The Pros And Cons Of Transcendentalism

“I was not born to be forced. I will breathe after my own fashion. Let us see who is the strongest” (Thoreau). Everyday I toy with the question, “Why am I vegan? Is it for the animals? My health? Or the environment?” Most often than not it boils down to my refusal to accept the systemic cycle of abuse and torture that countless animals must endure with no escape. I chose to reject the status quo and ruminate why I consumed animal products, but I could not find an acceptable answer. Thus, I chose to disregard what those around me believed was the norm and I become a person of my own principle not a follower of another’s. Transcendentalism as described by Emerson and Thoreau is a basic adherence to an individual’s own personal beliefs without

I’ve gotten a few warnings for touching the truck for too long or stepping into the street. However as cliché as it may sounds, while reading Civil Disobedience in class, I got energized and even excited to disregard the law enforcement and step in the street and not be afraid to touch the truck. So last Sunday I decided to “transcend” my boundaries and follow the tenets of Civil Disobedience. First I researched the regulations of California Penal code concerning protesting, I found I was often in violation of Penal Code 407, “Whenever two or more persons assemble together to do an unlawful act, or do a lawful act in a violent, boisterous, or tumultuous manner, such assembly is an unlawful assembly”. The pig saves were considered to be “boisterous” and “tumultuous”. Next, I appealed to a higher power of morality, the basic human belief system to not do unnecessary harm onto other living beings. So I appeal to each of you today with pictures and videos from the event, please consider these animals’ lives before you put meat on your plate. Third, I knew the consequence was up to 180