Outreach question: respect for life vs abortion

[tammy]

[Another question received via email]

My husband and I (both seniors) are establishing a vegan group in Eugene OR (can you believe there isn't already one here?!) and so far so good. Things are going great!

But we did have a question or two and was wondering if someone there might provide us with their opinion?

When we table, we inevitably get some disruptive element or two asking about abortion. We have many different ways in the past that we have handled it, and it always works out ok in the long run. But we are ready for some fresh ideas and some fresh energy. So we email you

What happens is, because we are ethical vegans and respect all life, others will then say, "Well, if you think all life is sacred, then I assume you are opposed to abortion?" Now, of course, while we might WISH there were never any abortions anywhere for anyone, the fact is that there are.

However, we are pro-choice and the last thing we would support is governmental or any other interference in such a personal matter. Just like we would not think to impose abortion on someone who did not want to take that route, neither do we wish to have another's decision foisted on us. The abortion issue is not black and white.

So in YOUR wisdom, YOUR experience, YOUR knowledge base, YOUR enlightened viewpoint---can you offer us an equally poignant and appropriate reply to this most difficult question?

Many thanks for your time and effort!!

Peace,
Linda

[tammy]

Wow, great question.

I was at a rodeo protest many years ago and a teenage girl walking into the rodeo with her family shouted and asked if we believed in abortion.

Sometimes questions get asked of us that are sincere and people want to know. Other times, the questions are used to belittle our beliefs and sidetrack us from what we're trying to accomplish at that time.

As I table primarily on factory farming with vegan info, if someone asked me that question, I would say something to try and agree with them at first (like, yes, it's important to have a respect for life) and then broaden and get back to topic that I'm tabling on. The primary one being everyone eats several times a day, billions of animals are slaughtered every year for food, etc. These animals can feel pain and suffer, are treated horribly, etc.

On my "to read" list are a couple of books that I've seen recommended by PETA and Vegan Outreach. Perhaps you might be interested in them as well:

The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People by Steven Covey
How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie.

PETA explains the philosophy behind this at

http://www.goveg.com/active/effective-intro.html