Sanibel Island, Florida

Like Victor, I avoided the PETA videos for as long as possible. Already a vegetarian, I was sure that the gory, bloody images of factory farming would do nothing but make me wish I had not eaten breakfast. It is for this very reason that I avoid horror movies. However, I was forced to watch a PETA video in my Intro to Philosophy class during my senior year of high school. It deeply affected me and I vowed to make a transition to veganism in the near future. Although it seemed as if many of my classmates were similarly affected, none of them were willing to change their behavior. While I have always felt an intrinsic compassion for animals, the video cemented my will to do something about it.

Every summer since I can remember, my family goes on a trip to Sanibel Island, Florida, a tourist spot known for its serene beaches and fresh seafood. My dad and my older brother often brought their fishing equipment in hopes of reeling in dinner. If they were lucky enough to bring in a fish or two, I would make sure that I was not present while their catch was being gutted and cleaned. My mom thought I was just squeamish, which I was, but it was more than that. The whole process always seemed kind of wrong to me. One time, I asked my dad how long it takes for the fish to die once it is caught. He opened the igloo to show me the glassy-eyed fish lying lifelessly on the ice and replied that it takes ten to fifteen minutes once the fish hits the ice. I imagined not being able to breathe for ten minutes and suddenly felt like I was going to suffocate. At ten years old, I couldn’t even hold my breath for a minute. Not to mention the hook through the mouth or the hypothermic conditions of the igloo.

Birds kill fish too, right? Well, sure, and their brain is the size of a pea. We are the most intelligent, powerful creatures that have ever roamed the earth. But in my world view, each and every human being was just as likely (if not more likely) to have been born an animal. What gives us the right to dominance other than our intelligence? Just because we are so powerful does not mean that we can’t also be humble enough to respect the lives of creatures not as naturally gifted as us. In short, we are intelligent enough to make choices that differ from those of our cavemen ancestors. It does not demonstrate courage to dominate other species; the real act of courage is to stand up for them.