One of my good friends became a vegetarian in January (new years resolution) and today she sent me a facebook message saying she wants to be vegan! I told her how great that was and asked how she came to this decision and she said:

"well, i just think it's the next logical step. i dont know when i'll actually be able to begin because its impossible to eat in the dining hall and be a vegan. i'll probs have to wait until i have my own kitchen in the fall. over the past few months i've really been educating myself on where meat comes from and where dairy products and eggs come from and now that i know all that i know, i really cant go back. some of the videos i've seen and testimonies i've read are so disturbing and i dont think any living being should have to suffer so that i can eat. especially when there are so many other food options out there.
ive also sort of decided that the type of public policy i want to go into is agribusiness reform. they get away with so much and the food that people eat can be very dangerous and, sometimes, lethal. obviously it would be impossible to ban the meat industry in this country, but at least reform could lead to more humane treatment and living conditions for the poor animals that were born into that life."

she sent this to a facebook thread that my best friends from home and I have so we can keep in touch when we're away at school, so there have been the typical snarky-ish comments from the omnis ("don't become preachy...preachy vegans are the worst" "I don't know anything about the meat industry so I don't mind eating bloody meat" "I'm an athlete so it would be really unhealthy for me to be vegan")

I'm so happy for my friend that I'm not even going to get annoyed at the comments the others made! Squee!