I have decided to take a break from my article / essay style writings for a few reasons.
First, I plan in the future to write more extensively beginning with a couple manifesto style booklets and then on to full length books. Writing truly has become a passion and enjoyment in my life and I plan on writing as long as I am able. I also plan on mastering this skill to the best of my ability. But I feel that the things that I have to say have become bigger and more complex than what I can sit down and squeeze into a few pages.
Second, I need a breather. In the last couple years of my life, more excitement, turmoil, betrayal, court cases, media, prison sentences and attention (for good and ill) have come my way than in the entire 33 years that proceeded. The very real and acute persecution and stress I deal with as a federal prisoner demands that I adjust and adapt to be able to cope and survive. Most people, no matter how well versed in the rhetoric of oppression or the lingo of liberation, can truly understand what it’s like to be confined to a concrete block the size of a small bathroom, or the humiliation of having to strip naked, bend over and “spread ’em” which are really just standard daily events for the incarcerated.
Third, ideologically I am going through some changes. Therefore, it’s not fair to my audience to write views that may be subject to change. I won’t go in depth about these changes, but to summarize: unlike many of my predecessors, I am not mellowing with age in my actions or worldview. While I will always support and be proud of my activism as an Animal Liberation Front operative, I have come to believe wholeheartedly that pacifism in the cause of Animal Liberation is a hindrance. I no longer support non-violence. I feel that anyone that unduly harms a woman, child or Animal or profits from their exploitation should be physically assaulted, harmed and permanently stopped. I regret that I did not take more drastic action when I had the chance. My arsons were good but I could have made a stronger and more permanent statement with my actions.
Also, my views on spirituality and politics are in a state of transition as well. For much of my life, I have identified as agnostic but I no longer am. I have come to a more spiritual worldview than I ever had before. Politically, I have always viewed myself as an anarchist, which I can no longer identify with. While I believe in the absolute destruction of technologically advanced civilization and industrialized society, certain of my views are far too authoritative and conservative for me to consider myself an anarchist. To that end I am a Vegan Hardliner, but even in my recent attempts to give structure to this philosophy, I feel that I have been too gentle and supplicative in my approach and writings on the subject, and I have deviated too far from Hardline’s original potency.
Which is just one more indicator to me that it’s time for a break, but only a break from my unsolicited writings. I am always available for interviews and will always respond to letters of support. And after this brief interlude, I expect to come back a better writer, more coherent and with a much more holistic and militant creed. Until next time thank you so much for your support. Take care and I’ll do the same.
Animal Liberation, whatever it may take!
Regards,
Walter Bond
ALF-POW
