There are some people who should NOT be watching violent movies, TV shows, or even reading violent books. Some people shouldn’t even DARE turn on the news or open a newspaper. The radio is quite enough thankyouverymuch.
And, when they say “The following program may contain scenes of violence. Viewer discretion is advised”? YOU BETTER BELIEVE that sh– is VIOLENT. And, SOME PEOPLE should NOT be watching it. “Viewer DISCRETION”? My arse. VIEWER BEWARE. Because viewer be having SERIOUS wake-up-screaming kind of nightmares. Like I did last night.
Ever had the kind of nightmare that’s SO REAL, and you want to scream, BUT YOU CAN’T? I think I tried to scream three times before, FINALLY, “JOOOOOSSSSSHHHHH” escaped my trembling lips. On went the light. And, I was brave enough to take a nervous peek under my bed.
Even AFTER having a nightmare like that, I’m now watching Prison Break. SO HELP ME GOD. I tried to convince Josh-O that he hated that show, but NO-O-O, Josh-O insists he loves it. And, so, I just watched a CRAZY WOMAN torture a CRAZY MAN and all sorts of CRAZY violent other stuff.
It’s a good thing Wentworth Miller is DANG hawt….
But, then, just as I go to one of my fave gossip sites to find the best possible picture of Wentworth (which, of course, the above IS NOT). I find a worse horror. A video of what’s happening on “factory farms” so that people CAN HAZ burgers, chicken fingers, bacon, etc., etc.. It’s NOT OKAY.
I knew things were bad. But, now I have more visuals tormenting me and keeping me up at night — after I pray, as I always do, for the comfort of the animals.
As of this moment, I’m no longer a vegetarian. I’m now a VEGAN. It’s the only thing I can do for my beloved animals right now (I also donate monthly to WSPA).
I am CRYING.
And, perhaps, another thing I can do is to gently encourage you (if not to go all out vegan like me, then,) to eat more vegetarian meals, and to look for the words FREE RANGE on your egg cartons. If possible and affordable, opt for organic dairy products, buy your animal products from organic butchers or, at the very least, buy meats that are hormone and antibiotic free (assuming the conditions aren’t bad enough to require antibiotics). As Jane Godall said, “everything you buy is a vote” (Harvest for Hope). Vote for the smaller farmers….
I know money’s an issue for everyone right now. Imagine how much money you’d save eating less meat….
(At the very least, give thanks when you eat animal products…. My family laughs at me when I insist they THANK THEIR FISH, but they do it anyway, and I think they mean it.)
Because it is NOT okay. NOT okay. NOT okay.
You might shut me down and insist “HUMANS ARE MEANT TO EAT ANIMALS,” and I’ll give you that. But, humans are also meant to RESPECT ANIMALS. To f-ing RESPECT THEM. Apparently, that’s too much to ask.
Since MOST PEOPLE can’t handle the video footage of the horrors of factory farms, I just saw the video for you (well, as much as I could watch without smashing my computer on the floor and ripping my hair out in AN ANGER I HAVE NEVER KNOWN BEFORE). And, just trust me: NOT okay.
NOT okay NOT okay NOT okay.
Everyone has to choose his/her own cause(s)…. I understand that. Just, this is a big one for me. Thank you for listening and letting me do this small thing for my cause….
May all the animals on this earth find peace and comfort tonight….
xo Haley-O
goofball said, October 7th, 2008 at 6:57 am
you sure know how to make someone feel guilty when eating her turkey sandwich.
Pff
I know you are right, but it’s so hard, I don’t think I can give up meat. But I am not going to fight your arguments.
goofballs last blog post..Recipe for a stormy fall day
shroom monkey said, October 7th, 2008 at 7:43 am
ya know this is gonna sound odd coming from me… but we recently got chickens and a pair I feel more comfortable eating eggs that came from my very own spoiled chickens… and am looking into getting a pair of small goats… I cut out all red meat and pork for my family, and stick strickly to chicken and turkey and fish… and fish wise, I am lucky that I have relatives that go to Alaska 2x a year stricktly to fish and send it home….. we do have to be more conscious of our choices and what we want for ourselves and for our world….
shroom monkeys last blog post..if you were wondering….
shroom monkey said, October 7th, 2008 at 7:43 am
oohhh yeah and happy dance, I was first, I was first…. taaaaddaaaaaa and second, thank you very much!!!
shroom monkeys last blog post..if you were wondering….
Jennie said, October 7th, 2008 at 8:51 am
Hay,
Thank you so much for your post about animals. You are the first vegan/vegetarian advocate to see both sides. I understand just what you mean about violent shows, and I can’t believe you watched that animal video! I could NEVER watch that. When I even THINK about bad things happening to animals, I want to crawl into bed and cry forever.
Your cry for mercy for animals has really made me think. I will be more grateful to them, definitely. And we are really looking forward to paying off our debts so that we can afford to shop at Whole Foods, etc. And you’re right – there are are lots of dishes we could be making with less meat (not gonna commit to NO meat quite yet).
Thank you again, Haley, for a very thought-provoking post.
Sarah said, October 7th, 2008 at 8:56 am
I totally agree with you Haley .. it’s been on my mind a TON lately. I don’t think I am fully wanting to go non-meat eating, however, I am more carefull how I choose my chicken. Problem is that it is so HARD to find these free-range chicken products and you know, a cow that was just grazed in a field. The horrors .. I agree. Although – it’s in ALL business’ with animals. For ex. on the radio this a.m. there was a show on greyhound rescue .. did you know thousands are euthanized every year after their racing careers ends because there are simply not enough rescue homes for all of them? And what about all the bloody pupppy mills in this province I live in?! 200 dogs in the past week Haley, they were rescued .. from horrific conditions. It makes me cry .. and yet what can we really do. Sure, I stopped buying dogfood from stores that sell pets, but what about everyone else?! And back to where to by meat that is ethically (sp?) raised? ideas?
Prison break is a show my hubby and I watch together, although I have to say that parts of last nights were particularely barbaric .. I think he’s raised the bar .. and I did have to turn away on occasion (and also make sure my son had not snuck down from bed and peeked.. yikes!).
Chris Cactus said, October 7th, 2008 at 10:05 am
I’m vegetarian, not vegan. I couldn’t live without ice cream.
Chris Cactuss last blog post..Crutches
Catty Gramma Teri said, October 7th, 2008 at 12:45 pm
You went to look for Wentworth and found farm animals being tortured? I think you need one of those devices that prevents people from speeding in their cars. Only yours would prevent you from speeding along on the internet.
I appreciate your views, but I would like to point out that it is important to be careful about what you allow to become full truth in your head, based on what you see and hear. I know you are trying to be balanced in accepting the meat-eaters of the world. You are trying to help them eat meat responsibly. And were I in charge, there would be much done in the way of people realizing exactly where their meat comes from. It doesn’t just magically show up packaged in a store. It goes through a process and that process is important. Even if it’s a good process, this is important to see. Which is why I had my children watch as our pig was slaughtered to take to the butcher for packaging up. It was a little traumatic for them, but they sure as hell enjoyed eating that pig!
I would like to warn you again, though, about exposing yourself to too much. Your sensitivities are heightened because you are the mother of small children. A show containing any amount of horrors will have more effect on you than it will on a person with grown children, or even the father of small children. I had to give up any violent viewing entirely when my children were small. I was turning into a nervous wreck, filled with fears of every kind. I even gave up reading the paper and watching the news. (These being the givers of the greatest of horrors!) You may try to come back with the head-buried-in-the-sand argument, but believe me… if it was important, I heard about it! I was not uniformed. And I was a much calmer mother.
Catty Gramma Teris last blog post..Beggars Would Ride
junctionmama said, October 7th, 2008 at 1:04 pm
wow cheaty, that was heartfelt! i felt your rage in that post…
i completely agree about respecting the animals and i also think that if people can’t handle those videos, then they shouldn’t eat the animal products. i totally get why you can’t eat dairy anymore, especially as a lactating mom, think of those poor cows who spend their entire lives with mastitis, omg! if you ever had mastitis or even engorged breasts, you know what kind of life that would be; and then to drink that milk that’s full of drugs and suffering, disgusting and bad, bad karma!
thanks for the post cheaty!
junctionmamas last blog post..My baby’s all grown up!
Haley-O said, October 7th, 2008 at 4:49 pm
Thanks for the comments everyone…. It’s a touchy subject. I know. Hard to write about. Hard to read.
Let me share my answer Sarah’s question (I emailed it to her earlier):
I just don’t know, Sarah. It’s so unbelievable that these atrocities are allowed to happen. It’s just unthinkable. I don’t understand how it got to this point, or how this is remotely okay. People are ENRAGED when they hear about someone leaving their dog in a boiling hot car, and then they go home and eat meat or drink milk from a cow who had a MUCH worse, horrifying fate. Or, they go to the grocery store and give their money to the people inflicting these atrocities.
It’s just really disturbing. It makes me so angry.
Josh gets mad at me when I buy chicken from our organic butcher nearby because it’s more expensive. So, I started buying antibiotic/hormone free chicken from Loblaws. But, I’m willing to give up my Starbucks to support the organic butcher buying from animal-friendly farms, who is in business in part to fight the good fight (the owner used to be a vegetarian). Also, my not eating meat, eggs or milk saves us a ton of money.
I’m also looking into the mascara I use — it’s the only makeup I buy from the drugstore — want to make sure they don’t test on animals, which is another story.
It’s great that you stopped buying dog food from stores that sell pets. That’s a BIG DEAL. That’s doing something. I grapple with that same thing: what about everyone else. We have NO CONTROL over everyone else. Just ourselves. But, EVERY individual can do something small to help — like eating one more vegetarian meal a week — makes a difference! Buying organic eggs — makes a difference. And, it all adds up. If I can encourage ONE person to make a small change, that’s something. I have to hold on to that.
((hugs)), Haley
Jenn said, October 7th, 2008 at 5:04 pm
Thanks for the post. I think when I read this things it brings it closer to the front of my mind. Not that I’ll become a vegetarian, but maybe I’ll be more diligent about our meatless mondays and buy free range eggs more often.
I think it’s great to be passionate about a cause.
Jenn
Jenns last blog post..Tooth Bump
Sleepynita said, October 7th, 2008 at 6:01 pm
We are no where close to ever being vegetarians in this house, and I do look forward to a good undercooked steak (I know gross you out!) once I am not pregnant anymore. Although, we do eat a full vegan meal at least once or twice a week.
BUT
That being said, we do know where all the meat comes from that enters our home. Sure it is not free range or organic because HONESTLY?, that does not mean the animals were humanely slaughtered or treated well in their life (trust me we have a so called “organic” farm a few miles up the road from our family farm and the conditions are horrible for the animals – yet deemed free range and organic). They were fed well and ran around, sure but “free-range organic” actually has very little to do with the slaughter ‘humane’ process.
Our meat comes from our family farm; beef, pork and chickens anyways. They may not be completely organic (could be though) but they were well taken care of and slaughtered by my Uncle in the quickest most humane way possible.
Things I can’t get out of the farm (like italian sausage etc) I pick up from a local butcher who only buys from local Mom and Pop farms – where standards are much higher then the big corporate farms out there.
I also like to stress that you should be careful where your vegi’s are from. Some of these corporate farms treat the people who work them (often illegal immigrants) worse then they treat animals – some of the Strawberry corporations are horrible….
Also, look into participating in the Slow Foods movement. This means purchasing foods that are grown within a hundred or so KM from your home – thus reducing the amount of transport and refrigeration required to get to your local store. Farmers markets are an awesome start – especially at this time of year.
Sleepynitas last blog post..Just Like Seinfeld: A Post About Nothing
Marie-Christine said, October 7th, 2008 at 6:39 pm
Waw, I see I wasn’t the only one that your post got thinking… I just can’t wait to actually EARN money (I’m a broke student…!) to be able to pay the little extra money to get that free range meat…
I’d love to get them 
Anyway… you really got me thinking about my food intake… I’ll definitely think of other ways in which I can change my habits and help the cause a little bit more…
But meanwhile… I’ve been trying to replace some of my meat by tofu but YUK! I don’t like the taste. And I find it very hard to hide.
Do you have any good recipes? I’m sure you do
Anyway, I’m sorry you had to watch this video. It’s so sad… I cannot believe some people get so detached and feel like it’s ok for them to treat those little babies like that
Angel in the Vines; Or, Cheaty Gets Cryptic and Maybe Even Nonsensical | Cheaty Monkey said, October 7th, 2008 at 11:39 pm
[...] Speaking of Josh…. He has just watched two episodes of The Young and the Restless and, now, my favourite show — THE TUDORS — with me. It’s the least I could do to repay him for putting me through too many of HIS shows. My days of Fringe, Prison Break, Dextor, and, what else, 88 MINUTES (can you believe he rented THAT for us, FOR ME?), ARE O-V-A-H OVAH! I fully blame 88 Minutes for that HORRIFYING nightmare I had the other night. [...]
lisa b said, October 8th, 2008 at 9:52 pm
I totally agree and I think people use the expense as an excuse. We are just so used to eating a certain way, it is easier. If we ate less meat it would be healthier anyway but everyone likes what they are used to.
I’m sorry you are so upset about this Haley.
it'sgrandma said, October 8th, 2008 at 10:39 pm
People should put pressure on the government to treat animals ethically and humanely like they do in many if not all South American countries. There is a food chain…since the beginning…where animals were hunted and every part of the animal was used by humans. We must find a way to eliminate factory farming…how do we do this?!!!!!! oooooxxxxxxx
Haley-O said, October 8th, 2008 at 10:54 pm
Thanks mom!! We do this by not giving them our money…, and eating less meat, dairy, eggs, poultry and fish. The less demand, the less they’ll produce, and the better it is for the animals AND for the environment. Beef and poultry factory farmers are BRUTAL on the environment. Some of the WORST offenders….
Thanks for the support, Ma. This cause is everything to me. When I have the money and time, this will be a major focus for me…. For now, veganism and some letters to Loblaws, and writing about it on the blogs (and offering vegetarian recipes — I’m getting tons of requests for them!), is the very best I can do….
I love you… Me.
LAVENDULA said, October 9th, 2008 at 10:14 am
oww my head feels like its going to explode!…i’ve ben seriously thinking of going vegan myself. its horrible what is done to the animals that are food comes from.and don’t get me started on genetically modified food.its no surprise that some days i can;t eat or drink a single thing…..
MAAAAARRRRGE! | Cheaty Monkey said, October 14th, 2008 at 10:20 pm
[...] It DOTH keep her YOUNG, doesn’t it? Look how gorj! Animals do that…. Yes. And, as we all know now, Cheaty LOVES animals. And, my love of animals PLUS my obsessive tendencies EQUALS, well, you know…. [...]
PURE+SIMPLE Compassion Contest! said, February 3rd, 2009 at 12:47 am
[...] know how I feel about protecting the earthand animal rights. So, in addition to supporting my favourite source for natural skincare and cosmetics (they have so [...]