Superior?

I'm often asked (ok, accused) if vegan feels they are morally superior then meat eaters. I came across a great quote the other day that summed it up nicely - "no, we're vegans because we don't feel superior to ANY living being". And that's true - mostly. But there's some honesty in the accusation too. And maybe with (a bit) of good reason. You see we all know that factory farming is wrong, no one wishes to debate the issue in a polite conversation let alone let discuss it over dinner. I don't blame anyone - it's disturbing. Who wants to discuss the mistreatment (horrible mistreatment) of an animal that may be as smart or smarter then the pet we're feeding under the table? Or that pigs have the emotional intelligence of a three year old human baby? Or cows mourn the separation of their babies? Here's the answer - virtually no one. Well, not entirely - vegans will - and vegans will often discuss this at great length and detail in order to provide a meat eater a chance to question his/her eating policy. And that may be the biggest issue right there - non vegans - don't really seem to have an eating policy. Oh, they may have diets and restrictions and preferences - yet their ethics seldom, if ever, touch upon their plate. And that's a shame and that's why there may be a (slight?) feeling of judgement and superiority there. You see very often vegans enjoy meat, they didn't grow up vegan, they consciously chose to give up the status quo and step from the main stream to ease the suffering of another being - a being that appears different then themselves - with full awareness that they will be mocked by this choice. Yet they do it anyway, gladly, happily so - and live better lives for it. Better then a meat eater? Health wise maybe so - we could debate that issue endlessly (medically speaking the facts are in though) How about ethics? The answer is definite and it's yes. Here's the thing - morals vary from person to person to nation and tribe. Ethics are a bit different. We all know and recognize cruelty - some turn their backs (tables) to it and continue onward, seemingly unaffected - others face it boldly, choose something different, maybe something harder, more difficult than the norm. And that makes all the difference - at least to the animals.

Peace,
Eric