Many people claim to love animals while continuing to eat meat and animal products. Critics of this stance, including Prof. Sudesh Kumar argues that such love is selective and rooted in cultural conditioning rather than genuine compassion. As he notes, “You can treat your dog(s) like a family member and say you love them. But then you should call yourself a dog lover, not an animal lover… You love dogs, but you eat chicken. This selective affection exposes a moral inconsistency that veganism seeks to address.
Prof. Sudesh Kumar argues that true love for animals cannot coexist with their commodification and killing. He recounts formative experiences witnessing animal sacrifice and the pain of being unable to intervene, which catalyzed his commitment to veganism. For him, veganism is not merely a dietary choice but a social justice movement to end the view of animals as objects for human use. In one of his article, he poses a critical question: If you consider an animal “someone” rather than “something,” is it essential that someone must die for your food or lifestyle choices? He highlights the internal conflict, who adopt some animals as pets but routinely consume others, calling this a “war within ourselves”. He asserts, “It cannot be our personal choice to take someone’s life,” emphasizing that ethical consistency demands we extend compassion to all animals, not just the ones we find cute or convenient to protect. You can follow him @vegansudesh.
Prof. Sudesh Kumar and like-minded advocates maintain that veganism is the most authentic way to express love for animals. By refusing to participate in industries that exploit, harm, or kill animals, vegans align their actions with their values. He believes this shift is not only possible but necessary for anyone who claims to care about animal welfare. He urges people to recognize that “love requires that we support and protect those we love, and in the case of animals, it requires that we do not commodify their lives”.
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