Arrest Me! I've Filmed Florida Cows!

Writing on this blog I normally stay away from personal issues... That's why I created Once Upon a Vegan --- For less generically political, more intimate "me" subject matter.  But this proposed bill initiated by Florida state senator 

Jim Norman strikes close to home on not only a personal level but a political one as well.

This bill states that:

(1)A person who enters onto a farm or other property where legitimate agriculture operations are being conducted without the written consent of the owner, or an authorized representative of the owner, commits a felony of the first degree, punishable as provided in sections: (blah, blah) Florida Statutes.
(2)A person who photographs, video records, or otherwise produces images or pictorial records,digital or otherwise, at or of a farm or other property where legitimate agriculture operations are being conducted without the written consent of the owner, or an authorized representative of the owner, commits a felony of the first degree, punishable as provided in (blah, blah) Florida Statutes.

(3)As used in this section, the term “farm” includes any tract of land cultivated for the purpose of agricultural production, the raising and breeding of domestic animals, or the storage of a commodity.
Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2011

Of course this bill is absurd... But as Erik Marcus at Vegan.Com points out, there are other states that may follow in proposing this kind of ridiculous legislation.

So... Not wanting to be a refugee of the law here in Florida... Where the sun always shines and the chads are always hanging - I thought I'd save the (drained and unrepresented) tax payers a little dough and turn myself in by confessing to my criminal mis-deeds:

First is my guilt of compassion... You see, I really care that sentient beings are being used as things!  I care that they are needlessly killed!  I care... Well, because that's what I was taught some 50+ years ago... Who knew I was being instructed to be such a devious transgressor?

And the second violation that I wish to turn myself in for is for breaking some kind of future "rule" that says neither tourist or Florida home-owning resident, can stop by a roadside to take images of "production" animals.

There ya go! Guess I've throw myself at the mercy of the corrupt just legal system, to take whatever lashings are due...

30 years behind bars... Will fellow advocates please sneak in a vegan cupcake to me once and a while?
Mea culpa...

FBI VEGAN TERRORIST - 23 OMNIVORES STILL AT LARGE

An animal rights activist is 3rd on the FBI's most wanted list right after Bin Laden, one other, and is among 2 dozen men who's crimes all include threats to bodily harm and acts involving serious injury. DANIEL ANDREAS SAN DIEGO who just like nearly every animal rights activist abhors destruction to property, and who with certainty would never harm life, is wanted for allegedly blowing up an animal testing facility... But if the suspicion is valid, it's obvious that he made sure that the building was empty before doing such. He made sure no persons were in danger during such an act. Yet, on this FBI list, one after another are hardened violent criminals - who are charged with MURDER, CONSPIRACY TO KILL U.S. NATIONALS, ATTACK ON A FEDERAL FACILITY RESULTING IN DEATH, AIR PIRACY RESULTING IN MURDER, HOSTAGE TAKING; INTERFERENCE WITH FLIGHT CREW; AND PLACING EXPLOSIVES ABOARD AIRCRAFT, CONSPIRING TO PROVIDE MATERIAL SUPPORT TO A TERRORIST ORGANIZATION Treason, Aiding and Abetting, Providing Support to Al Qaeda, . USE OF WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION AGAINST U.S. NATIONALS... and the list goes on and on with grave and valid threats to national security. But there is Mr. SAN DIEGO... third on the FBI most wanted list... An odd thing too... he's the only man amongst all others who is described by his dietary choice... "He is known to follow a vegan diet, eating no meat or food containing animal products".

Hummmm.... that leaves the other 23 men as omnivores. And of course it would be ridiculous to say that because of this, that they are of any greater threat than the vegan... so why mention dietary decisions at all, if not to incriminate the one as "deviant"?

And of note as well... he's also the only one listed as "known to possess a handgun"... whereas, the others - well, they have access to jets and possibly WMD - but the FBI is going to worry about the guy with the handgun. Interesting.

It's wasteful and dangerous when the FBI focuses it's efforts to a suspect, that is to any reasonable person, not on par to more serious, genuine, dangerous "terrorists". To include an "Animal Rights" activist, whose offense is trivial in comparison to the other suspects makes a laughing stock of the whole National Security effort. It confirms a paranoia rooted in a "Green Scare" mentality and is of peril to our freedoms and indeed to our safety.

And I'm not saying that this charge on San Diego is not serious or should go unpunished if found guilty... but what needs to be done is for the FBI to put this misdeed in perspective in relationship to the truly horrific acts of "terrorism".

Veganism is rooted in peace... in harmony with life... and in the respect for all living beings. In fact, one is more inclined to promote "violence" and physical harm if not following vegan practices. Please... FBI and U.S. Government officials - get priorities in alignment... before you do us some serious harm... And in alignment with mindfulness... Go Vegan

IMMORAL VEGAN TOFU LICENSE TAG - give me a break!

What better way than on your car to express how happy you are to be vegan? Here's my old Tracker... since replaced with a little Suzuki X90...

I've toned down the bumper stickers a bit (for now). Anyway, a vegan woman in Colorado applies for a tag to say "ILVTOFU". The DMV rejects her request because it may be "offensive" to some...

Meanwhile there are others of us that are offended by "Beef it's What's for Dinner" tags or stickers like this:

And what about the billboards every quarter mile advertising some dead animal body part... Each alternating which "species" is on the menu? "Life's short have seconds"... Well it was pretty damn short for the cow wasn't it? After her worn out body was drained of every last bit of life to be profitable - Her body parts wind up on a plate, next to the cheese made from her sister's blood. Now that's vulgar!

Oh yes... hit the highways and there's lots to be offended disgusted by:

I think for a moment we could stand in this woman's shoes... (I know I can). She's living a nice peaceful life... Wishing to harm none in the world, yet can't even say she loves tofu without the flack of disjointed moral standards!

So what pray tell dear folks is really obscene here?

Go Vegan