Martin Luther King, Jr. and Non-Violence
As a child, I was deeply influenced by the power of the civil rights movement and the eloquence of Martin Luther King, Jr. His message and example of non-violence was so moving and influential. I watched in awe as TV reports showed demonstrators maintaining their non-violent stance even while they were assaulted by police and others.
I am still affected by the words and passion of Martin Luther King, Jr., and I still support non-violence, whether it is toward our so-called enemies, toward protesters, or toward other sentient beings, human or not.
Sadly most of us play a part in large scale violence daily without even giving it a second thought. The victims of this violence are voiceless, and are enslaved, tortured and killed for human pleasure and profit. In the time it takes to read this post, more than 100,000 sentient beings will have been slaughtered by the meat, dairy and egg industries (far more if you included fish and other aquatic animals).
The violence toward other species doesn’t end there. The humans who work in slaughterhouses are exploited and subjected to horrendous working conditions. Their frustrations are often taken out on the animals or on their families when they go home, continuing the cycle of violence.
So in honor of Martin Luther King, Jr. and in support of of non-violence, I propose adopting a more compassionate, non-violent diet. It would not only benefit the many beings whose lives would be spared, but doing so would also provide health benefits and reduce the negative impact on the environment.
“One day the absurdity of the almost universal human belief in the slavery of other animals will be palpable. We shall then have discovered our souls and become worthier of sharing this planet with them.” ~ Martin Luther King, Jr.
