Weekly Newsletter from Christian Vegetarian Association CVA - February 1, 2026
From Christian Vegetarian Association (CVA)

  1. Activist Report
  2. Liberal and Conservative Scapegoating
  3. All-Creatures.Org Newsletter
  4. 2026 Winter Jam Events

1. Activist Report

Rick Hershey, who leafleted CVA "Joyful, Compassionate Eating" booklets at Winter Jam in St. Charles, MO, writes:

I handed out 850 CVA booklets at Family Arena in zero-degree windchill, mostly to kids and young adults for Winter Jam. The crowd wasn't as big as usual, and many people wouldn't take their hands out of their pockets to accept a booklet. I leafleted until my hands went numb, even with gloves and handwarmers.

Please contact Lorena at lorenavalenziveg@gmail.com if you can help leaflet at Winter Jam events - jamtour.com/tour.html.

2. Liberal and Conservative Scapegoating

Last time, I noted that liberals often feel justified in redistributing money from high wage-earners, who they regard as exploitative, to lower-income people; and conservatives often believe that those who are impoverished tend to be lazy and deserve their deprived state. Both views, I think, reflect the scapegoating process.

The hallmark of scapegoating is that excessive guilt is attributed to one or more people who are then punished to rid the community of evil. Regarding high wage-earners, it is tempting to blame them for the hardships that can accompany free market systems. However, to the degree that their productivity helps society-at-large, they need not be regarded as avaricious or unethical.

By the same token, low-income people are not necessarily lazy nor deserving of poverty. Frequently, other factors largely beyond their control play a role, including a challenging upbringing, lack of innate abilities that the market rewards, or ill luck.

Scapegoating is tempting because it offers simple explanations for complex problems, and victimizing the scapegoating often gives society-at-large a sense that eliminating evil in the midst will lead to peace, prosperity, and justice. In truth, the superficial appearance of well-being that accompanies scapegoating is a façade. The underlying injustice corrodes institutions that are essential for liberal democracies, such as political equality of citizens, fair and impartial courts, and interpersonal standards of decency.

Stephen R. Kaufman, M.D.

3. All-Creatures.Org Newsletter

Check out the latest newsletter, which features news; action alerts; stories, prose, poems, and art; action alerts, thought-provoking articles; religion/spirituality and animals; recipes; and upcoming events.

All-Creatures.org Weekly Newsletter, January 21, 2026

4. 2026 Winter Jam Events

For more details, contact Lorena at lorenavalenziveg@gmail.com. The CVA will donate $20 per hour to the animal protection charity of volunteers' choice.

2/05 IN Evansville
2/06 IN Indianapolis
2/07 TN Knoxville
2/12 IL Peoria
2/13 TN Nashville
2/14 NC Greensboro
2/15 AL Birmingham
2/20 SC Greenville
2/21 OH Cincinnati
2/22 OK Tulsa
2/26 PA Reading
2/27 NC Raleigh
2/28 PA Pittsburgh
3/01 VA Norfolk
3/06 MS Tupelo
3/07 KY Louisville
3/08 MI Grand Rapids
3/12 LA Baton Rouge
3/13 MS Southaven
3/14 OK Oklahoma City
3/15 IA Des Moines
3/20 MO Springfield
3/21 LA Bossier City
3/22 AL Mobile
3/26 IN Fort Wayne
3/27 OH Cleveland
3/28 PA State College
3/28 MI Ypsilanti

Please support the CVA! At www.christianveg.org/materials.htm, you can find literature, T-shirts, bumper stickers and more, and donations are always welcomed!

2026 Newsletters Archive