dry heaves?

We can put you on steroids to ease the disease.”

“The assistant reported your BP was high,

we will give you metoprolol or else you may die.”

“And the lab has determined your cholesterol is elevated,

so you will also take Lipitor to help keep it abated.”

Hair falling out and often feeling quit ill

Try to cope daily and can’t pay the bills

“But you are alive - isn’t that all that matters?”

But such a life of poor quality - all that’s loved is in tatters?!?!?

“We have more medications to quell the effects,

symptom control is really all to expect.”

“I am concerned for your low Vitamin D,

you must take every day - get at pharmacy!”

“Also buy calcium to prevent bones too thin,

and just for good measure grab a multivitamin.”

“Such a good job doing all as advised!”

But inevitably, more problems arise

A fall, an infection, shortness of breath, or a cold

A slow downward path as disease keeps its hold

“What did you expect as your condition advanced?

Quality and comfort? There’s a very slim chance.”

“Prolonging your life is the best we can do

So here is your flu shot – you don’t want the flu!”

Dizzy and tired, more infections, depressed?

“We will write more prescriptions and get this addressed.”

“This med is called Meclizine, dizziness what it is for,

and we’ll increase your Celexa just a little bit more.”

“The infection you have Macrobid will correct,

and buy some B vitamins to pep up your step.”

“We’ll give you something for your shortness of breath,

Lasix every day may help prevent death.”

“You are having trouble sleeping again?

No problem at all, I’ll refill your Ambien.”

“Now feeling forgetful and a little confused?

We’ll get you on Aricept, we’ve got nothing to lose.”

Life centered on doctors, disease, medications to measure

Gone are the days when life was a pleasure

And slowly it goes, onward to death’s door

A life that was taken a VERY long time before

And then at the funeral – “Such a wonderful soul.”

“The disease too aggressive, we just could not control.”

(And BTW, she died faithfully taking her Lipitor every day, believing in the medical profession…until she couldn’t anymore.)

We will likely be known for our lack of responsibility in the understanding of nutrition; for our inability to teach others the choices available to potentially achieve true health and quality of life. Much like the ridicule of former health professionals who promoted smoking cigarettes based on propaganda, our lack of education in nutrition, our lack of knowledge on the agricultural and environmental effect on the health of all beings, and our dedication to - and promotion of - Big Pharma will all be an embarrassing *incident* in the future of medicine.

Medical professionals need to take responsibility for continuing and enhancing their sparse-in-some-areas education. We are culpable for the harm we cause.

My sincere "Thank You" to the many health care providers working so hard to bring change. Your influence is being felt in the industry daily.

‘TWAS THE NIGHT A VEGAN CAME TO DINNER ON CHRISTMAS

‘TWAS THE NIGHT A VEGAN CAME TO DINNER ON CHRISTMAS
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
'Twas Christmas dinner, at the family house,
Many were gathered, including Jimmy’s new spouse.
As the plates went around, she declined several things
Until it got attention, and they began questioning.
“Why aren’t you eating much? Do you not like my food?”
Jim’s spouse, Debra, said “I don’t mean to be rude…
I am a vegan, so it is plant-based I eat.
And I don’t require, special attention or treat
Thank you very much, I have enough on my plate,
And your hospitality I sincerely appreciate.”
Uncle Tim looked over, and in a critical voice,
“Don’t go preaching to me, it’s my personal choice.”
Then Aunt Sue piped up, “How would we feed everyone?
On nothing but lettuce? That could never be done.”
Debra tried to speak, but sister Jen spoke first,
“When I tried to be veggie, I was at my worst
I wasn’t well-nourished, and lost half my hair
I could never be vegan, I don’t even dare!”
Brother Bill then jumped in, Deb again couldn’t speak
“What about lions? Just look at my teeth!
Do you even eat cheese? What about fish?
My gosh, how ‘bout bacon? It is so damn delish!”
All looking around, the family stunned
Why would Jim even marry this one?
Then it continued, each expressing their view:
“If stuck on an island, what in the world would you do?”
“Farmers love their animals, and it has to be done.”
“If we didn’t eat animals we’d be overrun!”
“Man has always eaten animals…since I don’t know when.”
“Don’t plants feel pain? What of cavemen?”
“Don’t you care about humans? What kind of person are you?”
“You also kill animals – the bug under your shoe!”
“What about vitamins? Is your intake sufficient?”
“You’d better make sure, or you’ll be protein-deficient.”
“What about hunters? Do you hate all them too?”
“I only eat humane slaughter - that’s what people should do!”
Then Susie broke in – “I am feeling offended -
I’m quite sure I eat animals because that’s what God intended!”
Debra looked around, they all wanted a rise,
But she knew she was right, and she wasn’t unwise.
“I have no need or desire to make others suffer,
And killing another does not make me stronger or tougher.
I love being vegan, it is sincerely fulfilling,
And there is really no such thing as humane killing.
There is no good excuse, no rational need
To kill other beings and gorge on rotting flesh feed
I live by my morals, and I don’t know about you,
But I don’t harm other beings when I do not have to.”
The guests became quiet, some even saw she was right.
And all went quite well for the rest of the night.
But when it was over, and she was finally home,
She felt so lucky for her life, and for a mind of her own.
~ POEM BY KARYN SWANEY
©KarynSwaney

Please Wake the World

“There comes a time when silence is betrayal.”
~ Martin Luther King Jr.

Sadly, I am often reminded that we live in a society where the pursuit of personal gain and pleasure regularly takes precedent above all else. A society where education and facts are often dismissed and even mocked, and those who express new ideas are ignored and frequently ridiculed.

In general terms, we are a society where largely meaningless gestures are offered to convince us that we are ‘good’ and ‘decent’ and ‘kind’ people. A society where convenience outweighs ethics, where the mighty dollar sign has prevailed over common sense - and even over humanity itself.

Most people don’t know that they aren’t always behaving as very ‘good’ people, as they are intentionally misled and they do not invest any effort to think or know any differently. In fact, people overwhelmingly seem to *like* being misled/lied to so their *perceived* life conveniences can be maintained.

I take great interest in the life around me. I have desire to know as much about issues as I can. I fail to understand being any other way. I can understand how we could disagree on many political views, I could see how we could disagree about what clothes we like, or what colors are our favorite - but seriously - not helping others when we have the ability to do so? Not alleviating suffering because we are so self-important that others simply do not matter? Seriously? Perpetuating the starvation and impoverishment of others? Draining and polluting our resources? Ignoring those who seek only a safe place to sleep, who beg you to help them protect their beloved family? Abusing animals and other humans? How could we POSSIBLY disagree on these things?

People go on with their meaningless traditions and thoughtless bullshit, day in and day out, generally believing all is well - changing their profile picture here and there, maybe sending a donation, or dump some water on their head…

I say again – SERIOUSLY? The aforementioned issues are NOT up for dispute. Not in my world they aren’t. Most people know the difference between right and wrong as well as I do.

As far as the refugees currently trying desperately to get to safety - I see these posts from people saying “There are kids starving in the United States, too, so we shouldn’t help any people until we can feed our own.”

LISTEN – we should be able to feed every man, woman, and child in the entire world for a lot less space and a lot less ecological destruction, but it is OUR CHOICE to not do so. It is OUR CHOICE to be ignorant. It is OUR CHOICE that there is so much violence. It is OUR CHOICE that we cannot address and resolve such simple and utterly scientific ideas such as skin pigments and imaginary lines. Everything that *is*, we have chosen or allowed. Furthermore, it is all a bullshit smoke screen to keep the majority of people contributing to the very *machine* they proclaim to dislike; to keep them singing a self-soothing lullaby while they willingly participate in some of the worst atrocities ever seen inflicted on any scale, to both humans, animals, and our entire ecology.

Explaining the complex issues that make every sentence I just said 100% true would take many pages, and the only people who would probably read it are people who already know (but the facts are widely available if anyone wants to check them). Many other potential readers are likely gone by now, back to watching the Kardashians or killing animals or burning the rainforest down or shitting in my water supply or some similar horror.

Fear plays to everything I am against. Lack of action exemplifies everything I never want to be. The shunning of education and knowledge is detestable, and the dismissal – of any suffering being – that we have the ability to help is ethically wrong and is the total opposite of my life values – and I am so very thankful for that. I find it appalling that many people (not all people, of course) generally do not express too much concern for the poor until they can prop them up for whatever discriminatory and frightened view they want to adopt that befits their often prejudicial and oppressive opinion.

Though I well recognize my limitations, and I live an extremely good life, in some senses I am also sad that we have not done better, that people who are otherwise intelligent have accepted thoughtless, skewed bias and propaganda on so many issues, and behave as violent self-serving barbarians almost every day. We could have done better, and we still can…but we have to want it, not this superficial words-not-actions, I-am-afraid-of-you, who-needs-education-when-I-have-a-bullshit-opinion, and its-okay-to-hurt-others-as-long-as-I-have-mine place I seem to reside.

I think the human race has tremendous potential to live symbiotically with both each other and Earth, but the pursuit of profit and the lack of taking personal responsibility has done its best to thus far ensure - and continue to ensure - that we will fail at *everything* – at maintaining our world, our physical evolution/health, our empathy, our environment…and at our very humanity.

Stop the fear. Stop this madness. Wake the fuck up! Seek education. Being ‘good’ actually requires a small amount of effort to determine whose side you are actually on, as society today is most often on the side of the oppressor, or are blind supporters of absolute horrific violence and destruction.

I am embarrassed by our entire species. I am sorry to all past, present, and future earthlings that we will harm with our egotistical violence, our ongoing failure to understand what discrimination actually is, our utter disregard and disrespect of facts, and our blind quest for personal convenience, money, and power...I am sorry that we have failed so badly at empathy, kindness, and compassion for others, and I am sorry that most of them will not understand their unfathomably narrow field of vision unless it is them screaming desperately for someone to help them.

So I was Thinking About This Post...

Hmmm…I was thinking about this post today…SO many people share it, wondering if anyone else feels the irony of it…

There are good, decent, kind people who I want to believe in more than anything, but I cannot, because, though they may be nice to me, they are not “nice to the waiter” (or, in this case, other suffering animals and humans).

Nonvegans contribute to animal abuse of the most horrific degree, they effectively take food from the starving, they create sickness and illness in fellow humans, and they also take away their cures. They burn down our rainforests, and they shit in our water supply. They drive extinction, violence, slavery, and exploitation, all for some passing trivial desires. They seem to lack the ability to even consider the “waiter” as a thinking, feeling, fellow being.

If they are not nice to the other fellow sentient earthlings, then what does that say about the kind of person they are?

Vegan at Heart

No moral human believes in causing the suffering of the innocent, destroying our ecosystems, causing illness in others, in promoting global collapse, or taking the last bit of food from fellow earthlings who are hungry. No one thinks it is ethical to withhold information so people will be sick and die prematurely from both preventable and once-treatable diseases. No decent human believes it is moral to not treat the sick, or to profit from their misfortune. No decent human believes their rivers, food, land, and water supply should be full of shit and utterly contaminated. No one thinks it is OK to hurt an animal unnecessarily. No person with any amount of empathy, love, or compassion can watch an animal suffer and not be disturbed. Most of us think people who kill animals just ‘for the fun of it’ or sheer pleasure have psychiatric issues.

But decent people use their hard-earned money to fund almost every single issue they will say aloud they are against. Mindlessly, programmed to not think for themselves, they hand over their support to unethical, wasteful, polluting, cruel, inhumane, manipulative liars. People will feel good doing something for charity, but the reality is, in a sense, everything they buy is *charity* is some form or another, and what you buy you support.

You can’t be angry about war while funding violence. You can’t be upset there are so many poor when you take their food. You can’t be against abusing or assaulting children or animals while you fund their exploitation, torture, and death. Most people just don’t realize how their actions are harming all of us, while doing great harm to their personal integrity.

Most are not bad people, they have been conditioned to shut that part of their brain down, which is exactly the part that makes *them* fear you. They are afraid you will start thinking for yourself. That you will recognize that even the small things make you complicit in a system that is rigged, harmful to all species on Earth, and plainly immoral. They fear you will wake to the fact that we were fooled. Fooled into believing this mad world of promoting the most horrific of inhumanity and the worst global catastrophes we could possible muster for their profit and to keep you a slave.

We are selling out our values every day, and we don’t realize it. We are selling out every one and every thing we care about. If you looked, if you knew, if you understood, you’d be vegan. The entire world would be vegan. Veganism is what we all believe in when it comes to our morals, when you can clear the confusion and get straight to the real message.

The person I was for the first 35 years of my life didn’t know better. I didn’t understand I was committing such crimes against my own ethics. My morals were clear, but my thought processes and dissonance hadn’t caught up with me yet. I live grateful that I saw through the lies and took a stand for who I REALLY am.

For you to be *against* veganism makes you *for* death, hate, disease, discrimination, suffering, assault, violence, destruction, pollution, depletion, and immorality. Are you REALLY *for* those things?

I speak only the truth, and I do not embellish or distort. All moral humans have vegan ethics. Humans must start taking responsibility for what they say they believe, for what they say they want for the world, and for who they think they are versus how they behave. It is within our hands. All they have to do is allow themselves to *see*. They don’t have to listen to me – the evidence is all around them, all they have to do is open their eyes and heart wide enough to reawaken the wonderful people they were born to be.

ALL decent humans are vegan at heart.

Dear Nonvegans

Dear Nonvegans Everywhere,

Hello. I have been a vegan for about 10 years now. Before becoming vegan I LOVED to eat meat, cheese, dairy, etc. Then I saw something awful…something that made me think, for the very first time, about the choices I was making every day.

I grew up with companion animals. I loved the wild birds and array of wildlife that would pass through our yard. I loved the woods, and nature. I went along for more than 30 years “loving” other earthlings and believing I was “kind” to them.

It hurt to realize I had been wrong for so long. When it finally dawned on me, I was sure that you would want to know, too. I could not have imagined back then that people would NOT want to know, that they would rather continue on being inhumane to other earthlings and ecologically destructive. I have learned a lot since then! I have realized that many are not ready to *see* yet.

But I will always believe in the overall goodness of people, so I will continue trying to reach you…trying to find others like me, who merely need to be *told*. I am forever grateful for being *told*, and if I help even one other person to *find themselves* then that is a wonderful thing.

Are you like me? Do you care about other earthlings but never thought about how much you are hurting them? Do you care about nature and our ecology but never realized you were such a toxic burden to the world?

If so, I can tell you some things that are very important to know…

1. Going vegan it is not as hard as it seems BEFORE you go vegan! It seemed overwhelming and I had no idea how to even begin, but I was determined…THEN I found out it actually wasn’t that hard at all!!! Your supermarket is likely FULL of vegan products, you were just never looking for them before. We can help you, you can still eat cakes and cookies and brownies if you want to, I promise!!!

2. Some people will NOT support you. You may even be mocked or avoided. In the great words of Morpheus, “some are not ready to be unplugged.” Some of the people you feel sure will care or support you may disappoint you. Some may even call you “extreme”. I remind you to always remember that you are NOT the one who is still covered in the suffering and blood of other sentient, vulnerable earthlings while spreading toxicity into both the ecology and your body.

3. You will get more confident. You will grow. Your brain will feel clear. You will help the world. You will help animals. You are amazing, and the fact that you care is commendable. Never let anyone tell you differently. You are already strong, and you will only grow stronger.

4. We are here to support you. We are MANY, and we will help in any way we can. Vegan numbers rise every day as people such as yourself awaken to the truth. Showing concern for others and not wanting to cause their tremendous suffering is NOT a weird way to think or feel!

5. Being vegan is the BEST THING EVER! It is a wonderful way to live, a wonderful way to think. In the words of most vegans, “I only wish I had gone vegan sooner.”

Happily Living Vegan Forever.