http://www.brainpickings.org/2015/05/29/luiz-eating-animals-octopus/
There was an awesome short video on Facebook last week (which sadly I can't find now). The octopus was walking on the beach, not slithering, walking! And carrying a little coconut shell boat that when he reached the water, he set down and climbed in. The video was amazing, and if I can find it, I'll post it here. Seeing the octopus walk blew me away. I mean, who knew? It makes me want to take another look at all my assumptions, of which I'm sure there are many. Even though I’m 67, I still have my “issues” -- personal and political, foremost of which is worry about how people treat each other (and the other animals) and the planet.
Still it seems I have hope. Hope that I can become a vegan, hope that I can be more curious and brave than I am fearful, hope that we humans can treat each other and the animals so much better than we too often have. This is a lot of hope to hold in the face of a lot of odds. I feed myself inspiration as often as I can to nurture that hope (and its manifested results) along. Some of that inspiration comes from people I don't know. Some of it comes from people I do. Friends, who inspire me with their care and love for this world.
In the late 60s, in the Women’s Liberation Movement, we used to say that “the personal is political”. What I’m talking about here is personal; it’s also political. How we treat octopi, each other, and ourselves. How we might do it all creatively, respectfully, compassionately. Every bit of all of it, down to the last earthworm. It would probably be a good idea to re-consider many of our long-held assumptions ~ about earthworms, octopi, all of the various "others" we fear.
xo,Still it seems I have hope. Hope that I can become a vegan, hope that I can be more curious and brave than I am fearful, hope that we humans can treat each other and the animals so much better than we too often have. This is a lot of hope to hold in the face of a lot of odds. I feed myself inspiration as often as I can to nurture that hope (and its manifested results) along. Some of that inspiration comes from people I don't know. Some of it comes from people I do. Friends, who inspire me with their care and love for this world.
In the late 60s, in the Women’s Liberation Movement, we used to say that “the personal is political”. What I’m talking about here is personal; it’s also political. How we treat octopi, each other, and ourselves. How we might do it all creatively, respectfully, compassionately. Every bit of all of it, down to the last earthworm. It would probably be a good idea to re-consider many of our long-held assumptions ~ about earthworms, octopi, all of the various "others" we fear.
Gayle
ps. Though I would love to hear your comments, this comment section does not seem to be working right. Several people have told me they wrote something and posted it, then it never showed up. So, if you would like to respond, for now, please do email me, or post to my FB page. Thanks!
Another wonderful column. I appreciate the acknowledgment that for some of us, being a vegan is a work in progress.
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DeleteThanks Lisa, Yes. I know for myself I am a work-in-progress, on all fronts. That are so many fronts to keep evolving on. We can't do it all at once, and have different priorities at different points in time. I may make it to vegan-hood or not sooner or later. Sooner I hope. For now, I'm happy I have let go of eating all animals except fish. Cheese and eggs are also to be considered. If the cow or chicken is treated well in a farm situation, I don't think (for me) eating eggs or cheese is wrong, but in industry, it's painful to think how these animal products are produced. xo, g.
DeleteGreat blog! Love the octopus gnocci video too!
ReplyDeleteCommenting to show and tell, I did it! Commented, that is. And not as a vegan yet, or even a vegetarian. But moving toward more conscious eating and expanding consciousness.
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ReplyDeleteI deleted the "2nd" comment, because it was the same as the other. But. Well. And... Yay! you did it! You are one of the few who has reached the "mountaintop" of commenting here! Brava to increasingly conscious eating and expanding consciousness. :-)
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