Vegan activism is respectful activism

Veganism has been defined as the doctrine that humans should live without exploiting other animals.  At LOVE we tend to discuss veganism as a broad, holistic anti-oppression or non-exploitation movement.  In these ways, veganism is about tearing down oppressive structures, hierarchies, and old attitudes.  Veganism is about questioning the status quo and, often, criticizing the state of affairs.  But the other side of veganism is what we offer in place of what we’re tearing down.  In order to make veganism sustainable in the long term, I think it helps to offer some positive values, as well, and this is where I tend to talk about respect.

[why respect: a positive foundation for liberation]

The idea of liberation suggests freedom from oppressive forces.  The imagery associated with liberation is a busting of chains, a toppling of hierarchies.  But to make this liberation sustainable over the long term, I don’t think it can only be a movement of tearing down.  I think new attitudes, practices, and cultural options will have to be promoted, as well.  But what positive ideas can provide a foundation for a vegan world?

Many positive ideas have been associated with liberation movements and with veganism specifically: freedom, respect, kindness, compassion, nonviolence, justice, and so on.  It’s difficult to discuss the relative value of these terms because they’re generally clichéd and used without much discretion, but I generally prefer “respect” to the others.

I like the idea of respect because it seems less compatible with power imbalances.  Whereas we could possibly justify caging nonhuman animals in terms of kindness or compassion—“We’re protecting them from predators!”—it seems less possible to distort respect in that way.  “Respect” seems to imply a ceding of power, authority, or choice over to the other.  If we respect other animals, that seems to suggest that we are working in solidarity with them, equal to them, as opposed to being protectors or saviors over them.

[vegan activism as an expression of a core of respect]

If the goal of veganism is not only to topple oppressive systems but also to promote new, more respectful structures, then I think the goal of specific vegan activism is also generally two-fold.  I think vegan activism projects can, aside from criticizing the status quo, also suggest a new, better way.

My work as a poet has highlighted to me that, if I want to convey some idea or feeling (such as respect for all), I’m more successful if I can fully embody that idea in the more nuanced aspects of the communication, not only the literal meaning of the words.  That is, to literally state, “Let’s respect others,” is a start, but I think we will be much more convincing if we can fully embody and actually radiate respect ourselves.

Language is only one form of communication.  As humans, we sometimes privilege our languages as the most important form of communication, but studies have demonstrated that nonverbal cues communicate just as much, often more.  I think most of us know this intuitively—“Actions speak louder than words.”

I don’t believe that disrespectful, violent activism can help us achieve a respectful, nonviolent end.  I think the most permanent change will come from a whole way of living rooted in a core of respect, a core that is unshakable and from which respectful actions flow.  All forms of communication that emerge from that core are tinted with respect.  I think activism coming from such a core, due to its honesty and consistency, is powerful and convincing.

[abolishing the circle: respect for all]

Some advocates have written about “expanding the circle” of ethical consideration to other animals.  What I tend to emphasize instead is “abolishing the circle,” abolishing the idea of any criterion for “consideration” whatsoever.  In my opinion, there is no category of individual that is “going too far” and no category of individual that is “not going far enough.”  Veganism, to me, means indiscriminately respecting every possible group.

In this way, the traditional imagery of liberation—the fist of revolution—does not always seem totally appropriate to me, although it can be exciting.  Many activists rally around an understandable anger toward oppressor groups, people in power committing oppressive wrongs, and people promoting oppressive ideologies.  I think this anger, when used as the main basis for action, fails to acknowledge the positive values needed to bring about a sustainable vegan world.

For veganism to be a sustainable movement, I think respect for all is important.  The “all” in “respect for all” is not only oppressed groups.  “All” is you, me, the oppressed group, and all other groups—the oppressed, the oppressor, everyone.  “All” is the kind of unity that can make veganism sustainable, I think, more than a temporary counterculture. “All” is the reminder that there is no enemy except, possibly, the system that makes us into each other’s enemies.

[interpretations of respectful activism]

Words like “respect” tend to be clichéd and can be used to mean many different things, so I’ve listed some concrete interpretations of what “respectful activism” could mean in a vegan context:

Leaving room for others to “pick up what we’re laying down.” Using inclusive language.  Not blaming or judging non-vegans.  Avoiding dogmatic claims of “Truth.”  Acknowledging that we may not have “Truth” afterall.  Staying receptive and continually striving to learn more.

Avoiding generalizations and “should” language.  Acknowledging that different people have different ideas of “right” and “wrong,” “good” and “bad.”  Acknowledging that people’s situations vary and, due to having different experiences, we might not fully understand their perspective.

Not dismissing people who seem oblivious or misinformed. Valuing understanding more than upholding our current beliefs.  Striving to understand others as well as possible.

[respect is not inaction]

By promoting respect, I don’t want to promote passivity or inaction.  I want to stress my hope for effective, respectful activism.  Activism, however broadly you define it, seems like an integral part of veganism.

To be vegan is to have the goal of liberation for all beings.  An obvious first expression of that goal is to change one’s diet and consumption.  But many people stop there.  In fact, in the general public, diet is sometimes all the word “vegan” means.

As LOVE member V has written, ending our participation in oppression eventually means helping others to end their participation in oppression.  Educating others about oppression and veganism can be an activity that flows from the same core of respect as our diet change.  For this reason, I believe that respectful activism as outlined here is not an excuse for inaction but, on the contrary, an understanding that encourages us to be more involved with vegan activism over the long term.