I don't take medicine, or any vitamins or aspirin that have gelatin, and I make my own bread. I'm aware that there might be hidden ingredients, but I try my best to read every label and avoid any animal products. That was actually my point; it might be impossible to be completely "vegan" because of the use of hidden "bi-products", which is why people have to be careful about making it a completely black and white issue. I think that each person has to be guided by his/her own conscience. I was just agreeing with those who said that Morrissey opens himself up for attacks if he takes such a militant stand on vegetarianism, yet ignores the suffering that occurs in the egg/dairy/fashion industries. What's with matches; I don't think I've ever heard anything about that, but I would be interested to know.
lynnda
Oh I just saw this. Apologies for not posting earlier. You mentioned in a previous post that you couldn't live with yourself if you intentionally contributed to the suffering or death of any animal.
I think we all contribute to the death and suffering from animals every day of our lives. If my children are sick I give them medicine. That medicine can be sold and given to my family because of animal experimentation. Even if you take a tablet which doesn't contain gelatine the medicine you recover with is only in existence because an animal has suffered. And you (like all we do) benefit from that suffering.
If you make your own bread, the flour you use (depending of course if you are using specific bread flour) could contain a flour improver. Pig skin has been known to be used in the production of improvers.
Pork bones have been used in making matches as well as the fat from cows. What about the vegetables we buy? More than likely they have been fertilised with fertiliser that has been processed with an animal by product. Washing powder? Fabric softeners? Bought a piece of wooden furniture? Has the glue used to secure the joins been made with an animal by-product? Ever take the train? Yep, pigs again are used in the brakes.
Sadly, my view is that our world is so wrapped up and tied to using animals that being a strict vegan is almost impossible. Intentionally or not, we all contribute to the death and suffering of an animal. Does knowing this now make you feel that you won't use the train, or any other biodiesel, take another medicine, mill your own flour? And while most of us don't directly contribute to the suffering or death of animals when we benefit in some form we are certainly guilty of an indirect contribution.