Jain Spirit 2002 03 No 10

Author(s): Jain Spirit UK
Publisher: UK Young Jains

Page 50

War Begins At Home
and more. I sat at a table
to try to be a somewhat with an Indian couple,
moral person, a being she in a beautiful sari. S
who strives not to "Are you vegetarian?" I
discriminate, to deceive, asked. Both shook their
to revel in personal anger, heads vigorously, "Oh,
or to be vain, greedy or no, no, not at all," they
mean. This may be answered right away. It
difficult for a person was clear that they had
surrounded by corrupting assumed I was not either
influences, but it isn't and that they wanted to
really that tough fit in. "Actually, I am," I
A couple of years ago, said. "I am so very
PETA received a plea pleased these delicious
from American families. dishes are all vegan."
Would we help stop the "Ah, well, actually,"
construction of a slaughconfided the husband,
terhouse smack in the "we don't eat much meat
center of the town? The at all." Later, his wife Children and animals are natural friends
old slaughterhouse was came around to: "We are totally vegetarian at home."
situated deep in the countryside, but the new one would Since when have the virtues of not causing harm (ahimsa) place the ugly sights and nasty smells under everyone's and not stealing (asteya) - in this case, stealing the very lives of noses. The families were upset that the children would be chickens and lambs - been something to hide? In my youth especially affected. animals opened my eyes by showing me how loyal, vulnerable In our response, we made the case for vegetarianism, and joyful they are. I can't stand the thought that a chicken on but said that while we wished no abattoirs to be built a factory farm is unable to stretch a wing, can never feel the sun anywhere at all, we supported the construction of this on her back or the earth beneath her feet. That a sow is particular one. If a slaughterhouse was to be built strapped, face forward in a tiny cement cell, unable to turn or to somewhere and the only question was where, we wanted it nuzzle her young. But how can I hope to get people to see to be in plain view. If the public no longer supported the suffering if they are deliberately conditioning themselves to meat industry, animals would no longer scream and there turn a blind eye?
would be no smell of blood from which to shield their To be truthful (satya) is a vital Jain value. The novelist John children. Galsworthy admonished us to sit down before the truth as a There is a lot of talk about peace in the air these days. child and not to be afraid of where truth would take us. Yet It is useful to take advantage of this to point out that those many people do not wish to acknowledge the cruelty and theft who want harmony are unwittingly, unthinkingly harming they are supporting. You hear them say, "Don't show it to me. and killing for shoes and handbags, for dinner parties, for I like my meat", when presented with the facts of the lambs entertainment when there are alternatives to every violent bleating on their way to the abattoir. It is a tacit admission that fashion, taste and practice. There has never been a better the eater knows the slaughterhouse is ugly and bloody, the time to get people to think about the interconnectedness of journey rough and frightening, yet prefers not to face the fact all life and the principle of non-violence that compels us to that animals also value their lives, experience joy and are not avoid flesh and skins. Today, there are daily chances to use "meat machines" to be kicked, sworn at, beaten and snuffed out. our voices and our intelligence. If enough good people
Mahatma Gandhi was once asked, "What do you think of work for this dream, the dream will become reality. Western civilisation?" He answered, perhaps not entirely To feed others is a helpful deed. By sharing the Jain tongue-in-cheek, "I think it would be a good idea." I wonder spirit of ahimsa through gifts of food to those who still eat what he would have thought of the couple who, trying so hard meat, we not only enlighten them but add to the sum total to integrate into Western society, denounced their principles! of peace, compassion and understanding in the world, Had the couple answered, "Yes, we are vegetarians," they morsel by delicious morsel, bite by wonderful bite. would have given those in need of enlightenment the opportunity to ask the inevitable questions, to learn about nonviolence, to see living examples of compassion in action. Ingrid Newkirk is the President of People for the Ethical
We can civilise the West if we take personal responsibility. Treatment of Animals, which also has offices in Mumbai One doesn't have to be a saint to follow the mandate to be and London. Visit their award winning website: introspective, peaceful, to practise restraint - one only has www.peta.org
March - May 2002 . Jain Spirit
49