The more I learn about why we should all be a vegans, the more upset I get about all the cruelty out there.  How do you stay positive about the human race knowing about all of the suffering by animals?  It can be really overwhelming to me some days!  Anyone?

Ironically, I found this dated the date of my question.  Never got a response, but just in case anyone else ever feels down about what's happening out there, this story was helpful.  After listening, I gave myself permission to let go once in a while, and then start plugging along in the fight against cruelty...

http://www.sciencefriday.com/program/archives/201006045

Hi Laurabel, I'm sorry you got no reply, some days are so busy maybe it was gone before people saw it...

I found this thread that was on some time ago and it is related to the issue you bring up...

I remember I found it very heartwarming, hope it helps you too.

http://www.thekindlife.com/forum/thread/how-do-you-deal-with-the-unbelieveable-sadness

Hugs, Axa

ps you might also look here:

http://www.thekindlife.com/forum/thread/dr-masaru-emotos-healing-prayer-for-the-gulf

Laurabel, I just wanted to let you know that I understand how you feel.  I've been a vegan for eight years but was always very quiet about it and never felt offended by anyone elses choices.  While I am still very quiet, a few months ago I found myself getting upset for the first time in my life about the unkind choices people make with regards to animals.  It wasn't just the diet issue, because I'd feel just as angry when I saw ads for unwanted pets, or when I'd read an article about canned hunts, or really anything that demonstrated how cruel and thoughtless people can be.  It sometimes seems like it is we humans who are the true animals!

I'd like to believe, however, that people are changing.  Just finding this forum was very heartening, and when I read the book, it was like reading my own personal story - I was not alone after all, and that gave me hope.

The human race has overcome many hurdles and maybe someday in the future people will look back and be shocked that we treated sentient creatures with such horrible disregard.  Perhaps the worst of us will have the misfortune of coming back as a battery hen!

Take care,

Beary

Thank you so much Axa Axa and Beary.  Your kind words mean so much to me. 

Axa Axa, both of your links were perfect for me.  They first made me realize I'm not alone.  I will re-read this when needed!  The second (the healing prayer) made me feel a little more empowered and positive.  I really found the concept amazing, but not shocking.  I try to send love to animals when I see a truck carrying them to slaughter, to animals in captivity, etc.  I definitely believe in the power of the mind. 

Beary, it's so sad that I, like you, am very quiet about my eating choices as well (vegetarian for 20 years and vegan for only a month now) because our choices seem to offend others.  Isn't it backwards?  But I stay quiet because I know you don't win anyone over when they feel guilty.  I'm just impressed that it took you so long to feel offended!  But it's not doing you any good.  So I, like you, will just take comfort in finding all of you here!

XO Laurabel

Laurabel, it is true that the anger isn't doing us any good, and I want to move past it.  I think women are especially uncomfortable dealing with anger.  Its funny that you mention it, but the thing that started this 'anger phase' I'm in was dealing with a group of very combative meat eaters who were obviously offended by my diet.  I truly felt very indignant - how dare they attack me for a personal decision that is based in compassion when I had never so much as shared my veganism let alone been "preachy" about it.  I became very discouraged by the anti-vegan sentiment that I was encountering.

When I first became vegan I didn't even know there was a word for it, it just felt like the only way I could live with myself.  Now it seems, the average person has encountered the concept of veganism and they have gone on the offensive trying to prove that it is an irrational, dangerous mental disorder that will literally destroy life as we know it!  It would actually be funny if it weren't so disheartening.  It broke my heart when someone actually said they were going to eat more meat to make up for the animals I was saving.  Then they said that I was probably so happy and peaceful all of the time because I was suffering from nutrient deficiencies that cause euphoria, and that it was good that I didn't have children of my own, because veganism is a form of child abuse.

Thanks for listening.  You just can't reason with that type of person!

Hang in there, I read today that a vegetarian diet saves 100 animals a year!  As my friend's new-agey mother says: be the change you want to see in the world!

Beary, I am so shocked to hear what those people said to you!  It's difficult because they probably like any reaction they can get, but how can you not react to someone saying they are going to eat more meat to make up for the animals you are saving?  That wasn't a rational argument to help you see the light, that was just an ignorant statement to be mean.  So I agree, you can't reason with them.   

And as for the veganism being a form of child abuse...  I find it interesting that people that regularly feed their kids chicken nuggets and french fries are "concerned" about my children's diet, which is full of fruits, veggies, and grains (ok, yes, and quite a few vegan goodies!) 

I often think that, like you said, someday people will look back and be shocked at how we treated innocent creatures, just as we look back in disbelief at how we have treated people throughout history.

Stay proud and strong!  You sound like a sweet, intelligent person, I'm sure you are leading by example more than you know.  And we are saving 100 animals each year!!!  I love it!  Thank you for sharing that!!!

Be the change you want to see in the world was actually said by Gandhi ;))))))))

I actually posted what I saved by eating vegan for 4 months :)

http://www.thekindlife.com/forum/thread/by-eating-4-months-vegan-i

I agree, it gets so hard some days to watch other people live the way they live.  Just last night at a family dinner my sister and her boyfriend were laughing about when they were fishing, and had caught a bunch of fish (to eat), and were having trouble killing this one catfish in particular.  She went on and on about how they stabbed it in the head, but it kept moving, then cut off his head, but he kept moving, etc.  About made me sick.  How can people be so cruel?  A fish is still a living creature, just like us!  I kept my mouth shut though, b/c to say anything would only instigate a heated argument, which I wasn't ready for. 

How do I keep it up though?  I remember the Starfish Story.  "I made a difference to that one."  Every time I pick up a plastic bottle someone leaves in the park, to carry all the way home to recycle, instead of just throwing it in the trash, I think "I made a difference to that one."  I know I can't recycle EVERYTHING, and lots of people still throw everything in the trash, which kills me when I think about it.  Same with what they eat.  Killing any animal just for your consumption.... I know it goes on, but the only thing any of us can control is ourselves.  When we, as individuals, choose to not buy that animal product, we can take pride in "making a difference to that one."  That's one less chicken that will die, for example. 

Summary of the Starfish Story for those who don't know:  "A boy/girl was walking along a beach with thousands of starfish washed up from the high tide.  One by one, he was throwing them back in the ocean.  A man walked up and said to the boy, 'There are thousands of starfish on this beach alone. There's no way you can save them all.'  The boy reached down, picked up another starfish, threw it in the ocean, then looked up at the man and said, 'I made a difference to that one.'"

I was watching CNN HL News yesterday and my husband was sleeping. Anyways, the whole special was about animal rights. At one point, (they gave a disclaimer about it being violent) they showed this dairy farm and this guy beating these poor innocent cows...literally he was poking them with a pitchfork and one he was just repeatedly punching in the head! I was bawling crying after a few seconds (and tearing up now just thinking of it) and my husband came out and thought something horrible had happened I was so hysterical. I always cared about animal rights, but have never had it effect me so deeply, and I think it's because I have  been a vegetarian all my life but a vegan just since January. It seriously changes you, makes you more compassionate and caring and feel the animals' pain.

I've never heard the starfish story.  I love it!  That is one to keep in mind everyday, and when my kids are old that will be a lesson I want to remind them often.  In fact, I found it online, I think I will print it and frame it for them! 

Shannon, that must have been awful!  I didn't even see it and I can't stop thinking about it.  I remember seeing seal pups brutally killed on tv in 7th grade and I got hysterical also.  That changed my life.  Until then I honestly didn't know people could be so cruel.

A few months ago there was a documentary on HBO about an undercover animal rights agent working in at a pig farm.  They took the workers to trial for multiple offenses and they pretty much got off with nothing because the judge grew up on a farm.  The vets grew up on farms and agreed with the practice of hanging the pigs and waiting for them to die a slow awful death.  At that point, and for awhile after, I lost a lot of hope for the people of this world.  To see their lack of compassion while watching this video of a pig being hung to death in court and not thinking anything was wrong with that was heart-wrenching.  I was so depressed for a long time (quietly of course as is the way with some of us vegans!) because I could not understand how people condone such outright cruelty.  After awhile, I decided that while it was awful, I was grateful to HBO for showing such a controversial documentary to the mainstream public.  I was also inspired by the undercover agent who risks his whole life to "out" these travesties regardless of whether anything good will come from it in the end.  He has no life . . . he can have no relationships because he can't tell anyone what he does and he travels constantly changing his name multiple times a year.  He is amazing and he gives me hope that people like him will reach even just a few. It is so difficult and eats away at my soul sometimes, but all fo you give me hope . . . seeing how many new faces there are on this site each day.  You give me hope.

Another really haunting story, catconsrv.  And you're so right, I can't even imagine what the agent goes through.  Imagine seeing cruelty and not being able to stop it on the spot, but for the right reason.  I'd go crazy! 

Laurabel, it definitely takes a special person with a lot of strength to be an agent.  They actually have to participate in the cruelty so that they won't be found out, yet somehow keep their sanity.