The Mary T. and
Frank L. Hoffman
Family Foundation
and All-Creatures.Org

Letters and Responses

Thank you for building this incredible website, so full of information. Blessings to you.

I have a particular fondness for ducks and geese. I have viewed the information and pictures on the making of foie-gras, and I must tell you, never do I recall feeling so miserable in my life.

When things have gone wrong for me, personally — being fired, for example, or being lonely — I always know that I have the power to change it. I always know that I can talk to G-d, and that I am not alone, that the Lord is looking out for me, whatever may come. So when encountering despair in my personal life I've gotten down, but I've always gotten back up. Easy enough to do when one believes in the Lord.

But now that I have seen the fate worse than death that befalls these innocent creatures, defenseless, who know not of the Lord, who have no prayers, I feel absolute and utter despair. I feel wretched, and tormented. How does one get back up when one feels this powerless? How does one cope with one's daily life knowing that torture is going on and I'm here at my desk a million miles away working, not lifting a finger to save a life. Not showing G-d that I care. Not engaged in the fight.

Can I ask for your help? How did you cope with the sight of such things? How did you recover, spiritually and mentally from the shock of this awful plight that our defenseless ducks and geese are in? What did you ask of the Lord, and did the Lord respond? That sounds like such a stupid question, when I see it in print, but I'm just in a brain fog. I can't focus on my work or my life ... not when I know this is going on. And I don't know what to ask of the Lord.

Is there something I can do, besides just being a vegan? If it means disturbing the shit, pardon the phrase, maybe it's time. But how? I'm in Toronto, I don't know anyone else in the animal rights community. I'm new to this. But willing to do whatever needs to be done. I'm seeking guidance, and whatever you can tell me, I will be forever grateful.

Yours truly,

Bonnie
 

Reply from Frank and Mary Hoffman

Dear Bonnie:

Thank you very much for writing to us.

We know the pain that you are feeling, and we only wish that everyone else would feel it, too. Unless our emotions are shocked back to the reality of the atrocities that are committed upon animals, we will never end their indifference to their suffering, and change their lifestyles.

We often feel like we're in a constant state of mourning, but we know if we try to hide, the animals will only suffer more. This is part of the way we cope. Another way is to associate with like-minded people, which you will find on the vclist. Thank you for joining.

Toronto has a large vegetarian community, and many animal rights people. Check around at some of the health food stores or vegan restaurants; they should help you to make some local contacts.

We suppose our call was similar to that of Jeremiah's. We saw all of the corruption that our fellow human beings have wrought upon God's beautiful creation, and looked to Isaiah's prophecy of the peaceful kingdom, and realized that we were being called upon to help restore God's creation intent and end the suffering. And, we try to do this every day.

We hope this helps.

In the Love of the Lord,

Frank and Mary

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