Dear Mr. & Mrs. “Regular” Person
From All-Creatures.org Animal Rights/Vegan Activist Strategies Articles Archive

FROM

Joe Miele, Activist
September 2018

You don’t understand that every time you talk about what you had for dinner, or how you went hunting, or how you bought a dog from a breeder, images of suffering animals go through our minds and those images make us suffer too....But don’t for one second believe that what you are doing is OK, or that “live and let live” means you get to choose who lives and dies for matters of your convenience or pleasure. Don’t think for one second that we have to respect your choices or your right to do what you want to do.

You don’t understand what those of us who support animal liberation actually feel. You don’t understand how our hearts hurt when we see animals in pain or when they are betrayed by the people they love, or when we see people wearing leather and fur, or when we see you pushing your lifestyle in TV commercials, magazine ads, on billboards, and everything else.

You don’t understand that every time you talk about what you had for dinner, or how you went hunting, or how you bought a dog from a breeder, images of suffering animals go through our minds and those images make us suffer too. You don’t understand that when you make jokes about “bacon” or make light about animal suffering we truly think you’re garbage, and we think that because we value the lives of those helpless animals more than we value someone who would joke about their misery.

You don’t know how we cry real tears when we think of what they are going through and how we’re powerless to stop it. You don’t understand why it is so easy for us to judge you in a split-second, while you fail to give a second thought to your judgment of all other species as being less worthy of their lives than you are of yours. And you don’t understand why we see the birth of your precious son or daughter as a disaster - it is because we know this means more helpless animals will needlessly suffer because of your selfish decisions. 

We may be polite to your face. Some of us may laugh at your pathetic attempts at humor. Most of us will pretend that nothing is wrong if we show up at family get-togethers where you are celebrating a reunion or event with the products of animals who were tortured and killed. But don’t for one second believe that what you are doing is OK, or that “live and let live” means you get to choose who lives and dies for matters of your convenience or pleasure. Don’t think for one second that we have to respect your choices or your right to do what you want to do. We don’t and we won’t. 

We, and the animals, are forced to live in a world where everything is wrong and where pretty much everyone else goes about their daily routine without giving a second thought to the impact of their decisions – decisions they don’t even realize they are making. 

The only thing in this world I *really* want is for people to leave most animals alone, and to love and respect the ones who cannot be left alone. Their lives matter – more than you’ll ever understand.

Return to: Animal Rights/Vegan Activist Strategies