In the aftermath of such a toxic election cycle that produced some of the ugliest public displays of hatred in modern times, I write to suggest a small, tangible way to substantially reduce pain and injustice.
On Nov. 19 (Saturday), a group of individuals will gather in Asheville under the guidance of local company Wild Abundance to otherize an individual, render her helpless, slit her throat and dismember her body. The event is contemptuously called “The Cycles of Life: Humane Slaughtering and Butchery Class.”
It’s an insult that a planned murder is being referred to as a part of the “cycles of life.” This flies in the face of those of us trying to build a safer world in which no one is living under the weight of oppression and injustice. To suggest that you can preface the word “slaughtering” with “humane,” and suddenly the phrase is an acceptable euphemism for murder is another way in which this gathering will sanction and formalize injustice.
I am writing to ask my intelligent community members to do something that will lead to the explicit reduction of harm and suffering. Please join me in asking Wild Abundance to cancel the planned murder of this individual.
Then, please join me in ending the absolutely causeless and unrequired suffering of all beings by going vegan. It is a choice that research is continuously proving to be wildly healthful and the most effective way to solve environmental and resource crises. Our world needs less suffering, not more. When we begin to understand this, we will all become richer in so many ways.
My heart breaks for the sheep who will be made vulnerable, assaulted and robbed of her life needlessly. We can choose to put a stop to this.Thank you for bringing attention to this matter.
— Caitlin Campbell
Black Mountain
Editor’s note: A response to this letter, “Vegan Activists’ Attacks Are Misguided,” can be found here.
This is nothing less than harassment by religious zealots.
If anyone is interested in continuing a nuanced, sophisticated conversation about why any animal agriculture is problematic, please consider joining a discussion about the “humane myth” tonight at 6 PM at the Block Off Biltmore in Asheville. The talk will be led by my friend Justin Van Kleeck of Triangle Chance for All Microsanctuary.
I do hope that Mr Kleeck will be honest with the audience how this extremist version of vaganism wants to do away with natural animal fertilizers for plant-based crops and replace them with synthetic (oil-based) fertilizers. I think that will raise some eyebrows.
Thank you, Caitlin, for being an articulate voice of reason and compassion. You are in good company (see below). The killers try and make this so complicated, when it is so simple. Webster’s New World Dictionary defines humane as “having what are considered the best qualities of human beings: kind, tender, merciful, sympathetic, etc.” Can robbing animals of their lives to satisfy a culinary preference to eat their corpses ever be called humane, or does using the phrase “humane meat” distort the very meaning of the word?
As long as humanity continues to be the ruthless destroyer of other beings, we will never know health or peace. For as long as people massacre animals, they will kill each other. Indeed, he who sows the seed of murder and pain cannot reap joy and love.
–Pythagoras
“I have from an early age abjured the use of meat, and the time will come when men will look upon the murder of animals as they now look upon the murder of men.”
Leonardo Da Vinci“
A man can live and be healthy without killing animals for food; therefore, if he eats meat, he participates in taking animal life merely for the sake of his appetite.”
Leo Tolstoy
Keep it up. You folks are your own worst enemies when it comes to proselytizing for your religion.
I was commending Ms. Campbell for taking an unpopular position, and showing her that she is in good company. And she is clearly on the right side of history. One day we will look back and wonder why people didn’t show respect for animals.
Funny how you have to comment on everything. Don’t you have anything better to do? How about going out and making a difference in the world, rather than criticize those who are doing just that?
Thank you for your kind words, think critically. There are many of us in this community working toward social and environmental justice. I will keep speaking my truth and standing up for the victims of exploitation. Have an excellent evening.
Snowflake, you seem to have been a bit misguided. You’ve been taught that veganism is a religion?
Vegans come from all religions and no religion. There is no change of religion required to become vegan. This is about compassion for the animals, responsibility for the environment, and compassion for other people through worldwide food security.
No proselytizing going on here. I just don’t like to see a person be so misled, so felt the need to clarify.