Before you scream, see what Jasmin, Casey and Delci have to say about confronting common challenges as an activist.
Jasmin, Casey and Delci enjoying a stroll at the Sanctuary. (Okay, it's not actually us. It's Marsha, Summer and Prophet.)
Jasmin: Recently, the lovely Michelle Taylor of Vegan Break interviewed me to get my “Witty Responses to 5 Common Questions” that vegans are asked.
Casey: You enlightened and entertained, Jazz.
Jasmin: Why thank you, Casey. The goal of the interview was more on the “to entertain” side, which led me and some viewers wanting more … umph. Animal activists often get deluged with all sorts of questions from people who feel threatened by our message – or our cruelty-free lunch. So today, we’re going to talk about how to handle a few of the more common questions or objections constructively.
Delci: I know that, for me, having good responses to these questions or comments is especially important when leafleting, tabling, or doing other public outreach.
Casey: Definitely. You never get a second chance to make a first impression.
Jasmin: I don’t know about you, but when I do demos, I almost always hear, “Why are you spending so much time on animal rights when there is so much human suffering in the world?”
Casey: Yup, I do hear that question often. And it can manifest in other ways too, like “What about the war?” or “There are children starving! Why should I spend my energy focusing on cruelty to farm animals?”
Delci: So how would you answer it?
Jasmin: Assuming the person is actually waiting for an answer and not just shouting out the window of her car as she zooms past, I’d say something like this:
Factory farming abuses workers, pollutes the environment, wastes resources, and produces unhealthy products – all of which negatively impact humans. And actually, I care very much about human rights. It’s part of the reason I’m an animal advocate.
If I had the opportunity to keep talking, I’d explain that there’s a lot of overlap between animal rights and human rights. Slaughterhouse workers are among the most abused employees out there – not to mention that “meat packing” is the most dangerous industry in the U.S., largely because employees are working directly with sharp blades and fast-moving conveyor belts. (This is according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, as reported in Slaughterhouse by Gail Eisnitz – a must-read on this subject, as is Fast Food Nation by Eric Schlosser.)
As for children starving, let’s not forget that animal agriculture is the most inefficient way to produce food. Most of the Earth’s arable land is planted to feed animals who are then slaughtered; talk about waste! Over 70 percent of American grain and 80 percent of American corn is fed to farm animals. According to a Cornell University study, the amount of grain consumed by animals in the U.S. could feed approximately 800 million people.
Lastly, just because you are speaking out for one group one day does not necessarily mean you’re not speaking out for another group the next. I actually came into animal rights through AIDS-awareness activism, and I spend my share of time speaking up for many other social justice causes.
Delci: I know. I’ve seen your Facebook page. You know what else I hear a lot?
Casey: Where did you get those stylish vegan shoes?
Delci: I mean, besides that. We’re talking about anti-vegan arguments here.
Casey: Sorry, I was distracted by the shoes. What else do you hear?
Delci: “Humans are supposed to eat meat. We’re at the top of the food chain!”
Jasmin: Ah, that old classic. I still remember the first time I heard it. It was a warm autumn day in Brooklyn. I was passing out leaflets after a delightful lunch at this café on Bedford Avenue …
Casey: Really?
Jasmin: No. Actually, I’ve heard it so many times, they all blur together in my mind.
Casey: Oh, glad I’m not the only one. You know, we could answer that “food chain” argument by pointing out that it oversimplifies a complex ecological concept and may well misrepresent the bulk of human history. Archeological evidence suggests our ancestors most likely subsisted on a wide range of diets depending on their local environment. There has never been just one food chain, but many food chains, each specific to a certain time and place. The one common characterisitc of early human diets is adaptability, and that remains true today. We have more in common with rats than with lions.
Delci: Of course, we’re no longer living in the Stone Age. We pretty much choose our own food chain when we go to the grocery store.
Casey: True. What people are really saying with the “food chain” comment, whether they realize it or not, is that “might makes right.” That is completely at odds with the professed moral values of almost every culture that exists today. When was the last time you heard a politician or religious leader say, "The strong should take advantage of the weak, because that is the natural order of things!" Most people don’t really believe that, and those who do make pretty terrible neighbors.
Instead of "might makes right," most moral systems generally adhere to the Golden Rule, which compels us to treat others with consideration and avoid causing unnecessary harm. We know that humans can thrive on a plant-based diet. There are millions of vegans proving this every day.
Jasmin: Like us!
Casey: Right – and also a growing number of professional athletes. Since we have no need to eat animal products, and since all animal agriculture requires that animals be harmed, it follows that all consumption of animal-based foods involves unnecessary harm – i.e., that which nearly every moral system frowns upon. Most people want to do what is right – or at least they think they do. If you want to do the right thing, go vegan.
Jasmin: Of course, a lot of people want to do the right thing, but only if it’s not too difficult...
Casey: No doubt. I wish I had a nickel for every time I heard “I’m vegetarian already, but I could never go vegan – it’s too hard.” I could adopt a whole flock of Farm Sanctuary turkeys with that kind of money.
Delci: You know, I went vegan 17 years ago, and it actually was a little challenging back then, especially when dining out. But today, it’s a piece of (cruelty-free) cake! When people say that going vegan is too hard, here’s what I like to tell them:
Being vegan really isn’t hard at all. There’s a learning curve, to be sure, but once you get your bearings it’s really just like any other habit. Being vegan is automatic for me; I don’t even think about it a lot of the time.
Jasmin: Plus, there are all kinds of amazing resources around now to help people take that step.
Casey: Farm Sanctuary’s Veg for Life Web site, for example, has a how-to section specifically focused on making the switch to veganism.
Delci: Yeah – it includes all kinds of great information, with sections on label literacy, grocery shopping, dealing with visits home for the holidays, and a lot more neat info.
Jasmin: Another great resource is Vegan at Heart, a free e-mail coaching program that provides guidance and support for “people who are vegan at heart but not necessarily in practice.”
Delci: In addition to the plethora of resources available to those trying to make the transition to veganism today, it’s also important to note the tremendous increase in the availability of vegan products – much more than 17 years ago!
Casey: And some of the best vegan foods have been staples of a healthy diet for years: fruits and veggies, grains and legumes. These basic whole foods are healthy and affordable.
Delci: When I was in Cuba a few years back, I ate amazing food – black beans and rice, malanga (a delicious tuber), mangos, and much more. I still miss it. But that experience just underscores how easy it is to be vegan even while traveling and even without access to abundant processed foods.
Jasmin: I’ve traveled a lot, and I have never had a problem keeping my hunger at bay. Last summer I went to Vancouver and the “veganicity” of the town blew my mind!
Delci: Veganicity? Nice word, Jazz. Speaking of which, when I first moved to the South, people kept suggesting that I was going to starve to death as a vegan, but I can honestly say I’ve had no problem finding more than enough to eat here.
Jasmin: The bottom line is that veganism is not all that difficult. You can find a good meal anywhere if you know what to look for. I think that going vegan is one of the best things I’ve ever done. It’s my favorite part of me.
Delci: And once you know about the horrific cruelties of factory farming and the monumental impact our food choices have on the environment, it’s hard not to make a change.
Casey: [breaking into song] I’m starting with the man in the mirror!
Jasmin: Um. What was that?
Delci: Michael Jackson, I think.
Casey: [still singing] I’m asking him to change his ways!
Jasmin: I guess we’re done talking then?
Delci: Yeah, we’d better leave before the dancing starts.
Jasmin: Wait, one more thing, quickly... If you're reading this and you have some questions that you want us to tackle, please leave them in the comments section below.
Delci: Consider this the first installment in what will be a new outlet for us to use to cover your FAQs.
Jasmin: Is Casey doing the Moonwalk?
Casey: [bringing it home] If you want to make the world a better place, take a look at yourself and make that … change!
Hahaha, LOVED this! You guys rock.
Posted by: Andrea N. | October 22, 2009 at 05:14 PM
Great blog guys! You seem like you have so much fun...this must be a fabulous place to intern!
Just to add a thought: whenever I hear, "Oh, I don't think I could ever be vegan, it's seem way too hard!," I try to not make the vegan lifestyle sound too rosy. I've noticed that when I do that, I sound like a salesman. And nobody trusts a salesman. So I try to be really honest. Yes, veganism is usually really easy. I've been doing it every day for a long time, and I've never starved to death - actually, I've trained for a marathon and haven't had a cold in two years. It's second nature to me, and it's hardly an obstacle. But also, it is difficult sometimes. Sometimes it's really frustrating, actually. Making moral choices is often a challenge - but the reward of knowing you are traveling the compassionate and conscientious road makes the bumps along that road easy to handle.
Posted by: Chris Logue | October 23, 2009 at 12:24 AM
You all brightened my morning. Funny AND informative. Thanks guys! :)
Posted by: Adrianne | October 23, 2009 at 10:18 AM
Hello,
Great discussion! I gave my 78 year old mother Gene Baur's Farm Santuary Changing Hearts and Minds About Animals and Food book. To my surprise she read the whole thing! AND she wants to be a vegetarian now! She keeps saying "but, I don't know what to eat..." She doesn't like to cook. Can someone point me in the right direction on how to help my mom CONTINUE to be a vegetarian?
Posted by: Cathy Mack | November 18, 2009 at 05:46 PM