Runners are telling me it’s hard to raise money for PETA from non-vegetarians. And many of their friends and parents still eat meat. You’re right! It can be hard!
But not impossible. Let’s compare the situation to a coffee addiction:
Many of you know I have a caffeine problem. I’m sorry, Coach Darren. I am addicted to coffee and I really don’t want to give it up. Coffee beans don’t have central nervous systems. They don’t scream in pain and struggle to be free as they are killed, like animals do. Thus, I have to admit that I really don’t care about giving up coffee.
There are pitfalls, of course. It makes me hyper and I often frighten my PETA co-workers. It’s expensive. It’s no fun to wake up in a strange hotel, on a work trip, and discover they don’t have a coffee maker in the room. I would rather walk around town in a lettuce-leaf swimsuit than go out in public before I’ve had my fix.
But not impossible. Let’s compare the situation to a coffee addiction:
Many of you know I have a caffeine problem. I’m sorry, Coach Darren. I am addicted to coffee and I really don’t want to give it up. Coffee beans don’t have central nervous systems. They don’t scream in pain and struggle to be free as they are killed, like animals do. Thus, I have to admit that I really don’t care about giving up coffee.
There are pitfalls, of course. It makes me hyper and I often frighten my PETA co-workers. It’s expensive. It’s no fun to wake up in a strange hotel, on a work trip, and discover they don’t have a coffee maker in the room. I would rather walk around town in a lettuce-leaf swimsuit than go out in public before I’ve had my fix.
So I can see why it can be a good thing to NOT be addicted to coffee. And perhaps I could get into helping a non-profit teach young people to never start. Especially if that non-profit told me, “Hey, you can keep drinking coffee. We’re not asking you to quit, we’re asking you to donate so that others don’t get addicted.” That could work for me!
Of course it won’t actually work for me, because animal abuse is a much more pressing issue and that’s why I donate to PETA every month. But do you see the idea?
It’s OK to tell your friends and family that you’re not asking them to go veg. You are asking them to donate to help others go veg, and to help reform factory farms and slaughterhouses. They don’t need to feel nervous about change, or pressured. They can help decrease the amount of suffering in the world without making any lifestyle changes of their own!
This may give your potential donors a chance to relax, support you (which is what they want to do, they’re just nervous about it), and…learn about helping animals! Often when people find out they don’t have to do something, it becomes easier to do it. Don't be surprised if you find out your Aunt Linda started browsing through GoVeg.com after you told her you didn't want her to!
Oops! It's 1:30, I'm half an hour late for my post-lunch cup of coffee!
Alex
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