"The human spirit is not dead. It lives on in secret.....It has
come to believe that compassion, in which all ethics must take root,
can only attain its full breadth and depth if it embraces all living
creatures and does not limit itself to mankind."
Reading this and other quotations by Albert Schweitzer today
encouraged and energized me in the pursuit of legal rights for animals.
If Schweitzer, in the early 1950’s, could speak about “all living
creatures” in his Nobel Peace Prize Address, “The Problem of Peace in
the World Today,” why are so many, who have been vegetarian long enough
to be considered “leaders,” unwilling to live and to teach by a higher
standard today? Is it a desire to be liked by everyone? Is it to keep
donations coming in?
Bending over backwards to appear “tolerant” or as not to appear
“extreme” (for example: allowing any animal products in otherwise vegan
recipes) only makes them appear weak and wimpy, and prolongs the cruel
treatment of the animals as well as prolonging human health problems.
I am not criticizing those who are new to vegetarian/veganism. We all
had to go through the learning process, and we are still learning. I am
writing about those who do know better and who are teaching others.
Living by a higher standard should be reflected in one’s teaching.
Compromising results in confusion and loss of respect.
See also:
http://www.all-creatures.org/quotes/schweitzer_albert.html
