Dear Young Linda,
Hi from 2026! You’re about to graduate and head into Applied Sciences—that analytical mind is going to be your superpower.
Right now, you probably don’t think twice about what’s on your dinner plate. You eat whatever mom makes and you want to join your friends at the fast food places. But I’ve been studying Effective Altruism (EA) and learned a sobering reality: factory farming. In the '80s, this is becoming the silent standard. Imagine intelligent animals squeezed into cages so small they can’t move, living in darkness without fresh air.
Agricultural expert Bailey Norwood rates animal welfare from -10 to 10. Pigs and caged hens score a -5, meaning their lives involve so much suffering they would be better off dead. It’s a strange contradiction: we’re starting to treat pets like "fur babies," yet we subject animals of similar intelligence to industrial misery.
You’ll want to go vegetarian immediately (delicious meat alternatives and vegetarian options on the menu will become more readily available), but as an "Applied Science" person, consider how to have an even bigger impact than just changing your own diet:
- Earning to Give: Your future career will allow you to donate to high-impact charities like Mercy for Animals. One professional salary can fund campaigns that spare millions from those "-5" conditions.
- Career Strategy: You can use your data and science skills to work directly for animal advocacy, fixing the food system from the inside.
Use that big heart and sharp mind to help those with the least power.
Love, your 2026 Self
Letter to a high-caste Hindu in the early 19th Century.
Dear Friend,
As someone who respects the teachings of our shared heritage, I'm compelled to address a distressing issue. Your actions towards those from lower income classes and marginalized castes contradict the principles of compassion, equality, and humanity.
Untouchability and mistreatment perpetuate harmful cycles of oppression, causing irreparable harm to individuals and communities.
This behavior:
1. Perpetuates systemic injustice: Reinforcing social hierarchies and discriminatory practices.
2. Inculcates generational trauma: Passing down pain, fear, and mistrust to future generations.
3. Contradicts Brahmanical values: Negating principles of ahimsa (non-harm), karuna (compassion), and dharma (righteous living).
4. Undermines social cohesion: Fostering divisions, mistrust, and hostility.
Consider the long-term effects of your actions:
- Intergenerational trauma: Children learn from what they witness, perpetuating cycles of oppression.
- Social isolation: Marginalized communities become increasingly disconnected from mainstream society.
- Loss of human potential: Talent, skills, and contributions are wasted due to systemic barriers.
Our scriptures emphasize:
- "Vasudhaiva kutumbakam" (the world is one family)
- "Ekam sat viprah bahudha vadanti" (truth is one, wise men call it by many names)
- "Ahimsa paramo dharma" (non-harm is the highest dharma)
I urge you to:
1. Reflect on your actions: Recognize the harm caused and take responsibility.
2. Educate yourself: Learn about the experiences of marginalized communities.
3. Engage in self-critique: Question your biases and challenge harmful traditions.
4. Foster empathy: Treat others with kindness, respect, and understanding.
Break the cycle of oppression. Embody the values of compassion, equality, and justice.
Sincerely,
Kuhoo