CONT. FROM P.8

First off, using violence as a means of communication with a people so oblivious to their actions is like shooting first and asking questions later. How is anyone supposed to understand if we don’t put our arguments forth in a logical, sensible manner? And don’t give me that shit about bringing the meat industry to it’s knees. Meat would just become a black market article if you, against all odds, would destroy all their offices and factories. Poaching would increase and some people would eat their fucking pets instead of becoming vegetarians. The industry will provide as long as the demand is there and you won’t change individual preference by burning property. Secondly, if those actions were to start a debate I have news for those who did it: the ballgame was already on. All you did was give us bad seats. Besides, if the motivates for these actions truly were unselfish and noble then why did they write stupid macho stuff like “All out war” and suchlike statements on cars parked besides the trucks? They didn’t even think long enough to realize that “Kött är mord” would be more effective than “Meat is murder” considering that 99% of the people that would read about it would be Swedish. I think these guys are stupid and that they did it because they got off on it. 
I’ll admit that sometimes, for example when people display their ignorance on the topic of meat-eating vs. vegetarianism or when I see some horrible pictures from slaughterhouses, I to wanna throw a molotov into their fuckin concentration camps. But giving way for that anger is a luxury that we can’t afford. It helps noone. Yes, we get the attention, but do people want to listen? We need to use that anger more constructively. Just letting our anger speak without considering the consequences only tightens the noose around the cows neck. It helps noone.

Finally I’d like to say to those who feel that direct action appeals to them. Use it somewhere where words are not enough. Everybody knows about the porno industry and what it does to the bodies of young woman and the minds of young men (and vice cersa) but nothing is happening. Everybody knows about capitalist oppression and multinational corporations. Everybody knows about the nazi skinheads (well, all nazis, not just the skins). Direct action can serve a purpose but, personally, I’ve always found face-to-face communication a more effective method.

You may wonder why so many people are fighting for animal rights when human rights are ignored each and every day. I think the reason is that the solution is so simple. We need to overthrow the entire capitalist system and it’s resource distribution to save starving people in Africa while all we need to do to save animals from torture and death is to stop eating them. The one does definitely not exclude the other though, and most of the people I know are fighting for both. Well, I’ve said my piece and it’s time to move on. Just remember, next time you get restless: First think about it. Then do it.

     David Sandström 960206