who I am and why

As a child I was always asking questions, "why", "who", "what", etc… it probably drove my parents nuts, well I know it did…lolAsking those questions was a good thing but it also had the reverse effect, I found out things that would be "easier" for me if I just chose to ignore it once I found out;Things that would shock me and shape the choices throughout the rest of my life. My family on my dad's side always had farms. Farm animals, which consisted of pigs, chickens, and cows. I grew up playing in the barn with these animals. I guess you could say I considered them my friends. I was an only child so I did what I could to amuse myself. Truth be told I loved playing with these animals! I thought I was the luckiest little kid! Who else gets to play with baby pigs and baby cows all summer?! For as long as I can remember I have loved all animals. I wouldn't consider myself an overly sensitive child, however I do remember seeing road kill deer, dogs & cats, on the side of the road and crying because it upset me so much. I guess I would think to myself, "that was someone's pet", and it was just lying there on the side of the highway left to rot. No one was burying them, or mourning their death. They were just left discarded on the side of the road like an empty McDonald's cup! The difference being these were living, breathing creatures at some point. Someone's best friend most likely.Back to the farm animals. Even as a young child (I'm talking 5 or 6) I would inquire more about these animals (my friends) to my parents. I'd see them being loaded in trucks and the next time I'd visit my family the same animals were not there. I named them and could tell them apart so I KNEW they weren't the same ones. I can remember my parents gently telling me that they were sold….no other details were given (of course).That explanation just wasn't going to suffice; I was an inquisitive little thing. My parents would say, "Well Jenny, you know where that meat you eat comes from somewhere" and "That's just the way things are, we eat meat, we drink milk, that's just the way it is". Well, it's bad enough to hear that, but when I realized that the same cows that I was playing with, my friends, were also ending up on my plate it was too much. I cried and cried and of course my parents would reassure me that those particular cows that I knew weren't slaughtered, they were just used for milk. Now, don't get me wrong, I understand my parents were just trying to protect me. I see my friends with their kids now lying/sugarcoating these same things. The problem I have is WHY do you feel the need to lie? What are you protecting your kids from? If you think it's not wrong, then why lie? My parents knew damn well if they told me that Sam (the cow) was in fact on my plate that I'd freak out and hate them at the same time for feeding him to me!When my friends children ask me why I'm vegetarian (they can't grasp what vegan is so vegetarian is easier to them) I kind of freeze. I look at my friends like "do you really want me to sugar coat my answer"? Or "Do you want me to tell them why I choose to live this way"? I've yet to have a friend request that I "sugar coat" my answer, and I'm thankful of that.Kids for the most part do not understand what they are eating. And when they do want to inquire they are usually lied to. The intention of this blog is not to be preachy; it's just to be honest. I have a hard time with my friends & family not realizing what's really happening behind the scenes in the meat & dairy industry. Or the ones that do know, choosing to ignore it. I feel that for the most part, if we all did a little research and a little behind the scenes investigating the shock and horror we'd feel would change our ways of thinking and doing things. The amount of torture and absolutely disregard for life of these animals before they make it to you plate is unfathomable to me. Cows, chickens and pigs ARE skinned alive, they are kicked, beaten, and tortured before death, calves are taken from their mothers after a few days of birth, put into crates so small that they can't stand or move (this is done so their muscles can't develop and become tough, they are then slaughtered for veal—veal is supposed to be soft; hence the no movement in the crates), there are so many more examples I can note but I fear you'll quit reading if I do. I just urge people to do some of their own research. Knowledge is power, don't let the 6 o' clock news and the FDA tell you what's safe and what's going on, DO YOUR OWN RESEARCH!I understand it is hard to hear about, and hard to think about, but choosing to ignore that it exists and supporting it (yes, you are in fact supporting it by eating meat and consuming dairy) doesn't mean it doesn't exist. I've had family & friends over the years say to me "Well I know some of it, but I don't want to hear about everything that happens". I have a really hard time digesting that. Why do you choose to ignore it? I understand it's easier for someone to do so because choosing to NOT ignore it means they have to make a change in their life. A change that is not convenient, a change that is going to get them ridiculed and picked on, a change that may not be easy, but a change that WILL make a difference. Our actions,whatever they may be, create a ripple effect. Whether we want to think they do or not, they do.This effect is great when what we are doing is a good thing, but when it's not…well you know the result.One of my heroes is Howard Lyman (author of "Mad Cowboy" I highly suggest reading this book, it changed my life). Some of you know who he is, for those who don't: He was a 4th generation cattle rancher who now is vegan. He is the same guy who went on Oprah a few years back showing her what happens to cattle behind the scenes and Oprah exclaimed "I'll never eat another burger!", which resulted in Oprah & Howard being SUED by the Texas Cattle Ranchers! My first question being "what happened to freedom of speech???" Well apparently Oprah is SO influential that the sales of meat took a plunge (you'd think I'd be glad about that, but I'm more disgusted that when a celebrity chooses to do something we as mindless sheep jump on the wagon).Bottom line, cattle industry lost. I'm a firm believer that everyone has a purpose in life. I think that we may find this purpose at any age. Whether it be a family member struck by a rare illness and we choose to lobby for a cure & make others aware, or something else that we feel so strongly about we feel compelled to tell others.I do think that sometimes it takes unfortunate and tragic events to make us open our eyes and want to do something to fix things. It is not hard to be vegetarian, It is somewhat tougher being vegan but if you're doing it for the right reasons, it isn't hard, and you don't second guess yourself or your choices. The way I choose to live my life is MY choice. The way I view it is like my religion so to speak. Yes, I take it THAT seriously. The huge misconception that we as humans NEED meat to survive is preposterous. We don't. Is the "satisfaction" of your taste buds worth the suffering? Because that is what It boils down to.I'm not a martyr. I grew up eating meat and drinking milk. I have been on both sides of the fence. Once I realized how things are I could no longer choose to keep my eyes closed.My ripple effect is spreading across to my family and friends. My parents eat strictly organic now, and they have drastically cut their meat consumption down. It's a start and I'm SO proud of them. If people in their 50's can make changes from how they've been living their entire lives then we ALL can. I welcome those who choose to ask me questions, versus those who choose to just view me as a "vegan freak". I always welcome questions, however when the questions turn into attacking me or the questions just get to be so stupid like "Hey, I'm going to the store, do you want some steak". That's when I'm just going to choose to ignore you. So, let me rephrase, I welcome ALL intelligent questions and debates. I'll end with saying, we're all on this earth together, we all have one common interest and that's concern in our own survival. That means, you, I , our pets, cows, all of earth's creatures. Who am I to say who has a right to life and who doesn't? Just because animals can't physically speak and tell us they would rather NOT be slaughtered doesn't mean we choose for them.

challenge

I challenge you to watch the documentary earthlings.If you are seriously interested I will send you MY copy, no strings attached. You can get it back to me whenever, you can lend it to a friend, family member, whatever, I'm not worried about when or if I get it back.I'm not going to lie, this film is very tough to watch but if you can make it through it and STILL feel the same way you feel now about how we as humans treat animals, then that's your choice and I won't discuss the issue with you anymore. If you watch the film and it makes you rethink the way things are done then the film served it's purpose.I really get uncomfortable and hate to think that my friends whom I regard as mostly open minded (except when it comes to animal welfare) to just disregard this message and film completely.Just saying "I don't want to know" isn't going to cut it..Ignorance is not bliss. At some point in our lives we need to take responsibility for our actions...ALL of us.Here is the link for Earthlings if you want to read more about it:http://www.isawearthlings.com/