I have found lots of people (the closer they are, such as friends and family!) to be negative toward vegetarians and vegans alike. I truly feel that in some cases it's ignorance on their part about how food animals are treated, sometimes they are not 'spiritually' (for lack of a better word) 'connected' to animals, etc....
But mostly I think it's because people ARE becoming more and more aware of the cruel treatment of the animals, the harm animal farming causes the environment, etc.... and it's pure and simple guilt.
I have an aunt I had dinner with a few weeks ago whose father actually raises cattle. Some of the cows are kept as 'pets' to live out their lives (if they get attached to them). She cried when she told me how one time she went to the slaughterhouse with her father and how horrible it was.......... but there she sat eating
beef! She said she 'puts it out of her mind' and 'forces herself not to think about it'. She won't even discuss it with her daughter (who is now 12!!!) because she doesn't want her to make that connection.
I have a friend whose father also raised cattle and to this day she will not eat beef because it was so horrible for her to see her 'pets' sent to slaughter. BUT she eats pork, chicken, etc.... She says she doesn't feel the 'guilt' because she didn't 'see' that herself. Again, she works at not facing it because it 'tastes good.'
My sister is the same way. She was vegetarian and vegan for a time, but married a very, very carniverous man, and uses that as an excuse to eat it again and tries not to think about it.
I just think it's like everything else. People don't want to know. They don't want to think about it, and eating with a vegetarian or
vegan brings up something they don't want to deal with. Their guilt. There is truly NO reason for humans to eat meat these days. Cats/dogs/other animals can be excused (even though I don't like to feed them meat, they eat it at times.... cats all the time, especially because of my leukemia baby) But animals are not in charge of this world. We are.
And not to sound holier than thow because I am not a strict vegan because I am too selfish myself as well. I feel guilty when I eat something that's not vegan, or eat a piece of shrimp or whatever. (Lots of people make shrimp when I come to visit because they think that's acceptable. And I eat it, knowing I shouldn't.) I occasionally buy butter. I buy mayo, and occasionally free range eggs.
So I'm certainly no role model in this department by any means, but I feel ANYTHING we can do helps. Even if we're not
perfect. I think people like to throw things at you like "well you eat eggs" to cover their guilt and try to make me feel guilty. At least it works on me. I do feel guilty, and have moved more and more toward a vegan diet through the years.
And last, I do try to 'convert' people by telling them that EVERY LITTLE BIT DOES HELP! If they would just cut out beef they can save cows. If they just cut out pork, etc.... It would be nice if the world converted to veganism, but every little bit helps, and I try to approach it that way to people. Do what you can.
tonya
Just my 2 cents.
veggiepugs <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
veggiepugs <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
Wendy-
In response to your question...I have received opposition to my being vegan quite a few times. More often than not, people ask my why I'm vegan and grill me as to all the if's & and's like "well what about plants, don't plants feel pain?"...check out www.askcarla.com for all the questions that people ask. She covers them all. People try and stump me, try and make me feel as though my choice is a ridiculous one. But, it's just that...it's my choice and I NEVER push it on anyone.
My philosophy being a vegan is this: I choose this path because it is what suits ME and fits MY beliefs. If I expect tolerance from others, I have to have tolerance for their decisions as well. Sure I wish more of the world felt the same way about all animals to the extent that it might change their actions towards them, but for me to protest and force people and shove things in their face, be violent or obnoxious completely contradicts the very core of veganism...Compassion. If one feels compassion for living beings, that must include humans. We all live on the same planet. OK I'm getting a bit preachy here but, the point is, I have learned not to get angry. I just realize that very often, people like these are threatened by my choice, because somewhere deep down they feel remorse about their decisions. Those who are comfortable and secure in their choices react otherwise. They say to me "I admire that, but I could never do that". You should see some of these groups that are formed that are anti-vegan, anti-animal activists, they should just call themselves "anti-compassion" because really, that's how they behave. They're so angry and so hell-bent on getting the last word they forget to stop and take a look at what kind of person they are. Or, they don't care. Some people just have a malicious bone in their body that makes them want to be that way. Some people are so angry at the world and need everyone to know it. That is not what I personally want to be.
