Laura Lee:: I am vegan. I am tattooed. I love the earth. I believe in love regardless of gender or race. I will spend my life fighting oppression and spreading compassion. Sometimes my dogs are my favorite people in the world. My family has a second home on the big island of Hawaii, and that is where my heart is. I wish I could fly away...
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01/28/2009: "A Pig's Perspective"
music: Crossfade - "Cold"mood: Frustrated
We had an assignment in my Animal Mind class to pretend to be an animal and write about its experience. Of course, I chose a pig. I was surprised that only one other person in my class even had heard of factory farming. It's sad that people aren't more aware of these problems, but it motivates me more to help educate them. We can't change everyone, not right away, but we can change a lot of people, and that does make a difference.
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A Pig's Perspective.
Today, I was born. I was born into a dark place where I can hear the cries all around me. There are many other pigs, probably hundreds in the building. There is no sunlight or fresh air. When I inhale, my nostrils are filled with the scent of old feces.
Right now, I live in a crate with my mother and siblings. My mother is in pain, but I can feel her maternal instinct yearning to protect me. She has open sores and little room to move. She has been here her whole life.
After a few weeks, I am taken away. I don’t know if I will see my mother again. I am placed on a new diet that tastes so bad. It makes me grow so fat. I feel sick. I am not supposed to be weaned until later, so I cannot stop my natural suckling urge. They cut off most of our tails with pliers. It hurts a lot. I feel the pain shoot through my tiny body. Now, if I try to suckle the tail of the pig in front of me, it will hurt so bad that she will move quickly to prevent it. I think I will never feel the warmth of nursing from my own mother again.
I grow larger and begin to fill out my pen. Somehow, it’s the same size as I am. I sit in the same position every minute, every hour, every day. I can’t turn around. The bars are beginning to dig in my sides. I have never seen the sun but I yearn to play, to romp, to roll. It is in my nature to explore. I am so curious. The pigs surrounding me all embrace a shared sense of misery. We know we are doomed.
One day, my short life comes to an end. We are gathered up and stunned, one by one. The jolt wasn’t very effective, and I am still awake, still conscious. Suddenly, I am heaved into scalding water, and I feel it burning into my bones. My skin will be softened, but I scream and squeal. I did not deserve this. I am burning and drowning. I am dead.
