The Ghost of Double Standards

Motivational animal activist Kyan Lee was in his prime. His love of animals was what had drawn him to work with animal rights activists. Before long, he became embroiled in animal rights movements.

Beloved by all who worked with him, his impassioned speeches overwhelmed Facebook, Instagram, and Tik Tok. He packed stadiums to capacity whenever he spoke. He was a mainstay at the openings of many animal rights events because he stirred deep beliefs.

What many people didn't know was that Kyan owned a thriving fur coat business that depended on how successful poachers were. and those that worked for Kyan were at the top of the league.

So it was that Kyan survived and thrived. That is,until Fate intervened.

And she did it dramatically, with a little help from a friend. An icy chill, accompanied by thunderous rain, blew through his office as he reviewed selections for his new fur coat line. Fur coats in his closet shifted about. With lights flickering, a spectral figure, an embodiment of decay, appeared, wearing a torn version of Kyan’s creations.

“Who are you?” Kyan asked, his voice trembling.

“I am the result of your double standards and hypocrisy,” the ghost replied, its voice a stormy, distant echo. “ You advocate animal rights while profiting from their fur. Isn't this a contradiction?”

Kyan, taken aback, stared at him with his mouth wide open. “ I'm fighting for animal rights because I truly believe that they are important.I don't want to hurt them But everyone has to make a living; I have children to support. One of them has cerebral palsy-” he cringed with guilt.

A cold mist covered the floor of the room As the ghost drifted closer to Kyan. “ Perhaps you don't understand the impact of your actions. Would you like to see them?” it asked. As its spectral hand waved, his room transformed into a series of haunting visions.

Animals, some of which had broken limbs, flashed before Kyan. As the sight of animals in cages and the painful process of fur extraction unfolded before him, the awareness of the stark contradiction of his actions hit him with a jolt. The faces of painfully hurt animals met his, their eyes pleading, their moans clear.

“While profit margins are understandable and even necessary, the way you have gone about trying to achieve them has caused immeasurable suffering. Do you see it now?

The gravity of his actions hit Kyan harder than a ton of bricks. “I—I never realized...” His voice, racked with guilt, nearly choked him.

The ghost’s eyes softened with a little more empathy.“There is always time to make amends and align your business with your advocacy."

Kyan nodded. “What should I do?”

“Start with a little honesty. You can use your business to promote animal rights, not animal harm.”

Kyan’s resolve grew as the specter faded. Alone once more, he felt the weight of its revelations.

Kyan took decisive action the following morning. He publicly revealed the harsh realities behind the fur coat industry after shutting his business down. Besides donating funds to animal causes, he used his platform to sell fashion and miscellaneous items that pushed animal rights and welfare.

Just as things began to settle down for him, he received an anonymous package. Unwrapping it, He discovered an old photograph and the letter. The letter read:

“Dear Kyan, the truth finally dawns on you. I was once like you; in fact, I was worse, having actually reared animals specifically for their coats. I had to change my heart. This photograph is of me. I used to own the business before you took it over, and am the apparition that unfolded before you. I was afraid that you would walk the same path I did.”

As Kyan stared at the photograph, believing it to be of someone else. Slowly, he recognized the face morphing as his own, though much younger. And he recoiled with angst. It was his future self, burdened by the weight of his hypocrisy. His previous actions increased in heaviness.

His sense of urgency grew along with his deep connection to the spirit. With the past and future colliding, he knew he had to do all he could To align his actions with his values. His journey had just begun.