The Negatrons Attack!
So what do you say when people ask 'why are you vegan?' It's such a hard question to answer quickly, plus with most people I don't want to get into the politics of it all.
I was at Coles the other day reading the ingredients on some raisin bread when an old lady said to me 'you won't get thin eating that!', I of course turned and smiled politely and told her ' I'm not trying to lose weight, I'm vegan'. We talked for a little while about what a vegan is and she left our conversation with a little more knowledge than she had before. But it struck me that I am going to get this a lot. When I proclaim 'I am vegan' to the vast majority of people they are going to expect me to 'explain myself'. Do I ask omnivores to explain to me how they can be OK with eating meat? to 'explain themselves' and haul them over the coals about how they are going to get adequate nutrition? No I don't because it's not my business, and not my problem. Amazing how bold complete strangers will be when you throw the word vegan at them. I can almost guarantee I eat a more wholesome nutrient filled diet than the average Australian by far!
I went to my parents place last weekend. I had previously told my Mum I am going vegan and had a long conversation about food with her. She is very knowledgeable about food like I am and by the end of our talk she had a myriad of ideas of what to cook for lunch when Tony and I came to visit.
So we arrived at Mums only to find out she was making gnocchi which has egg. I told her 'I can't eat that' to which she replied, 'well it's only a little bit'. The way she said it was like my beliefs don't matter to her at all, and that I was just going through a silly phase or something and I should stop being difficult.
My Dad was even worse. Those of you who know me know that I am very close to my Dad and we have a lot of fun. But he was incredibly disappointing. I'd even go so far as to say he was an asshole. I don't think I've thought of my Dad as an asshole since I was a teenager so that's saying a lot!
It was a constant barrage of 'jokes' about being vegan. Rather than let me explain what it's about he'd just talk over the top of me saying stupid shit like 'a man needs meat' and other bull crap. I was really hurt and really disappointed in him. I know my Dad can be set in his ways at times, but I really thought as this is something important to me he'd be more supportive. I am not asking him to go vegan, I'm just asking for support in my decisions to do something good for myself and good for the world.
I came away from that family lunch feeling like I'd just confessed I was taking up heroin. Really disappointing stuff.
posted by Milly @ 5:05 PM
5 Comments
5 Comments:
Wow, that is pretty shitty about your folks. I guess when you do something different from the "norm" you have to expect questions and interrogation. However, it doesn't have to be negative, it should be inquisitive. Unfortunately, not a lot of people think that way, and I think our group of friends is a bit more tolerant of differing ideals. Having said that, none of my school friends have given me any shit about beng a vego, and I figured if anyone, it would be them. And a quick joke is a big difference to not understanding or accepting your point of view.
I think part of the decision to be different, and it is a decision in this case, is that you *have* to put up with this stuff. You are being different and that has up and down sides. Just like most other decisions.
Being vegan makes it more difficult for the people around you, that's not debatable. People don't have to make it hard on you though and that's disappointing, especially if they know. I tend to take vegos into account these days but vegans are just too hard. I understand their need to be different though.
Maybe you need to make it a little less of a moral issue yourself though and just do it. It will let you roll with teh punches you're inevitably going to get. I think if you were going to say it was normal being vegan then it wouldn't make up such a big part of what you're putting out there or who you are.
I think it's cool what you're doing, I don't think I have the time or could put int he effort to have a good vegan diet. However I think you need to be tougher if you're going to be different. I thought you'd have learned this already :)
Beign vegan is different but it isn't special and I think maybe if you accept it as your normal people will stop making such a big deal out of it. Just a thought.
It's not like I'm out there going 'look at me look at me I'm different'. I don't want to be though of as different and I don't feel like being vegan is that huge a deal, it simply the reaction I get from others when the word 'vegan' is used. It perceived as such a different/hippie thing to do because there is so much ignoreance about it.
Persoanlly I can't be assed mhving to explain myself to everyone, but people do ask, and you have to say something.
As for it being a moral issue. When you start to read how our meat, dairy and eggs gets to our table it's very hard not to make it a moral issue. But I by no means sove anything down anyones throat. I only tell them what they ask. I'd sooner not get into it.
My point is I am just very dissapointed that the people I most care about can be so negative, and so hurtful. It has nothing to do with me trying to be morally superior, it has nothing to do with me being difficult, it has nothing to do with me thinking I am not normal.
It is all about ignorance, rudeness and just simply being an asshole.
Meat is delicious, especially by teh kilo :)
May I suggest you watch the doco 'Earthling' and get back to me on the 1kg of meat.
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