I\'m a professional pianist & have been playing since I was five. I recently decided to become a vegan (by way of vegetarianism). *****Since the hammers of a piano are tipped in felt, which comes from wool, I now face a dilemma. Since I\'m late middle-aged, I cannot reasonably consider changing careers. Since the bow-strings for violinists etc. are now usually made of synthetic fibers instead of horse hair or silk, they wouldn\'t face this issue nowadays.
*****MY QUESTION: How can I now philosophically & ethically justify being a [vegan] pianist, using an instrument where some of the material comes from animals? [I recently read that sheep-shearing is not an easy process for a sheep to endure, & can sometimes even be cruel]. I mean, how can I absolve myself of the attendant guilt?
Thank you. Wonderful helpful site! Peace.
Let me answer a question with a question. Which is better for the animals, a vegetarian or person that is vegan except that they use leather shoes, items with wool, or someone that just gives up and goes back to eating flesh? In my opinion it is far better for the animals for a vegan to use items with animal products. If it really bothers you to use anything with animal or animal bi-products than think about buying used. For many years after becoming a vegan I continues using the leather belts that I already had and I bought USED leather shoes. I still buy many things from thrift shops but I stay away from wool, leather, and other things that harm animals.
So what I am trying to get at, it is far better to be an almost pure vegan than to not be a vegan. It is better to be a vegetarian than a flesh eater. Anything that you can do for the animals is a wonder gift to the animals. So please just do your best and do not worry about being a "pure" vegan. I really doubt that there is such a thing as a pure vegan.
Question: Pianos
I\'m a professional pianist & have been playing since I was five. I recently decided to become a vegan (by way of vegetarianism). *****Since the hammers of a piano are tipped in felt, which comes from wool, I now face a dilemma. Since I\'m late middle-aged, I cannot reasonably consider changing careers. Since the bow-strings for violinists etc. are now usually made of synthetic fibers instead of horse hair or silk, they wouldn\'t face this issue nowadays.
[By: @ 2013-04-16, 12:53 | Reply | Print ]*****MY QUESTION: How can I now philosophically & ethically justify being a [vegan] pianist, using an instrument where some of the material comes from animals? [I recently read that sheep-shearing is not an easy process for a sheep to endure, & can sometimes even be cruel]. I mean, how can I absolve myself of the attendant guilt?
Thank you. Wonderful helpful site! Peace.
(By: Randall)
Category: General Questions
Re: Question: Pianos
Let me answer a question with a question. Which is better for the animals, a vegetarian or person that is vegan except that they use leather shoes, items with wool, or someone that just gives up and goes back to eating flesh? In my opinion it is far better for the animals for a vegan to use items with animal products. If it really bothers you to use anything with animal or animal bi-products than think about buying used. For many years after becoming a vegan I continues using the leather belts that I already had and I bought USED leather shoes. I still buy many things from thrift shops but I stay away from wool, leather, and other things that harm animals.
[By: @ 2013-04-16, 18:10 | Reply | Print ]So what I am trying to get at, it is far better to be an almost pure vegan than to not be a vegan. It is better to be a vegetarian than a flesh eater. Anything that you can do for the animals is a wonder gift to the animals. So please just do your best and do not worry about being a "pure" vegan. I really doubt that there is such a thing as a pure vegan.
Thank you for your decision to become a vegan.
Doc
(By: Doc)
Category: General Questions