When I was a kid in history class, and I was learning about some atrocity from the past, like slavery or the Holocaust, I remember always thinking, how could this happen? How could so many people allow this to happen? And then naturally the next question, would I have been any different?The odds are that …
Category Archives: Uncategorized
How is it that every year we systematically torture trillions of animals and yet I was unaware of this mass atrocity until I was 22?
The tyranny of humans over nonhumans really is the “moral blindspot” of our time. How can such brutality exist with so little opposition? If people were to learn that I confined my dog to a cage every day, that I mutilated her body, slaughtered her and ate her flesh, people would be horrified. They’d call …
Would it be better if nothing existed?
As I write this, close to 700 million humans are living in extreme poverty. I’m sure they suffer so much. It must be so awful to lack food, water, shelter, and healthcare. And there are also millions of humans who, despite having their physical needs met, still experience intense psychological suffering. And there are billions …
Discrimination
To discriminate is to treat someone unfairly. People discriminate against others based on all kinds of traits. To name a few: race, sex, age, class, able-bodiedness, height, perceived attractiveness, species, and generation. None of these traits should be an indicator of how to treat someone. That is to say, they are not morally relevant. Our …
Justice
Sometimes animal advocates are described as “sentimental”, “emotional”, or simply “animal lovers”. And certainly many advocates do have a strong fondness for animals, but it must be stressed that animal liberation is not a matter of sympathy, it is a matter of justice. You don’t have to be an “animal lover” to realize the great …
Empathy
I feel like the ability to feel what others are feeling is perhaps the most remarkable ability we possess. Empathy helps me deal with a lot of negative emotions. When I’m angry with someone, or a group of people, I try to use empathy to understand these others. This usually helps me relax. I think …
Insecurities
The things I hide, because I’m afraid if I show them to people, they’ll no longer accept me. I have a solid handful of insecurities. I’m insecure about my thinning hair, that my body shape is unattractive, that I’m not masculine enough, not confident enough, not assertive enough. I’m insecure about my personality. I’m afraid …
Why don’t I do more Good Things?
Lately I’ve been reflecting on why I don’t do more good things. I’m in good health, I have lots of free time, and I’m financially stable. I live a very privileged life. At the same time, I am aware that there are millions of people & other animals that are deeply suffering at …
Embedded Cruelty
I used to really love ice cream. Like I ate it at least once a day if not twice. Throughout the day, I’d actually look forward to being able to eat it after dinner. But I don’t eat that kind of ice cream anymore, and I don’t crave it either. It actually really repulses me …
Guilt & Inspiration
Climate change really tests me. Every day I struggle with it. I love plants, animals, people, and I would hate to be the cause of their suffering. And yet almost every day I eat animal products, buy unnecessary consumer items, and further contribute to global emissions. I am a hypocrite to fight for the environment, …
Taj 