I am vegan and from an abolitionist standpoint too.
My veganism is something I've directly tied to my own oppression. I have a lot of intersections (black, queer, trans, neurodivergent, all that shit), and dehumanization has been a common theme of me feeling like my life is not worth it. People like me have been dehumanized throughout history, and lowering people to this status has been a constant tool used to justify oppression constantly. Non-human animals continue to be exploited because humans have established that they are allowed to on the basis of such hierarchical domination, hierarchical domination that scares me because of my own oppression.
I have become that more "radical pushy veg00n" with time, reading books on the matter (especially ones that tie it to leftism and social justice issues like race), watching videos that are highly informative, and of course, viewing documentaries when I'm emotionally able to (I'm a very sensitive person who cried simply seeing calves on a truck to a slaughterhouse, so I handle this with caution). I have no doubt that veganism is the correct position, and I find that every point a carnist gives to justify themselves not being vegan mostly ends up being a cope masquerading as an actual argument.
As far as living a vegan lifestyle goes? It's easy as hell. I don't see animal flesh and secretions as food anymore, nor do I want to wear animals or use any hygiene products that come with their expense. Veganism itself is easy; the hard part is getting used to it socially and getting frustrating questions. I also absolutely refuse to date carnists, so my dating pool is very narrow, but that's the least of my concerns. Even when I was going through some of my poorest moments (as I know "It's ExpeNsivE" is a common thing people say as if it inherently cannot be worked around), I saw no reason to contribute to such exploitation and cruelty. Beans, rice, pasta, other grains, and all sorts of vegetables got me where I needed to be.
It's these kinds of post that made me go vegan last december (3 weeks before christmas lol, kind of upended some christmas plans with my family).
Non-human animals continue to be exploited because humans have established that they are allowed to on the basis of such hierarchical domination, hierarchical domination that scares me because of my own oppression.
That argument is what made it finally click for me, if the capitalists can do to animals what they are doing now, why would I be safe? The cow is more of a comrade than the mcdonalds clown. My allegiance should be clear. I didn't even know about the more heinous aspects of animal ag, like what dairy cows go through. I actually just learned about that today. But it is clear, even without going into the tortuous details of animal husbandry, who is the oppressed and who is the oppressor and therefore who my allegiance should be to is as well. And once that thought appeared, I couldn't go back anymore. Either I had to stomach the hipocrisy and be able to live with myself or go vegan and going vegan was the easier route.
I don't see animal flesh and secretions as food anymore
That's a weird feeling for me, stuff that I used to love to eat now absolutely revolts me. That saying about "how the sausage is made" is a literal fact for me. For example I don't really have a moral argument against scavenging, like "what if an animal peacefully died in your arms" or some other contrived example omnis come up with, it just disgusts me.
the hard part is getting used to it socially and getting frustrating questions.
I still need to tell my wife that the "cute" farm and zoo books we have for our son gotta go and that we shouldn't accept animal ag propaganda as gifts from grandparents. Not something I'm looking forward too.
I am vegan and from an abolitionist standpoint too.
My veganism is something I've directly tied to my own oppression. I have a lot of intersections (black, queer, trans, neurodivergent, all that shit), and dehumanization has been a common theme of me feeling like my life is not worth it. People like me have been dehumanized throughout history, and lowering people to this status has been a constant tool used to justify oppression constantly. Non-human animals continue to be exploited because humans have established that they are allowed to on the basis of such hierarchical domination, hierarchical domination that scares me because of my own oppression.
I have become that more "radical pushy veg00n" with time, reading books on the matter (especially ones that tie it to leftism and social justice issues like race), watching videos that are highly informative, and of course, viewing documentaries when I'm emotionally able to (I'm a very sensitive person who cried simply seeing calves on a truck to a slaughterhouse, so I handle this with caution). I have no doubt that veganism is the correct position, and I find that every point a carnist gives to justify themselves not being vegan mostly ends up being a cope masquerading as an actual argument.
As far as living a vegan lifestyle goes? It's easy as hell. I don't see animal flesh and secretions as food anymore, nor do I want to wear animals or use any hygiene products that come with their expense. Veganism itself is easy; the hard part is getting used to it socially and getting frustrating questions. I also absolutely refuse to date carnists, so my dating pool is very narrow, but that's the least of my concerns. Even when I was going through some of my poorest moments (as I know "It's ExpeNsivE" is a common thing people say as if it inherently cannot be worked around), I saw no reason to contribute to such exploitation and cruelty. Beans, rice, pasta, other grains, and all sorts of vegetables got me where I needed to be.
It's these kinds of post that made me go vegan last december (3 weeks before christmas lol, kind of upended some christmas plans with my family).
That argument is what made it finally click for me, if the capitalists can do to animals what they are doing now, why would I be safe? The cow is more of a comrade than the mcdonalds clown. My allegiance should be clear. I didn't even know about the more heinous aspects of animal ag, like what dairy cows go through. I actually just learned about that today. But it is clear, even without going into the tortuous details of animal husbandry, who is the oppressed and who is the oppressor and therefore who my allegiance should be to is as well. And once that thought appeared, I couldn't go back anymore. Either I had to stomach the hipocrisy and be able to live with myself or go vegan and going vegan was the easier route.
That's a weird feeling for me, stuff that I used to love to eat now absolutely revolts me. That saying about "how the sausage is made" is a literal fact for me. For example I don't really have a moral argument against scavenging, like "what if an animal peacefully died in your arms" or some other contrived example omnis come up with, it just disgusts me.
I still need to tell my wife that the "cute" farm and zoo books we have for our son gotta go and that we shouldn't accept animal ag propaganda as gifts from grandparents. Not something I'm looking forward too.
Also my first instinct after seeing a life end probably wouldn't be "Alright lets dig in! Finally! Vegan meat!"