Eating Animals Is for Cowards

Here is why

One thing up front:

I was a meat eater for most of my life. So whoever you are, I’m not here to put myself above you — or to judge your entire life based on your food choices. Obviously, that wouldn’t make sense.

Yes, I have chosen a provocative title. But my aim here is to share insights and provoke thought, not to demonize.

In the face of rising disinformation from the livestock industry, which hurts us all, we can’t afford vague and half-hearted messages. If we want this urgent topic to receive even a fraction of the attention it needs, we must be frank and direct.

Therefore, this article won’t mince words in addressing an important question: why is eating animals an act of cowardice? If you consume animal products and don’t dare to read this text, you’re just confirming my point.

Read on, you can handle it.

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What makes eating animals an act of cowardice?

Consuming large amounts of meat is seen by some as a sign of strength and “masculinity”. Nothing could be further from the truth. Aside from the fact that this definition of masculinity is based on outdated social norms, eating dead animals (and their secretions) is one of the most cowardly things a modern person can do — for eight reasons:

1 — You exploit the vulnerable

Farmed animals are vulnerable and defenseless. They are cognitively, technologically, and often physically inferior to us. When their siblings and friends are slaughtered before their eyes, they can only watch in terror and despair. By eating animals, you take advantage of an industrialized system of oppression, exploiting the fact that animals have no way to call for help or stand up for their rights, and that our society fails to protect them. Superiority is no justification for unnecessary violence. Inflicting harm based on superiority and oppression is the very definition of cowardice.

2 — You hide behind the majority

No sane person would try to defend the brutal — and completely needless — killing of billions of animals if they were in the minority. Let’s be honest: you only think it’s okay to support this industry because most people do. But many people doing something doesn't automatically make it right. Throughout history, the masses have often endorsed violence and oppression, just as they do now with the exploitation of animals. Those with courage stand up for the weak and vulnerable, even when most people around them do otherwise. We should care less about mainstream societal norms, and more about being on the right side of history.

3 — You inflict on others what you would never be willing to endure yourself

The unspeakable fear and suffering that animals endure for animal products is something you wouldn’t bear even for the greatest rewards in life, let alone for a few bites of food. Even the “toughest” meat eaters out there would cry and collapse if they had to experience even a fraction of the suffering that farmed animals go through for their consumption. How cowardly is it to inflict such agony on others when you couldn't remotely endure it yourself?

4 — You avoid the harsh reality

In the U.S., 99% of animals are factory farmed — and horrific animal abuse is also present on many ‘high welfare’ and certified organic farms. Unless you are entirely devoid of empathy, it’s unlikely that you can reconcile the immense harm caused by this industry with your values. But most meat eaters shy away from facing the realities of animal agriculture. They refuse to watch videos of slaughterhouses or factory farms because they know, deep down, that these images will disturb them. Turning a blind eye to the immense suffering inflicted on animals is a cowardly act. If you can’t bear to see the process, how can you justify supporting it with your money? True bravery involves confronting the truth, no matter how uncomfortable it is, and making choices that align with your values.

5 — You believe convenient lies

Many people don’t realize how much corruption and dishonesty there is in the livestock sector. For instance, the world’s biggest meatpacker reportedly spent almost $250m to bribe more than 1,000 politicians and even police inspectors to allow the sale of rotten meat. The livestock industry uses an increasingly sophisticated and influential lobbying apparatus, fights “hard and dirty”, and advertises “like Big Oil” to undermine animal welfare regulation and block climate action. Similarly, they spend millions on marketing to create a sanitized image of animal products. Many people willingly believe these lies and euphemisms, accepting the notion that eating meat, dairy, and eggs is necessary and humane. It’s easier to accept these comforting falsehoods than to question them. But ignorance is not a valid excuse. In an age of information, choosing to remain misinformed is a sign of weakness. Courage involves seeking out the truth, even when it challenges your long-held beliefs.

6 — You use excuses without checking their validity

When trying to justify paying for animal abuse, people keep repeating the same baseless claims and excuses, all of which are easily debunked. It is cowardly to hide behind unfounded arguments without taking the time to check their validity. If you truly examined them, you would find that all commonly used justifications for consuming animal products are hollow and indefensible.

7 — You ignore impacts on humans, climate, and environment

The negative impacts of animal agriculture extend far beyond animal suffering. The industry is a major driver of antibiotic resistance, water contamination, excessive greenhouse gas emissions, human suffering, ocean dead zones, and rainforest destruction. Choosing to ignore these broader consequences is a form of moral cowardice. Courage involves taking responsibility for the impact of your choices on the planet and other people.

8 — You are afraid to change

Fear of the unknown can prevent people from exploring new dietary options and discovering the benefits of a plant-based lifestyle. Fear of change is understandable — but it is also a major barrier to human advancement. Also, any reluctance you may feel pales in comparison to the suffering experienced by billions of animals in the livestock industry. Overcoming your reluctance requires bravery and an open mind, acknowledging that positive change may come with initial challenges but leads to greater rewards.

It’s 2024. About time to stop being cruel cowards. Share this article with your friends to let them know that violence against defenseless animals is cowardly and unacceptable.👇

Is it less cowardly to kill animals yourself?

Many people eat corpses of slaughtered animals even though they are disgusted by blood and could never kill these animals themselves. That is obviously strange. But is eating animals less problematic when you kill the animal yourself?

Of course not.

Just because someone is capable of a violent act or even enjoys it does not make that act justifiable. Or how would it sound to you if someone tried to use this justification for any other form of violence? “Hey, I really like doing it — that means there is absolutely nothing wrong with it.” … err, what?

The willingness of the person doing the slaughtering does not lessen the suffering of the exploited animals who are killed against their will. Nor does it change the negative impacts of animal products on environment, climate, socially disadvantaged people, and public health.

Whether you buy dead animals in a restaurant or supermarket, slaughter animals on your own property, or shoot them in the wild with a hunting rifle: needlessly killing defenseless animals is — will always remain — an act of cowardice.

The cost of indifference

It’s always easy to shut your eyes to the terrible consequences of an industry when you’re not the victim. As Emma Goldman aptly said, “Ignorance is the most violent element in society.”

Most people do not act out of malice; their ignorance stems from a lack of mindfulness and self-reflection. Choosing to remain ignorant may be convenient, but it perpetuates harm and injustice for both animals and society. Ignoring the dangers posed by the animal agriculture industry is a threat to us all.

What true courage looks like

True courage is not found in eating the carcasses of defenseless animals, but in acknowledging one’s mistakes and standing with the victims, even when the majority continues to exploit them.

This strength transcends gender: ‘Real’ men, ‘real’ women, and ‘real’ people of all genders protect the defenseless.

If we can be protectors, rescuers, and advocates for peace and compassion, why choose to be cowardly tormentors who stand for greed and ignorance? The true mark of bravery is to do what is right, even when it goes against societal norms.

Conclusion

Consuming animal products in the modern age, where alternatives are readily available, is an act of cowardice. It involves hiding behind societal norms, avoiding uncomfortable truths, believing convenient lies, and ignoring the impacts of one’s own consumption.

I know it’s not easy to accept this reality — I’ve been there, trust me. But if you lack the courage to face these facts and confront your role in all of this, that in itself proves my point about cowardice.

True bravery lies in questioning the status quo, seeking the truth, embracing change, living with integrity, and helping others out of their suffering. By choosing a plant-based diet, we can align our actions with our values and make an urgently needed positive impact on the world.

Eating animals is no sign of strength. It is as cowardly and pathetic as bullying, making jokes about the disabled, or mocking the homeless. What exactly is supposed to be “manly” about killing defenseless beings, or paying others to do it?

To say it in the words of Jonathan Safran Foer: our response to the livestock industry is “ultimately a test of how we respond to the powerless, to the most distant, to the voiceless — it is a test of how we act when no one is forcing us to act one way or another.”

A responsible person is not someone who never makes mistakes but someone who listens to feedback and has the courage to critically evaluate their own decisions.

Don’t be a coward. Don’t torment the vulnerable. Be their guardian and protector. Make the switch today. Here is how.

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