11 Comments
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cheryl Andrews's avatar

A great and passionate response to a misguided and misleading piece of blinkered ‘journalism’.

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Pala Najana's avatar

Thank you, Cheryl! Really appreciate your kind words. It’s frustrating to see such misguided takes being passed off as journalism, so I’m glad my response resonated with you!

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David Braden-Johnson's avatar

As J. S. Mill writes: every great movement must go through three stages: ridicule, discussion, and adoption. So sad (yet predictable) that contemporary, mainstream journalists persist with stage one attitudes.

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Pala Najana's avatar

Rather than 'ridicule,' I would call it 'confused nonsense.' But I appreciate you bringing this up. The three stages model always reminds me of the opening scene of the movie 'Earthlings': https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8gqwpfEcBjI

If you already live vegan, please don't watch the entire thing. It's a tough watch.

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Sarah Benn's avatar

The Atlantic article you have responded to is a very strange piece of writing...full of contradictions and quite empty of fact or evidence. I am mystified as to what was going through the journalist's head when she wrote it - I can only think she had a bad hangover and a deadline to meet. Very very poor piece of writing, in contrast to your clear bullet point analysis and surgical deconstruction of what, I agree, amounts to a pile of poop. Thank you.

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Pala Najana's avatar

Haha, Sarah, I love your take on it — I can totally imagine the journalist staring at the screen, hungover, just trying to hit the word count. Your description is spot on; it really was a strange, contradictory mess. Glad you enjoyed my breakdown of it!

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Cindy's avatar

I feel similarly about this article as I did about Neil DeGrasse Tyson's ridiculous book chapter on vegism: that a piece like this survives the fact checking and editing process is both disgraceful and a perfect example of how carnistic bias is so dominant and powerful that it's considered a neutral viewpoint.

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Pala Najana's avatar

Well put, Cindy. I'm actually planning to publish a piece on Tyson's bullshit sometime soon. Thanks for sharing your thoughts - and for the reminder!

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Matt Ball's avatar

It would be good, IMO, to face up to the fact that per-capita consumption of animals is at an all-time high and going higher. I don't know how we can do better if we don't accept facts. (And if we just continue to do the same thing while expecting different results.)

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Mar 26
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Pala Najana's avatar

Thanks so much for your passionate recommendation! Wonder why I haven't heard about that one.. I will definitely buy and read it!

May I recommend something as well? This amazing 5-minute video has changed my mind, and I'm eternally grateful for it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UcN7SGGoCNI

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Mar 26
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Pala Najana's avatar

Fully agree! In these difficult times, we have to stand together, and we won't back down. I have a second newsletter where I take on the new administration directly, in case you're interested: https://integ.substack.com/

Trust me, the video I shared above will inspire you! It's just 5 minutes. Highly recommend to watch it before it slips your mind. Have a great day.

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