Last semester I took Western Philosophy. Our professor was an amazing little woman who had done her master's thesis on the existentialist Soren Kierkegaard. When we covered his essay "Fear and Trembling," I discovered that his definition of faith is one that speaks to me. Kierkegaard characterizes his knight of faith by his "faith in the absurd," his paradoxical belief that even though what is, is, he knows that God will provide. He relinquishes everything, but knows things will come out right in the end. Minus the God part, I believe this idea can characterize the vegan view of the world.
A few days ago I was talking to a friend online about veganism, animal rights, and what she likes to refer to as 'my point of view'. She's a very down to earth person and she's always willing to listen to what I have to say, but for some reason she always pulls out the same argument when we talk. This particular conversation was about horse racing, and even though she hates what's happening in the industry, she believe in more regulation, not abolishment. Why? Because "That Will Never Happen".
That Will Never Happen is a terrifying concept, and yet it is one we all deal with every day. There are some days in which the sheer magnitude of what we're trying to change are completely overwhelming. Days when I come home and want nothing more than to curl up in my bed with the sheets over my head and not come out. There are times when all I want is to make my life easier and forget what's going on and just have a slice of cheese. There are days when I want to resign myself to fighting for a lost cause, and become nothing more than a martyr.
And yet, if we give in to That Will Never Happen, we loose all hope of change. Daunting though the task may be, we act so that That Will Never Happen doesn't become a reality. We must be the knights of infinite faith. Even on those days when we are faced with the idea that in our lifetimes, our ideas will never come to fruition, we solider on, refusing to believe. When someone says to me That Will Never Happen, I smile and point to the Lincoln-Douglass debates where Douglass declared that the abolition of human slavery was nothing more than a pipe-dream. I smile and point to our laws against murder and abuse, and our efforts to combat poverty, racism and sexism. All these things could fall into the category of That Will Never Happen, and yet people fight passionately against them. Not for their reduction or regulation, but for their cessation. Perhaps we are looking at a thousand year battle, but that battle has to start somewhere.
I could just sit on my couch watching Family Guy re-runs and scratching my arm pits. This is my summer vacation, after all. I could forget everything I know, or try to. I could face the 'inevitable' and become instead a knight of infinite resignation. But I'm holding myself out for something better.
Then again, who are we kidding - I'm probably scratching myself inappropriately at this very moment anyway.
I completely agree with you. Even if one chooses to pursue incrementalism they ought to move forward as if anything is possible. Once someone says or thinks "That will never happen" they start acting in ways that ensure it will never happen.
The embracing of the concept of That Will Never Happen is one championed by those afraid of failure. Nothing's going to get done is such an attitude is adopted.
I am so glad I discovered your blog. You eloquently put into words what I can never seem to.
The only thing keeping things from changing are people who don't act because they believe "that will never happen."
PLEASE people, believe! Yes we can...and we ARE! Anti-cruelty laws are being written, more and more people are becoming vegetarians and vegans, tons of vegan options are now available and thriving! If we each just do our part, vote with our money and act in the way you believe everyone should be acting-- that is how change is made. One person at a time until soon it becomes everyone together.
Thanks go out to everyone for your participation.
John Stuart Mill said "Every great movement must experience three stages: ridicule, discussion, adoption."
As Michelle accurately says, "If we each just do our part, vote with our money and act in the way you believe everyone should be acting-- that is how change is made. One person at a time until soon it becomes everyone together."
That sounds like "discussion" to me, which is progress.