Please be sure to see the first footnote.
Please skip the second.
Great, hilarious song: Dan Bern "New American Language."
When I first stopped eating animals in 1986, the animal advocacy movement in the U.S. was focused on fur and vivisection. (This isn’t me saying this – the magazine The Economist said it in a cover story.)
Now, “animal” advocates are focused on shrimp and nematodes*. Some former animal advocates have moved to bugs and future robots. Vegans are the second most hated group in America and the punchline for easy jokes. (See Seth Meyers' latest special, Dad Man Walking for a recent example, or this Dave Barry column.)
And the only metric that matters: Far, far more animals are suffering at our hands.
And now, vegans are directly adding to these horrors (see also upcoming post on Jan. 12).
This is why I say my life has been (at best) half-failed.**
*There are many advocates doing much more important and impactful work than anyone was doing in the 80s. (Lewis, Josh, and others.) They just don’t spend all their time writing and commenting online, they don’t play the expected value game, and they’re not spamming you with constant fundraising pleas. They work behind the scenes to make a significant positive difference in how farmed animals live and die. I’m honored to know them.
**<skipskipskip><egomania>From an Amazon review by “Goes with the evidence”:
Half Failed = Half NOT FAILED
Just finished reading "Losing My Religions" by Matt Ball and wow, what a ride! This book isn't like anything else I've come across. Ball doesn't shy away from life's big themes - love, war, sex, you name it. But it's not just about the big stuff, he also sprinkles in some personal insights and thoughts that really make you think.
The way he talks about sex is refreshingly honest and respectful, not something you come across often. There's no explicit detail or anything, but he manages to spark a conversation that's often avoided or giggled about. Honestly, it's a perspective that more people need to hear, and Ball delivers it with a sincerity that's palpable.
Despite its unique approach, the book managed to keep me entertained all the way through. It's quirky, it's different, but it's also deeply engaging. If you're looking for something a bit off the beaten path that will make you ponder, give "Losing My Religions" a try. It's an experience that sticks with you. Highly recommended!
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