THOSE People
This post is a spin off from a series of blogs related to Matthew Scully’s book, Dominion*.
As I’ve been blogging about Dominion, and growing increasingly mouthy about inhumane animal practices, some have begun to suspect I’m on my way to becoming a (DUNH-DUNH-DUNH)….vegetarian.
When I talk about it, some respond with an unsurprised tone that says, So your-vegetarian-friends-finally-got-their-talons-in-you, huh? Other times their tone seems to infer that if I did cross the Vegetarian Line (its invisible, sort of like the equator), I’d be one of those people. Those extremist tree-hugging blood-throwing types that no one really understands.
Lucky for me, I’ve always been intense about my beliefs, so my identity can absorb a few eyebrow raises and dietary changes without shocking anyone. I think I was born one of those people no one understands.
I’m not actually becoming a vegetarian though. Or if I am, I’m on a slow road to getting there, and just don’t see my destination from where I’m standing right now. I may however start a vegetarian-vigilante group. I would fly around in my I-insist-I’m-normal-costume beaming insights into people. Things like vegetarianism is not some sort of genetic mutation involving a hyperactive compassion-gene. Or that the movement isn’t guided by the hypnosis of a very powerful cow.
I’d like the world to know there are very compelling rational, moral reasons for choosing vegetarianism—reasons you don’t have to be one of those people to understand.
Even though I’m not going steady with all things green yet, I do intend to develop some sort of life-response to the things I’ve read in Dominion, a book that has been an important springboard in my learning about the inhumane treatment of animals. In fact, as those of you following the blog know, I’ve read it at a purposefully leisurely pace (I’m usually a sonic speed reader) because I wanted to give the issue a fair hearing—to read slow enough to actually comprehend his premises and to pause long enough to let my soul think about what I’d read.
And as much as I like Matthew Scully, the author of Dominion, I’d be remiss if I pretended the writings of some Bush speechwriter I’ve never met reached deep enough inside of me to challenge my interest in animal care.
It wasn’t really Scully.
It was a different guy who I don’t think will ever write speeches for George Bush.
His name is Erik with a “k”.
But I’ll get to that later.
First, I’ve been reflecting on how my view of animals evolved.You can read Part 1 of my reflection here.
For the next blog in this series, click here.
*Please see “shop local” under the blog categories at sarahcunningham.org for purchase options.