When I saw this video, I cried. Apparently I’m not the only one; every other comment I’ve seen from viewers expresses the same reaction. In the video, a toddler in Brazil explains to his mother why he will not eat his octopus pasta. Originally uploaded to YouTube on May 15, 2013, within 2 weeks the video of little Luiz Antonio had over 1 million views. What began as a conversation between one little boy and his mother is now a powerful reminder to people the world over— compassion toward all animals doesn’t have to be taught. It is only untaught.
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Luiz: That’s ok?
Mom: Ok.
Mom: Now, eat your octopus gnocchi.
Luiz: Ok mom, alright…
Luiz: …This octopus isn’t real, right?
Mom: No.
Luiz: Then alright…
Luiz: He doesn’t speak, and he doesn’t have a head, right?
Mom: He doesn’t have a head. These are only the chopped little legs of the octopus.
Luiz: Huh?! But…is he head in the sea?
Mom: His head is at the fish market.
Luiz: …The man…chopped it? Like this? [sawing motion]
Mom: Yes he did.
Luiz: Why?
Mom: So we can eat it! Otherwise, we’d have to swallow it all.
Luiz: …But why?
Mom: So we can eat it, love. Just like a cow is chopped, a chicken is chopped…
Luiz: Huh? A chicken! No, nobody eats chickens!
Mom: Nobody eats chicken?
Luiz: No…those are animals!
Mom: Really?
Luiz: Yeah!
Mom: So let’s eat the gnocchi. Eat the potato, then?
Luiz: umm…just the potato and just the rice.
Mom: Ok…
Luiz: Octopus are animals…
Mom: Alright.
Luiz: All of them are animals…
Luiz: Fish are animals…
Luiz: Octopus are animals…
Luiz: Chicken are animals…
Luiz: Cows are animals…
Luiz: Pigs are animals…
Mom: —Yes…
Luiz: So! …When we eat animals, they die!
Mom: Ah…yes.
Luiz: But why?
Mom: So we can eat, love.
Luiz: But why do they die?
Luiz: I don’t like that they die…
Luiz: I like that they stay standing up.
Mom: Ok. Alright. So we’re not gonna eat it anymore, ok?
Luiz: Ok!
Luiz: These animals…you gotta take care of them…and not eat them!
Mom: [quiet, then laughing tenderly] You’re right, son. So, eat the potato and the rice.
Luiz: Alright…Why are you crying?
Mom: I’m not crying…I’m just touched by you.
Eat. No need to eat the octopus, alright?
Find your heart. Live vegan.
