Explore a Plant-Based Diet...Save Animal Lives

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After I changed from a meat-eater to a vegan, my view of the world changed. A victim of childhood sexual abuse, a teenage rape, and years of being stuck in a domestic violence relationship with a hunter, I learned my world is darker than I once believed. Other humans have always been cruel to me, so I'm not surprised most humans would treat animals any differently. Switching to a plant-based diet allowed me access to knowledge most people can't handle. Meat-eating humans are good at pretending animals don't suffer. Often distracted by technology, excuses make them feel better. Some meat-eaters believe their conscience is clear since they didn't kill the animal themselves, yet participating in brutally torturing and killing animals by shopping is normalized. The world's economies profit off animal suffering, so a plant-based diet challenges the way our world operates. Restaurants profit off death. Some of the products we buy are made of leather from stolen pet dogs in China or tested in America on dogs like beagles. The healthcare industry needs diseased, sick people to make profits. The wealthy are controlling what humans eat to turn a profit, not the vegans, yet we are criticized for caring. Most humans consider themselves good and are taught to be compassionate, not hurt others, and live the way they want to be treated, yet they practice animal cruelty. Like any bad habit, eating meat is an addiction. A preference. Perhaps it was easier for me to quit meat-eating since I never enjoyed the taste of suffering and preferred vegetables or beans over the flesh. The truth is, when I became meat-free, my worldview was suddenly different, a dismal place. I can't even look at my family the same way, for they seem carnal for conforming to a society that preys on innocent animals and profits off death. Becoming vegan for me was like picking a forbidden fruit from the tree of knowledge. I learned deception. I learned mankind lives in an illusion. In the end, it's up to each person to improve themselves when faced with the ugly truth. I too, have a choice of who I eat dinner with. I choose those who are more compassionate.

As an animal lover, I took a vow to protect all animals. This includes animals often used for food. I will be writing about the dark side of the food production industry, the side that consumers ignore or pretend does not exist. Consumers know animals are killed, but hope that their deaths are humane. Buyers are being lied to about the brutality inflicted during most slaughtering processes. Animals suffer psychological torture and extremely tragic deaths as well as poor living conditions while awaiting a death sentence for just being born. Animal activists want consumers to understand the truth. Compassionate consumers might consider going vegan when faced with graphic images, the ugly truth. These are the compassionate souls animal advocates hope to reach. My hope in writing and advocating for animals is that some humane people will decide to explore a plant-based diet. Stop the suffering.

PETA posted a video of pigs and turkeys being sexually assaulted by the workers at a meat production plant before slaughter. If slaughtering animals in an inhumane manner isn't tragic enough, now I am learning animals are being sexually abused. I'm talking about a worker who goes home and makes love to his wife. A male worker who holds his children at night, and a turkey that is on your Thanksgiving dinner table feeding your loved ones after this man sexually assaulted it before your purchase. How do we, as humans, justify this behavior? Quit funding abuse. If you quit purchasing meat or supporting cruelty, these companies can't profit from animal sexual abuse and murder. And the meat-eating community labels Vegans as the crazy ones.

This is the look of fear, knowing you're about to die as you're eased down a slaughter line and you hear your kind being butchered ahead of you. You start crying because you are overwhelmed with fear. Yes, cows do cry. They feel emotion. Remember this horrified face next time you eat a Big Mac sandwich prepared for you with a side of suffering and pain or veal from a murdered baby dairy cow.

Vegans are harassed by people who eat meat. Some people don't understand how vegans can go through life just eating vegetables, salads, and fruit. The truth is, vegans have options now. Vegans have crumbles where we can still make tacos, spaghetti, and chili without using meat from animals. We have plant-based burgers. It's not difficult to live without meat. There are alternatives and they taste great without the guilt. All I can say is when I see photos like this, I know I'm doing the right thing. My conscience is clear. Most of us were meat-eaters who now choose kindness over killing.

Intelligent, historical figures knew that eating meat was inhumane and learned people were healthier by not consuming meat. After all, humans are supposed to be eating more of a plant-based diet. Vegans are compassionate souls. They don't conform and realize people and animals are connected, not just by appetite. Vegans exist to show compassion. After all, we are all living in a world of corruption, good versus evil. Become a better human. Stop the suffering.

Most humans are in denial. They love spoiling their pets, pampering them, and saying they love animals and could never hurt or abuse animals, yet they'll eat a burger every night and go out on Friday night for a steak dinner. If you are man or woman enough to want to eat meat, at least research slaughter and view graphic images/videos of the animal who gave you your meal, or your leather gloves. Face the truth, the constant suffering. If you can live with what you witnessed, then question why. A compassionate human would never touch meat again after viewing the images I've seen. Be a better human.