why i am vegan

I would first like to thank every single one of you that commented on my last post.   You guys gave me so many great ideas and support, I was really overwhelmed by it.  There is one thing I would really like to clear up now.  There is a misconception out there that I am really nice.  I'm really not.  This just tells me that I need to write more from my heart.  I hope not to offend anyone or scare you off.  We'll see how it goes.

So on to today's important post.  Probably the most important post I will ever write.  It's really not important how I came to be a vegan although I will tell you that.   What is important is that I am a vegan and I hope with all my heart that you would consider becoming one too.  My daughter-in-law, Mo, a lifetime vegetarian is the one who suggested I see the movie Earthlings, aka The Vegan Maker.  This movie started out as a public service announcement on pet spaying but six years later became a film.  Narrated by Joaquin Phoenix, this movie uncovers the horrific, filthy, criminal acts performed on animals every minute of every day in order for us to eat and be fashionable.  I will tell you that it quite simply changed my life.  I know most of you will not watch the trailer because you can't stand to see people being mean to animals.  But this movie is true and it's real life so not watching it doesn't make it go away.  I dare you to watch it.  Since most of you won't, I'm going to tell you about a scene that just kills me on a personal level.  There is a scene in the movie where calf's are being skinned alive.  Yes that's right, skinned alive.  People do this because it's easier and the hide stays intact better.  The camera looks directly into the poor animals eyes and it is heartbreaking.  It is then tossed into a dumpster full of other skinned calf's where it will take them approximately 5 minutes to die.  I have a ottoman in the center of my living room that is covered in leather.  This kills me.   To those that say "I only buy organic, grass fed beef/chicken."  Is that better?  If you pamper a cow or chicken every day, feed it well, kiss it even, and then one day kill it so you can eat it, is that right?  Just because you can kill something doesn't mean you should or that it is right.  The cruelty issue is just the tip of the iceberg.  What about the filthy, disease infected slaughterhouses that put meat on your table every night?  What about the ravages of factory farming on the earth?  What about the health problems linked to eating animal products?  My own sister has been having heart problems for the last few years.  She recently wound up having two heart procedures to help her heart.  I begged her to try a vegan diet for just one month.  She did and in just one month she lost 20 lbs and her cholesterol level went from 220 to 122.  A month later and she has since lost another 10 lbs and is off all her cholesterol medicine and her doctor thinks within a month she will be off all heart meds.   So health reasons alone are a good enough reason to stop eating animal products but there's more!  What about improved digestion?  What about beautiful skin?   What about the idea of living a peaceful compassionate life.  It really makes a difference in the way you look at the world when you know that not one living thing (excluding husbands/children/stupid people) suffered for you today .  I know this has turned into a rant and I'm sorry about that but I'm not sorry if it changes just one person's mind.  Remember this is not the movie, just the trailer for it.  I would say sit back and enjoy but that is impossible.  Please, take my dare and change your life and that of your families right now.

EARTHLINGS