This is part four of a five part series answering a question I am often asked, “Why are you vegan?” I am not here to change anyone, but if you are curious as to why I make the choices I make, read on.
For about $20,000 each year in the United States, you could be a chicken sexer. You could squeeze little chicks until their intestines show from their butt, all to determine their sex for less than $10.00 per hour. Then either you can send them along the conveyer belt to become egg layers or you can shred them. In the world of egg laying, boys do not count.
You will do this to about 6000 chicks a day while standing for eight hours. You will do all this, not because your dream as a child was to take 1,500,000 baby chick lives each year, but to do work you hate to feed your kids. Here you are squeezing shit (yes, squeeze them and you force out excrement) out of chicks to determine whether they should become egg layers or whether you should shred them.
Then, you will go home to your children and talk about the value of life and that they should be peaceful beings. They should not cause pain to others. Be helpful not hurtful. You will scold your child for hurting another at school or kicking that puppy. When she asks if you would ever be hurtful to another life, what will you say? How will you parent your child at that moment?
I am a mother of two children, and I have no interest in putting another human being in this position. My duty is not just to my children but also to the future of all humanity.
When we speak of the violence in the world and our desire to live a more peaceful existence, we need to look at all the violence in the world, our role in that violence, and its effect on each and every one of us.
Do you ever look at your stance of violence and how your behaviour might connect to the violence in the world? I would love to hear your thoughts!