Posted by GeishaGirl on November 29, 2004, at 11:33:11
In reply to Any vegans out there?, posted by alexandra_k on November 26, 2004, at 17:40:22
Hi,
I have a new screen name now (used to be "Poetess")
May seem strange, but I agree with a lot of what everyone has said. I'll try to explain.
I believe much of what PETA says. A conclusion that I have come to- from talking to current and former PETA memebers and reading their stuff- is that they are a group of people that care very much about the welfare of animals. I am a vegan, so this is very important for me.
However, I also find that what I perceive as their militancy (which I completely understand, people aren't listening) seems to me to effect how the facts are *presented* (not what the facts are). I believe that forced feeding still exists in some factory farms, but on what scale I question. With the introduction of "special feed" and hormones to fatten up chickens, I really wonder how prevalent forced feeding is to fatten up chickens. It seems to me it would be easier and cheaper to feed them weird food and pump them up with extra hormones. This is also appalling to me. I'm not sure this method is any nicer than forced feeding.
I have also perceived other things that are questionable spins, in my mind . I know that how I present things to the world can depend on how emotionally impacted by things . PETA is a voice for the unheard. They have brought to light some very important issues. They are still human beings, though.
I believe (Lar, I believe you briefly mentioned this) that what I have heard about applies to the U.S. I have no idea what factory farms in general are like abroad. I abhor the idea of factory farms in general, but I know that (for me) believing exactly what happens here also happens abroad is a mistake. The U.S. is very different from many countries. Also, in some countries there are still quite a few family farms.
Because of my sensitivities, I would love to see all meat producing farms vanish. But, I need to see things wholistically. From my perspective, people treat others badly (including animals) because of some kind of trauma. I feel if this goes unrecognized, nothing will ever be accomplished to help both humans and animals.
Just some thoughts. Feel free to respond, but I'm *not* trying to start a heated debate.
Peace.
GG
poster:GeishaGirl
thread:420601
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/social/20041122/msgs/421851.html