On Single Issues and Vegetarians

Posted: 14 Nov 2008 02:27 PM CST

In my outreach, I use single issues such as dog racing and breeding, horse usage, sea turtle rescue and rehabilitation, and now TNR, as entrees into vegan education. And guess what I've found, 100% of the time?

Not a vegan in the bunch.

There are at least a handful of vegetarians in the group, and the funny thing about them is how vehemently anti "meat" they are. They talk about how disgusting it is, and most won't allow meat in their homes (so if a bunch of people are working at their home for the day and bring lunch, no meat is allowed). Now, I'm willing to bet my entire net worth (which has definitely been shrinking) that these vegetarians have no idea how closely connected frozen yogurt is to veal, and they're the first ones to speak out against the cruelties of veal. I believe this is simply a matter of education.

The vegetarians have one significant trait in common with the single issue people: they believe they're already doing a lot to help animals. And they've certainly demonstrated their willingness to change their behavior a bit and change the way they spend their time and money in order to help animals. What better place to introduce veganism?

Thanksgiving's coming to a nightmare near you in two weeks. We're still trying to get out of being in a home that has a carcass on the table and go to Sublime. Whether I bring food to our friends' home or we go to Sublime doesn't matter much, though I clearly have a preference. What I can definitely do from now until Thanksgiving is emphasize the similarities between greyhounds and turkeys. And between feral cats and turkeys. And between sea turtles and turkeys. Single issues present an odd kind of speciesism, and vegetarianism is often the result of misinformation. Both of these challenges can be easily addressed (though the outcome is not in our hands) with a little patience and compassion.

Remember that single issue people think they're already on the side of animals. Rather than showing them how they're not, why not show them how they can take their compassion or desire for justice even further?