A Message From Ingrid Newkirk
“What is more enchanting than the voices of young people when you can’t hear what they’re saying?” If essayist Logan Pearsall Smith was talking about that screaming child two seats over, OK!
But nothing is more enchanting than hearing young people advocating for animals – on school campuses, to friends, and even to the annoyance of their family members who would prefer to stick to old, dirty habits like pouring cow’s milk into their coffee.
Young people must not be alone in objecting to what is considered “normal” and yet is truly unspeakable. I mean, how can slaughterhouses be considered normal? Slaughterhouses! And how is it OK to confine a petrified baby monkey to a lab and implant electrodes in his head? We must all roar until these things are universally considered shameful.
The other day I put a WunderEggs vegan hardboiled egg on my salad. I defy anyone to tell the difference between that and one from a chicken, although there is a big difference: No bird was involved, no factory farming, no slaughter. My favorite shoes are a beautiful pair of French espadrilles with embroidered flowers. Vegan. My face cream – not that any live up to their promises – is from No7 brand, no animals involved. Please show and tell people – it’s so blessedly easy these days.
Opportunities abound. People come to the door, companies solicit your opinion of their product, social media posts clamor for comments, thousands of folks see a bumper sticker on your car. Try saying, “Excuse me – your dog was trying to sniff something interesting there!” or “What a lovely coat. It’s vegan, isn’t it?!” A moment on the lips to deliver vital tips!
Act now. As The Rolling Stones sang, “You might wake up in the morning and find your poor self dead” – and your opportunity to change things, lost.
