Freedom or Security?

Freedom or Security? Which one would you choose?

For some, the answer may be obvious, but for others not at all so.

I myself belong to the first group but I can certainly understand the dilemma as well.

Often one hears that keeping someone safe justifies keeping that same person locked up. And by locked up I don't mean a prison cell with the bread and water-diet, but fairly, or even very comfortable lodgings, some company, someone to talk to, and the feeling that you are being cared for. The only thing is, that when you ask to go - or to be let  - out, you are denied. Flat out. No negotiations, end of story. Forever, or that is what it seems like, and you'll never be quite sure about that.
 
So what would you choose? For yourself, or for another.

Ok ok, so you haven't yet thought about what the life would be on the 'other side'. It might be fraught with danger, hunger, maybe, or even pain and untimely death! Certainly life in freedom is uncertain. One is in charge of oneself, perhaps with no one to take care of you.

What will you do? You get depressed, desperate, and suffer a long life alone, in misery and pain?

When you could be living a life of luxury, comfort and satisfaction.(!)

Sounds like you'd be crazy not to make the obvious choice.

'cause that's the only thing you'd have to hand in. Your choice. Your freedom of choice. The choice about your life's decisions.That doesn't sound so bad, does it?

Only some don't get given the choice to choose to loose that freedom. There are plenty of persons, who are never asked. The choice is done for them. Often by well meaning others.

Is it ok for those other to be allowed to make that decision? Why is it? Is it ok, when the one to be detained is sick and in need for constant medication? Is it ok to lock another person up when they are blind and risk getting run over by a car? How about all the bad people out there, who might hurt another, would we not just be protecting someone from potential harm?

I think parents go through some of the same feelings with their offspring. Or relatives with an ailing grandpa. Is it sometimes justified to take someone's freedom of choice from them? Which cases are these?

I live with three persons some of whom I think might be quite happy living inside four walls, being entertained properly, fed well and have some one to cuddle next to.

I however, am of the complete opposite type. Freedom for me is perhaps the ultimate, most important thing in my whole existence. I would take any miserable life - and hey, the life isn't always that great as it is - rather than not have a say about it at all.

I could never chain that ball on to anyone's foot. Or hoof. Or paw. Some might be ok with it, but since I'm not able to tell for sure, it will never be an option for me.

And, to be honest, even if some one wanted to, I still wouldn't. So sorry once again, my small friends, for forcing the freedom on you and locking you out for the day. It's summer for god's sake! ;)

The insider's guide to an activist

Ha, well, since my friend went ahead to publically promote my blog, I'd better get around to writing something as well :)

One issue that has been close to my heart lately is the inner dealings of the activist heart and mind.

How do you feel about living in a World where you feel like you're going against the grain all the time?

Animal activists - perhaps even more so than any other working for a justice cause in the World - are having a hard time keeping their heads clear, their hearts from bleeding or just growing numb to or crashing under it all.

Must feel hard. Stressful at times. Many feel like they're suffocating. I see depression around me all the time. It amazes me but then I remember I've come close to it too one time.

So how do you survive in a World where not many seem to share your ideals, your wisdom, agree with you or even seem to understand?

Well, to be honest, I think this is the way every single person feels, who goes along with their dreams, proudly, trying not to worry about what is normal. This person may feel the love that isn't accepted, dress in a different style from others, be socially awkward so they laugh at inappropriate times, or don't speak at all.

And those who seem to be feeling fine? I bet they're not exactly going for their wildest dreams.

So yes, when you're a vegan and an advocate, you feel like you're fighting against most of the universe, the laws of the land and the ignorance and sheer malice of the society.
But what I think is that we, every single one of us, need courage just as much as the next person.

I have a friend who I think is gorgeous, but who thinks of being strange, not quite fitting anywhere. I have a friend who thinks that nothing they do is ever enough. I have a friend who seems to have it all together but thinks love may just not be meant to ever come their way. I have a friend who constantly builds bigger walls, coloring them brightly while complementing others for being sincere.

Some of my friends are vegan, some are not. To me they all sound the same. I would like to hold everyone in my arms and give them pocketfuls of courage.

I think if we all were courageous, we'd be brave enough to be compassionate, too. And even though we're vegan, we're still just the same as anyone else, scared inside. 

If this text seems somehow unintelligible, it was partly meant to be obscure, to encourage independent thinking; and partly because my inner poet was released the other day by a presence of another poet.

activist and proud to say it

I got compliments regarding my blogs yesterday and that inspired me to write another little wondering to add on to my huge list of texts...

See, activists can be funny.


What do people think of activists? Well, firstly, many people say they feel that because the word 'activism' seems to invoke some negative, aggressive, restrictive of downright hostile emotions, the title seems better shunned altogether. Therefore, they do not call themselves activists.

As you may have guessed, I use the word freely. Why? To have exactly the opposite effect: make one think of an active, positive, empowered person with the capability for independent thinking and courage to work for things they have reasoned to be unjust in the World. The idea is that they would come up with this image by looking at me :)

See, yet again, a humorous activist. Doesn't that just crumble your prejudices away?

I just had a talk with my friend about the importance of words. That, even though we often do not think of it at all, they have meanings. I'm sure this is an often-discussed and thoroughly researched topic, but since I am not an academic (yet), I think I am allowed to ponder these things in my extremely simple ways... 

The meanings that we attach to words most surely often have a strong base in our cultural surroundings and habits. Just like all our other actions. Somewhere or by someone we have learned these attitudes and preconceived ideas.

It is not easy to recognise our patterns of behaviour and thinking as most of us are not used to critical self-observation. That's why it's so easy to eat animal products, with those warm memories of childhood, grandpa's meat loaf (or for me: potato milk) backed up by the wholesome images animal agriculture marketing is lolling us into.

Luckily habits and ideas can also be unlearned. The route can always be turned towards another direction.

This is the reason I use the word activist, going as far as to tell the social workers at KELA or the (un)employment office that it is my professional title. And if you thought that was a bit funny, you should look me up in LinkedIn.

So I stand up straight and look people in the eye as I proudly introduce myself to new acquaintances as an animal rights activist. (although if you read my previous post you know I am wondering what term to use for my activism and other species. Obviously I'm not there yet with my conclusions) To my surprise, most do not seem to make anything much of it. Are they too scared to say anything or is it truly a thing which seems normal to them?

Some are interested and ask what being an activist actually means. That always makes me happy, the fact that people find the courage to ask. It's not at all a given they do.

Seeing a wide variety of activists may help people relate to them, understand or at least listen to them. In the end, talking with them and building up the courage to think about oneself's actions and reasons for them.

So, to change peoples' thinking and attitudes in an unnoticeable way, I try to change the meaning for words like activism. The same interests me with words like 'animal rights', 'humane', 'person' etc. I'll probably be wondering about the definitions and meanings of these along the writings in this blog. You of course are welcome to join in the conversation! What definition of yourself are you afraid to use and why?

I tried a more serious approach today with zero smileys in the text. Just so you know it is not my usual style. You'll see. But variety is an essential piece of life!

Wondering why I haven't written anything yet..

I suppose the first steps are always the hardest. Since this is my first blog, I guess I can go easy on myself and write just a simple wondering to start off with. Also as my grammar needs improving, we shall start with expecting no miracles.

I wondered for a good while whether to write in English or Finnish. Reading some articles and books about social media and blogging I decided to have one blog in each language. So if you can read both, check back later for the link for the Finnish one!

Two things are circling the skies of my mind at the moment. I'm thinking of starting university, for the first time in my life. Social sciences. To help with my work with species rights. (Has anyone ever use the phrase 'species rights' or taken it seriously? I'm starting to tire to use the word animal all the time, as a separating 'us' from from 'them', only with no good reason.)

The other thing is, that I'm meeting a real live pig farmer today. He asked to talk with me, which is in itself great, because he wants to talk! When I told my colleagues (fellow activists) about this, I met with some response that I found quite interesting. Some of the other activists reacted the same way I did and saw the approach as a positive sign of willingness to communicate. Others, however, basically told me 'good luck, but who cares'. They said that they thought it would a waste of resources (probably meaning my good activist time that could be used for something more useful) and that they could not and would not do what I did.

I was, frankly quite shocked about this. Are they working 'against' the people in the animal industry so vehemently, that they can and will not leave room for two-way communication? On the other hand, the gentleman I'm meeting, is admittedly the first farmer who has actively proposed a meeting. Just to talk. Not because of a news piece or to convince me that the industry is doing the individuals in their care good. We're meeting just to talk. To understand each other. I hope.

I'll post another wondering about the usefulness or uselessness of a university education from a point of view of an species rights activist later.

:) (is it correct to have smilies etc. in a blog post??)

 Vegan activist - or a species activist?