i wish i became a vegan years ago

[veggiemike]

I have only been a Vegan for the last 6 months,but before that i was a vegeterian for 24 yrs,its took me this long to become one.
I first became a vegeterian due to moral reasons,i thought it was wrong and unessarry to slaughter animals for any reason.
I hate animal cruelty and dispise people like bloodsport enthusiast,animal experimenters,butchers,etc
I still felt as a vegeterian i was guilty of animals suffering and not sincere,because i was still using dairy products.
I was still buying eggs/cheese and milk from the super market that was touched by probably the same farmers hands that sent his cattle to slaughter.I suppose is one way of looking at it.
Although i originally became a veggie because of moral reasons,not all veggies are for that reason.
Not only that some people call themselves vegeterian but eat fish.
Some people are only vegeterian because of religion or health.
I find that all vegans are people that care about animal welfare,but only a fraction of vegeterians feel the same.
All i can say is i wish i became a vegan years ago.

[veggiemike]

In last message,i did start out as wanting to ask a question but then wasnt sure what my question was,so i just left a message anyway.
If i could of moved it to another board i would.Sorry.
Not only that i forgot i was in the questions forum.
Im half asleep here

[(deleted)]

Hi veggiemike.

I have sympathy with you on this one.

Yes dairy is: thievery, rape/----------- and slavery to and of our friends....

I have found though as a evolving vegan myself that even though dairy is bad, it is but a microscopic fraction of badness that murder is.

It all comes down to principle.

I pondered this. If respect of animals lives was attained and murder was abolished, would dairy products be so bad to/for the animals? If we cared about thier well-being would they be ab-USED as they are?

Now I am not trying to advocate dairy consumption in any way, for the milk was intended for thier young and that only. What I am stating is that even though it is a misplaced addition to society, that it is not a macro-sin.

I'd rather be stolen from and ed, rather than killed?

I'm sure our friends agree.

I'm sure you'd agree.

_______________________________________________________

I had a great time with a small herd of cowwies the other day. It was quite remarkably wonderful, entertaining and educational. They are so smart and inquisitive.

Here's my little story/experience:

I drive big trucks for a living and I was shooting across I-80 eastbound when my butt started to hurt, so I decided to pull over, surf the net and exercise, etc.

Behold, exactly the exit ramp I decided to sit at was some grazers over yonder. First I did some jump-ropin' which they were thoroughly into watching; the whole herd.

As I continued my hang-out, thier curiousity was bringing them to me closer to the fence. This reaction made me want to spend more time with them. The one that started to approach me first seemed to be somewhat of a leader. He/She was marked with a white splotch on its forehead where the rest were just all black.

I went closer to the fence and decided to just sit down. They all started coming over. I was excited. When they were real close I realized they would LOVE the way greener grass on this side of the fence. I started pulling it out of the ground and started to get up and give it to them, hoping that I could feed them by hand. As I started to get up, they all sorta freaked, being by that time they were all fence-side. I moved slowly and dropped the green grass on thier side of the fence. I then sat back down where I was to watch what they would do. There was only one that cautiously came to my dropped offer to inspect it. This fella had courage it seemed...or was it that he trusted me more than the others.

Here is where the most beautiful moment came into play: Looking into thier eyes as they looked at me and enjoyed what I was giving them. What an experience! heehee! I was overjoyed and told them I have craploads more to go get for them.

As I repeated this courtship a few more times I noticed the initial cow/leader seemed most cautious; more cautious than all the others who are currently enjoying all the greens and flowers I was feeding them, (not by hand yet though...dang!) He seemed sorta jealous. I sensed that he was just being protective and trying to show an example to the rest of the guys by "not trusting the human....they are all killers!" lol. (Which for the most part he's correct, aye?)

So now we come to the last interaction, but definately not the least interaction. I went far this last time to get them the ultra-goods, of which finding myself returning to the fenceline with two hella-fat handfuls of flower-weeds. To the left-back was the leader staring like "who-cares". And in the main transaction area was the rest (like 8 or 9 of them) waiting for me to return (of which 4 or 5 of them had no fear of me much at all, (they still were not allowing hand feed though.) I was kinda mad at the leader dude 'cause after all I've been a dedicated veg for 9yrs now and absolutely meant them no harm.....but still understood his position. So I looked at him with one handful and threw it near him only like "there! you big paranoid beach!" then I took the few steps to the others and threw the other handful into the center of them.

Here is the way damn amazing part. All the communication and respect was happening! The more trusting unit knew what I said to the leader guy and when I threw his rations they didnt even go for them. Instead they waited for me to give them what I had in the other hand. They knew what that guy was thinking and my body language reaction thereof. Then! ....as I threw down the other huge handful to the group...here comes paranoid mister charging to what I dropped to the group, he scoops up a mouthful while slamming his hoof-brakes on in front of fenceline and then stared at me chewing his deep greens/flowers like...FINE!!!

Oh g's! It was fooking wonderful. This moment has actually only strengthened my militant stance on the equality of animals. They were my friends at that moment. Not capable of even thinking of harming me, and they ending up breaking thier fear and ended up trusting me. We all learned from each other and I will never forget them. I witnessed intelligence and interactions morethat than most dogs, (who are over-rated pets anyways.) I hate anybody that would kill any friend of mine, yup yup.

As I drive, I wonder if that cattle truck that just drove by has my now known friends in it. If thier in the truck, that is the transport to slaughter. Thats really sad.

Meat eaters are racist hate fooks that should feel the blade they carve with.

Well...

p3@cE

Hope you liked my little story.

[meday (deleted)]

Hi Mike

I certainly agree with you that I would have liked to have become a vegan earlier. I always hated meat but my mum made me eat it until I was 18 and then I cooked for myself. I became vegan when my parents were on holiday so they couldn't object. I wish I had stood up to my parents more when I was younger, but at least now my children aren't having to go through the same fight with me as they are vegans although my parents and their father don't agree. I just need to make sure I teach them why we don't eat animals so they don't eat non-vegan foods when they are visiting their dad or at friends houses.

What surprises people most about me is that you would never describe me as an animal lover, but I would never eat them. I just think that they have the right to live just as much as I do, so I shouldn't be treating them badly.

Sorry I meant to just say I agreed with you, but turned into a bit of a ramble!!

Michelle

[activistguru (deleted)]

.Oh, I'm in a dry wry mood tonight, so I'll save my thoughts of a comment for a more opportune time.

[vegayoni]

.k

[saraluvscats]

`well veggiemike i just heard about vegans and i realy like the whole ida i think that im gonna look in to it more and become 1 myselfe i realy hate animal abuse and i think that it would be realy hard to stay a vegan after eating meat for my whole life i just dont think that with out having som one to help me i dont think that i could stay a vegan for that long.

any 1 can email me and help me understand this better!

[daniellenicole]

`I just became Vegan November 16, 2010 and its the best decision I made!! I just finished reading some Vegan books but I would still like to know more..

[charles72vegan (deleted)]

veggiemike wrote: I have only been a Vegan for the last 6 months,but before that i was a vegeterian for 24 yrs,its took me this long to become one.
I first became a vegeterian due to moral reasons,i thought it was wrong and unessarry to slaughter animals for any reason.
I hate animal cruelty and dispise people like bloodsport enthusiast,animal experimenters,butchers,etc
I still felt as a vegeterian i was guilty of animals suffering and not sincere,because i was still using dairy products.
I was still buying eggs/cheese and milk from the super market that was touched by probably the same farmers hands that sent his cattle to slaughter.I suppose is one way of looking at it.
Although i originally became a veggie because of moral reasons,not all veggies are for that reason.
Not only that some people call themselves vegeterian but eat fish.
Some people are only vegeterian because of religion or health.
I find that all vegans are people that care about animal welfare,but only a fraction of vegeterians feel the same.
All i can say is i wish i became a vegan years ago. I totally agree with everything you said. In fact, I will even take it a step further. I think those vegans who may not practice any animal cruelty themselves but who are accepting and tolerant of people who do things that harm animals cannot really say that they truly love all animals. In my opinion, it is not enough to simply abstain from animal cruelty yourself but you must also openly condemn it as well as those individuals who practice it. Otherwise, you are guilty of at least tacitly condoning animal cruelty no matter how much of a vegan you are.

[saucypup (deleted)]

`Yes its terrible.Cows are such placid friendly harmless creatures,as anyone who has encountered one over a fence will know.why anyone would hurt them is beyond me.Also they are actually pretty clever really,ok they cant talk but they are certainly not stupid,not that it matters.