Thank you for coverage of the recent foie gras protest (“Animal rights protestors challenge foie gras sale in Northampton,” April 16). In the article Bella Bella Gourmet, which represents a consortium of farms, takes umbrage with people singling out foie gras instead of focusing on other awful animal agriculture practices. They’re right in one sense: there’s seemingly an unlimited supply of animal agriculture practices that deserve our attention, compassion, and action. But I think what they’re attempting to say is also very wrong: that unless someone is able to give all evils equal attention they shouldn’t speak up at all. This is false. No one can do everything, certainly not well, and people shouldn’t be discouraged from seeking to better the world just because they can’t solve all the problems simultaneously or because hypocrisy exists in their life.

Life is full of compromises and many of us try to do our best while living in that reality. Nothing would ever get better anywhere if we required people to be “perfect” before they took action. It would be a ridiculous demand. This argument is frequently used by people who want to denigrate folks who are trying to make a difference and really it’s just a distraction from what they don’t want to admit: they aren’t willing to do anything to help or they’re upset they aren’t doing more. Either way they want to drag others down with them. If you want to protest the despicable treatment of veal cows, but you still drink milk, which also hurts cows, then by all means protest (or otherwise take action) to protect veal cows. It’s a step in the right direction! If you want to contact your legislators to support a bill to protect habitat from a natural gas pipeline encroachment, but you still occasionally fly, which has a high carbon footprint, then by all means contact your legislator. That’s great! Whatever the cause, don’t let people dictate to you that in order to make a difference you have to be perfect. That’s nonsense. Just keep doing better, be humble, and find ways to contribute.

Lindsey Britt

Brattleboro, Vermont