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We Don't Care about People
This myth is among the most misleading because it ignores the complex connections we share with nonhuman animals. First and foremost, we ARE
animals - and proud of it! So much of what is fabulous about humans - our emotions, sensations, intuitions - has been dismissed throughout history as
"animalistic," and we think it's time to celebrate these similarities. The interests of humans and animals frequently overlap, so we seek to improve
the lives of both through initiatives like our alliance with Middle Way House.
Real Activists Eat Tofu
Plenty of meat eaters care deeply about animal well-being! While we respect (and many of us are) vegans and vegetarians, we reject the
assumption that meat
eaters are ignorant
and uncaring. Instead, we believe in an open-minded approach to activism - one that draws upon a variety of perspectives and recognizes that there
are many different ways to act on behalf of animals. Projects like our campaign to convince IU dining services to switch to
cage-free eggs are based on our belief that vegans AND meat-eaters can find a common ground that empowers us to improve animals' lives.
We're Out of Touch
Clueless. Impractical. Checked out. Totally oblivious. These are just some of the adjectives used to describe animal advocates. But in fact, we
are very tuned in to the complexities of balancing the needs of agriculturalists, consumers, scientists, farmers, and researchers with compassion for
animals. We are motivated, educated, and empathetic citizens seeking to create viable, innovative solutions to the challenges we all face in
managing our resources and treating animals with respect and dignity.
Activism is a Drag
Activism doesn't have to mean griping about injustice; instead, activism can focus on celebrating and enacting positive changes.
Our philosophy is that activism
can - and should - be fun!
We're Terrorists
It's silly to think that the diverse range of people who advocate compassion toward other beings
would ever be lumped together and labeled as terrorists, but it happens. Sadly, any political cause can attract self-righteous extremists, but
animal and environmental activists are often singled out as harborers of such elements. This couldn't be further from the truth. Despite the many
deaths and injuries caused by abortion clinic bombers, it would still seem insane to label all
pro-life activists as terrorists. Yet due to stereotypes perpetuated by the media and special-interest groups, many
find it easier to attach this label to animal activists, insane though it may be. Even the government sees us as an
impending domestic threat. Despite its absurdity, this may be the most
dangerous myth since it threatens to undermine the legitimacy of our concern for animals. The best way to combat it is to be outspoken about our
passion for compassion and engage in thoughtful, respectful dialogue with others. In our experience, people who may have been turned off to
animal advocacy by the antics of extremists find RAW members' friendliness and positivity irresistable! We'd Rather Save Animals than Cure Human Diseases
While the issue of animal experimentation is often presented as a choice between a lab rat or your child, this view reduces an incredibly complex
issue to a
simple binary. RAW members have a wide range of views on the use of animals in medical research, but we all agree that the choice is never simply
either/or. Mice, pigeons, dogs,
and chimpanzees are just a few
of the species who suffer in the search for cures for diseases - many of which are preventable. Due to differences in our DNA, animal research often
does
not yield - and can even hinder - medical progress for humans. While many health charities like the American Cancer Society, American Heart
Association, and March of Dimes DO fund animal experimentation, a growing number of charities, including the Cancer Treatment Research Foundation,
Lown Cardiovascular Research Center, and Birth Defect Research for Children, fund only cruelty-free research. The Physicians Committee for
Responsible Medicine has compiled a list of charities that do and don't fund animal experimentation, demonstrating that human and animal well-being can - and do - go hand in hand!
We're Uptight
At RAW, we resist the stereotype that animal activists are humorless, holier-than-thou elitists. Our membership demonstrates that a
shared compassion for animals can unite even the most diverse range of people. We take our common goals very seriously, but we feel just as strongly
that activist well-being needs to be revitalized, too! We LOVE combining work and play in our activities because a healthy dose of goofiness
rejeuvenates us, leaving us pumped and ready to tackle our next project.
We Can't Make a Difference
Strangely, we are often more terrified by our brilliance and potential
than we are by our limitations - and thus find ourselves more afraid of
our own successes than of possible failures. Apathy, lethargy,
ambivalence, and/or a stubborn refusal to act frequently stem from
fear. Here are RAW, we understand that we actively create the world
around us; that we have choices to make every day; and that we can and
will make a more beautiful world by building strong communities where
animals and people can thrive together.
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