do you get picked on because of your diet?
do people tease you because you won't eat corpse fare?
well, it shouldn't surprise you that many people like to take little jabs at something they don't understand or subscribe to. it's all in good fun ... that is until you acquire some degree of significance.
any social justice initiative that comes into prominence will face energetic and sometimes violent opposition.
here's why:
1. social justice efforts (anti-racism, feminism, animal rights, children rights, health freedoms, rights of the handicapped etc etc) actually have something to do with justice.
2. that means the disadvantaged group will gain something.
3. the gain will likely come at the expense of the advantaged group.
while there are a few people doing 811, things are fine - a little teasing, a little picking. however, as you go forth and exponentiate, look over your shoulder - monsanto et al will be eyeing you just as they eye the organic movement. ;)
fairness and equity are not words to be taken lightly when you stand to lose something - especially your advantage. for this, otherwise reasonable, even good-natured humans will oppress their opposers, holding on to what they think is theirs and be possessed by it as gollum was possessed by the one ring.
it is not that the oppressed will necessarily prove to be any better. as paul watson says the oppressed are merely wannabe oppressors.
this is not human nature - it is inhumane nature.
austria is one of the world leaders for animal rights. this is good, for they are an example of success in this most important of social justice fields. however, as littleviolet told me today, they also face severe repression. here is an article explaining some of the history:
http://www.earthfirstjournal.org/article.php?id=425
here is a video from littleviolet's blog (warning: graphic violence against the human animal):
http://arawconnection.ning.com/profiles/blogs/repression-1
if you got through those ok, remember that oppressors are 'equal opportunity' advocates. they do not discriminate by race, gender or species.
one would hope, at least in that we would find solidarity, remembering niemöller's haunting words:
First they came for the communists, and I did not speak out--
because I was not a communist;
Then they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out--
because I was not a socialist;
Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out--
because I was not a trade unionist;
Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out--
because I was not a Jew;
Then they came for me--
and there was no one left to speak out for me.
in friendship,
prad