F*CK YOUR STUPID BABY STEPS

It is incredible how often I hear the statement “Let’s take baby steps” when it comes to veganism, how often people try to sweet-talk themselves into ignoring the actual elephant in the room (or better said, the whole matriarchal herd of elephants), the ongoing suffering, and murder of innocent beings for which they are paying for. I’d laugh at what I’ve heard over two years if it wasn’t so sad.

Every single person knows:
The only ones who should take baby steps are babies.

And before you might think “OMG, so it's not better to take small steps than none at all” hear me out and keep on reading first. You can judge me and argue my statements in the end.

THESE DAMN DELICIOUS EXCUSES DIPPED IN VEGAN CHOCOLATE WITH A CHERRY AND SPRINKLES ON TOP

We all know of those excuses: “Yes, we need a change but it’s better to take small steps than none at all”, “Veganism is so radical, we have to celebrate the small changes”, and “It’s better if everyone would reduce at least a little bit, than doing nothing at all”.

I am not supporting baby steps, because baby steps still mean to support a violent and exploitative system that’s oppressing others and killing others, but to trick one’s consciousness to feel better for themselves about exploiting some (ironically those, who had a “good life” in captivity).

I WANT “BEST”, NOT “BETTER”

I don’t talk about “better” if better still drives innocent sentient beings into killing factories/slaughterhouses. I don’t talk about better if someone does not want to understand that there is no better way to exploit and kill someone when exploiting and killing is wrong (and unnecessary).

I don’t talk about better when the only one who’s feeling better about “better” is the externally and self-manipulated person.

But ok, let’s talk about those “baby steps” today. What does it even mean?

THE SEEMINGLY GOOD CAUSE OF BABY STEPS

Baby steps are by definition “a tentative act or measure which is the first stage in a long or challenging process”. To put this into perspective: trillions of innocent non-human animals are getting needlessly murdered. There’s not the time for tentative acts or measures. We have to act now!

What baby steps concerning veganism mean is the unthought-out conclusion of 99% of the population to reduce the consumption of meat and dairy (euphemism of animal body parts, animal flesh, and secretions).

Would it make a difference? Yes, I’m not arguing that. Is it enough? No. We should not advocate for less murder, but no murder. Just like we shouldn't advocate for less homophobia, less racism, and less sexism, but for NO homophobia and no racism, sexism, etc.

We need to be fully against oppression and murder. If we wouldn’t want it done to ourselves, we shouldn’t support it to be done to others.

MANIPULATION OF THE SELF

But why should people be satisfied with “reducing suffering” when it is fundamentally wrong and unjust to kill someone for their own benefit?

People know very well that killing animals is inexcusably unacceptable, yet they try to find a justified way around their consciousness by manipulating their perspective to keep on justifying their wrong-doings and the burden on their shoulders to be off the hook for themselves. This is where ignorance and talkativeness come into play.

But why waste so much energy on making unethical, unnecessary, and unforgivable excuses when this energy could be used wisely by simply changing our perspective and following actions?

And to be fair, it is not “reducing the suffering” it is still causing full-on suffering to some unlucky and doomed individuals, who’s faith is determined by people’s actions.

HOW ABOUT A CHALLENGE?

Why don’t we challenge ourselves in a way that directly changes life for others and also changes our own lives for the better?

The fact that non-human animals are locked up, exploited and murdered because of humans’ actions is so highly unethical and people simply do not want to admit to themselves that it is they who cause this suffering and pain to others and feed a system that is purely based on the exploitation of some.

THINK ABOUT THOSE BABY STEPS AGAIN

Anybody reading “baby steps” now doesn’t find this ridiculous?
Isn’t it highly apologetic? An excuse, a withdrawal of responsibility?

If you are reading this you are older than 1 year, not a baby anymore, where it would be justified to take baby steps.

Jokes aside, let’s state it how it is ...

We are adults or individuals heading towards adulthood, we should know better, we should do better and we should be making radical changes due to our ethics especially when it comes to the needless suffering of non-human animals, which is also controlled by our daily actions.

Instead many even play the victim and list money, taste, habits, convenience, and traditions as a reason for harming others and sending them to killing factories.

LETS STATE IT AS IT IS: BABY STEPS ARE NOT ENOUGH

Let’s get real here...

It's a full-on excuse to take full responsibility.

It’s another wall you build up for yourself to excuse your bad habits, your cruel traditions, and your daily convenience, but even more, it’s an excuse to justify your ignorance.

“I can’t change from one day to the other”, “it’s not healthy to switch your diet from one day to the other to plants”, yadda yadda yadda ... we know what’s the real reason.

Most just don’t want to change, because they don’t want to have an uncomfortable conversation and reflection that makes them look bad. But why care about the opinion of others? We couldn’t care less, right? But because we do not want to lose our face we have to present ourselves better than we are. And “at least doing something is better than nothing”, isn't it true? [sarcasm off]

The sad truth is, that some people just want to stay ignorant. It’s easier for them to look themselves into the mirror at night negating the ugly truth that’s out there. It is easier for oneself to ignore the truth, to look away and manipulate our way of thinking and make-believe, that if they buy organic, grass-fed, and free-range flesh and secretions are “better”.

THE EASY WAY OUT

Of course, it’s easier to deny the violence and the injustice than working on themselves to put their ego aside and to grow. Growing takes effort, it takes criticism, it takes courage, and time and it comes with a need to change, to adapt actions to a moral attitude.

Of course, it’s easier to ignore and deny facts than to face your ethics and realizing you were doing wrong to innocent individuals.

It takes character to admit that and to change.

And it takes endurance to withstand social conditioning, manipulation, and the social backlash if you’re going against the norm, the ugly norm of making others suffer for you.

But is this your true self? Is this who you want to be? Remind yourself:

It takes nothing away from you to be kind to others.

So fuck those stupid baby steps and start taking responsibility!
Go vegan today and educate others on what you’ve learned for life.

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Please note:

* when the term "human" is used, then human animals are meant by it, and the same applies to the single term "animal", who are non-human animals.