However, i can understand the argument for attacking certain types of consumption. The question is do you wait until we are in a political climate where all types of slaughter are likely to be outlawed, or do you focus on those that are already within a climate to be outlawed and save as many animals as you can and then push the agenda further as time goes on and more and more animals are accepted into the collective circle of compassion.

If the former, then until everyone is willing to give up eating cow and chicken, we might as well start serving dog meet at McDonalds. I doubt you’ll find much support for this in the U.S. Culture definitions of compassion tend to expand with time, not contract.

A lot of what you said, I fully agree with. Although we have completely different conclusions. If I may, allow me to respond to a few of the things you said…

“Cows are just cows. With horses you can ride them, they pull carts, and you can show them.”
I am against all exploitation of animals. That includes riding and pulling carts. Personally, I recognize the intrinsic value in life. I don’t judge someone’s worth based on their abilities.

“Captive bolts are delivered into the brain (most often) killing the horse instantly.”
I’ve seen my fair share of both types of death and neither are ideal. However, you seem to mischaracterize both. While I’ve witnessed animals resist the initial onslaught of the euthanasia chemicals, it has been nothing compared to the jerking around and screaming that I’ve seen from bolt guns. Especially when bolt guns are being used without special attention or care, it is easy to severally damage the animal’s brain without instant death.

“Besides isn’t America the land of the free? What gives us a right to say ‘Hey you cant do that!’ or ‘you cant eat that’!?”

Every “free” society has self-inflicted and natural rules. If it didn’t, we would have the right to shoot someone just because we are in a bad mood and they said something stupid. As far as restricting what we eat… Jefferey Dalmer? We have rules that dictate every aspect of our lives in the US. Surely when you go to the store you pay for things rather than steal everything. Do you stop at red lights? Shoot, we even have laws in this country that are antithetical to a free society. Just look at the Patriot Act or the Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act.

“Some people think it is horrible that we could even consider consummation of beef and swine. Should we stop eating it because other say it is wrong?”

Some of those people are the ones that host this website. And I would prefer that others stop cruelty in their lives not because of what someone else says but because they have an honest desire to create a healthier world.

“Scientists have done a study and found plants react to pain and comfort. Now are we going to just starve?”

I’m not going to argue the merits of that study. In fact, I’ll go ahead an assume it was sound science with irrefutable evidence. Its true that we live in a violence world. In order for life to survive, lives must be taken. The idea of veganism is not to eliminate death and violence (a completely unrealistic goal), but to reduce it to a minimum. A quick look at calorie consumption and production will show that we get far more calories from eating plants directly than we do from feeding them to another animal then eating the animal. This means we reduce the number of animals being killed AND the number of plants being killed. We also reduce the violence against all the other animals whose lives are being taken away as their homes are destroyed to create fields of food for farmed animals (or for the farmed animals themselves).

“Those against slaughter need to look in a mirror. We eat to survive. With out food we die.”
I look in the mirror every day. What is your point? I’ve been vegan for over a decade now and I’m healthier than I was before. In fact, I hardly ever get sick and when I do it is rarely for more than 24 hours. I’ve ran 2 marathons and biked from san francisco to washington d.c.. And my risk of liver failure, heart disease, stomach cancer and colon cancer are all greatly reduced as a result of my diet. I don’t participate in animal slaughter yet I eat, I survive, and I thrive.

Cows are just cows. With horses you can ride them, they pull carts, and you can show them.

Ever herd of 4-H where you show market or breeding cattle? Or herd of an ox pull a cart for transpiration, work, or enjoyment? I even rode my uncle’s cow Lucy around the pasture. The difference? People think of a horse as a horse and a steer as a hamburger.

Horses have feelings and it’s wrong to eat horse…

Why is it wrong to eat horse but not swine, cattle, poultry, goat, and so on? Are we not designed to eat meat? Yeah, sure horses feel, but so do other livestock. They can get sick and die, bleed if cut, cry if hurt. I have a 4-H steer who cut his lip and had tears role down his face. The difference. People think of a horse as a horse and a steer as a hamburger.

It’s inhumane…

I will agree that not all slaughter plants are humane, but not all are inhumane. Some take very could care of their livestock. Would you prefer to raise a horse for slaughter that only ways 700 lbs. and is sick or a 1200 lbs. that is healthy? The difference. People think of a horse as a horse and a steer as a hamburger.

Horses aren’t food they are pets and show love to their owners…

So do swine, cattle, poultry, goat, and so on. I raise, as I said above, many different varieties of animals including horses. I have a pig who will let me get in with her and her piglets, pick up a squealing baby, and not even have her bat an eye at me. While when my friend goes near her piglets she threatens to bite. She knows me, trust me, and LOVES me. Oh that’s right there just stupid animals, right? I don’t think so. Horses are a prey animal, meaning other animals (such as humans) prey on them! The difference. People think of a horse as a horse and a steer as a hamburger.

Its better to use euthanization on a horse then use a captive bolt….

I have had animals that were sadly to week, hurt, sick, what ever to go on in life. Not always is euthanization a good death as the word means. Sometimes they may struggle, cry our, or luckily pass on without a sign of pain. Captive bolts are delivered into the brain (most often) killing the horse instantly. But we are only human and sometimes a second captive bolt shot may need to be used. The difference. People think of a horse as a horse and a steer as a hamburger.

This is the US of A and we do not agree with consumption of horses…

We? I am an AMERICAN and I am FOR horse slaughter. Besides isn’t America the land of the free? What gives us a right to say ‘Hey you cant do that!’ or ‘you cant eat that’!? Some people think it is horrible that we could even consider consummation of beef and swine. Should we stop eating it because other say it is wrong? I sure as heck won’t! I LOVE my meat! And what about vegetarians who are just completely not for slaughter. Should we stop eating meat completely to satisfy them?

Besides you don’t want to eat horses cause they feel pain. Scientists have done a study and found plants react to pain and comfort. Now are we going to just starve?

This is my opinion. I don’t wish to offend anyone. I am against inhumane slaughter, but not slaughter itself. Those against slaughter need to look in a mirror. We eat to survive. With out food we die.

I keep adding new animal rights related blogs each week, so there should be more and more diversity each edition. Feel free to let me know about any blogs that you don’t see in our blogroll.

I, too, have been excited by what I see as a surge in grassroots vegan AR activism. I’ve been following the work that you’ve been doing and it sounds great. We are just now really starting to take off running, but collectively we have a lot of organizing experience so I’m excited to see what we are able to do here in Indiana.

Elaine – i think a lot of the online vegan social networking is finally starting to translate into off-line organizing and that is encouraging to me. I admit that although I do a lot of online social networking, I’ve also been skeptical about whether it would translate into real world work.

Thank you both for all the great work you are doing!

Chris, Thanks for doing this

I like what you did with this Carnival. I subscribe to all these blogs individually (including my own, natch!), so I’ve read all these before, but I like how you tie them all together thematically, which gives them fresh relevance. And you picked some really good posts, too.

I think I’m sensing a surge in grassroots vegan AR activism. I’m doing what I can to promote such work, and I hope that I’m not wrong about this impression. Thanks for encouraging activism!