I've been encountered by people who are curious as to why I choose a vegan diet and lifestyle. Most of the time, they ask me questions to get an understanding of this lifestyle choice, and living in the meat hungry, cheese smothered world that we live in today, most people don't understand why anyone in their right mind would choose such a lifestyle. I'm going to be honest and say that I don't like answering such questions, because I feel as though these questions are often being asked in order to mock my choice of lifestyle. For example, about a month ago, I was invited to go to dinner with a group of carnivores and attempted at politely declining the offer. But after several attempts, I was defeated and joined the group at a near by chili's (not exactly the most vegan friendly of restaurants). I was attacked (playfully, but annoyingly) the entire time, with little defense. Anything I said resulted in a look of "you're ridiculous" or a snide comment such as "do you do this for health, or for attention"? I normally just shrug these things off and move on, which is what I did that evening.
However, last week a friend of a friend's was asking me about why I'm vegan. I told her that I do it for the animals. She suddenly felt the need to attempt at convincing me that "cows are going to make milk anyway, and chickens are going to lay eggs, so we might as well drink milk and eat eggs. We have to get our protein somewhere." I didn't feel like explaining myself at the time, so all I said was "Well, it's more complicated than that!" but in my mind I was thinking "ARE YOU KIDDING ME?"
I've heard this argument before; that cows need to be milked - it makes them feel better; or it's good for them. People have been sourly misinformed and it kills me. It's not her fault that she has no idea what she's talking about. Here's what I wished I had said to this lady that maybe would have put some perspective onto what she thinks she knows:
Cows milk is produced for baby cows, just as human milk is produced for human babies. Mammals drink their mother's milk when they are born and stop drinking it when they are ready to eat food; when they don't need the milk anymore, the mother stops producing it. This is true about all mammals including humans and cows. Therefore, in order for a cow to produce milk, she needs to have babies. If she does not have babies, she will not produce milk! Dairy farms must keep the cows pregnant in order for them to produce milk. When the cow is no longer able to become impregnated or produce milk, she is sent away for slaughter. Keep in mind though, that once the calf is born, he is taken away from his mother and sent off to become veal; the mother does not get to care for her young and the calf does not get to be nurtured by his mother. Both mother and baby are, instead, exploited for human consumption.
Also, what I find to be a little disturbing is that humans are the only species that drink another species milk AND drinks milk past infancy. There's a reason why most of us are lactose intolerant: our bodies stop producing lactase, the enzyme that breaks down lactose, when we are about five years old. It's because we don't NEED milk after that age (or long before that age)! Sorry, but the dairy industry has fooled you all into believing that milk is essential to a healthy diet. It is not designed for humans! It's designed for CALVES - which are born at a weight of 40 to 100 lbs and eventually grow to become up to 1800 pound animals (almost one TON)! No wonder that stuff is loaded with artery clogging saturated fat and tons of calories! It's designed by nature to make you gain over 1000 lbs!
And as for eggs - egg laying hens are, I believe, the most exploited of all farm animals. When they are born, their beaks are seared off in order to prevent pecking in the tiny cages that they are all squished in with each other. The male chicks are either tossed in a trash can and suffocated or ground up alive and presented as feed to the other animals. The hens are stressed, diseased, covered in feces, starved, malnourished and forced to live miserable lives in which they are unable to move around and spread their wings. And if you think that buying "cage free" eggs is going to help, think again. For one thing, any company can say that they have "cage free" eggs and not actually provide the chickens with such a thing. It's not regulated by the FDA! Not only that but what designates "cage free"? 10 minutes out of the cage? 5 minutes? 1 minute? It doesn't matter.
The point is - animals are exploited and treated as products when they are living, breathing, beautiful creatures that would each have their own beautiful personality if given the chance! Just like your dog or cat!
That is what I wanted to say to this person - but the sad thing is, a lot of people already know this stuff and still choose to eat and use animal products.
I could have told her these things, and she would still have found a way to make it okay to continue doing what she does.
Would it have been worth the argument?
