I refuse to become vegan ...

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Meat is symbolic of rich living (despite the fact that most people in the West can afford to buy it) and, along with other rich and exotic animal foods, it is regarded as ‘quality food’. Animal products are attractive to our tastebuds and expensive enough to be associated with good living. They appeal to those who ‘appreciate the good things in life’.
In contrast vegans show how bad these foods are and seem to make people feel guilty for wanting them. Consequently people dislike vegans and the sort of foods they recommend, preferring to stick with what they know.
What stops you becoming vegan? Perhaps missing things you associate with pleasure and which also give you social acceptance. People may realise what they’re eating is not, in the long run, good for them but in the short term it’s what they want. They can’t face missing out on roast dinners and a whole lot more.
Vegans have taken the plunge in many ways (food and clothing especially). They’ve taken a big step and thus earned the cred to promote non-violent food. Some of us have taken it further, promoting non-violence as a modus operandi. We want to interest others in both the food and the ethics whereas, in contrast, non-vegans can’t subscribe to that - they can’t take it seriously (non-violence as a general response to life). Naturally, I for one think that’s pretty sad, that the human race seems to be held back in this way, always having to maintain the ‘hard nose’. Their biggest hurdle is obviously their unwillingness to change their daily food habits and their speciesist attitudes towards animals.
As a part of the ‘vast majority’, most people do what others do. They have lots of reasons why they wouldn’t take up a vegan diet. So I thought it might be useful to outline some of the main reasons why people do NOT go vegan, and then weigh that against all the advantages that a non-violent food regime might bring.
Since most people have never had to restrict themselves in diet, especially if it involves things they enjoy eating and which they’ve taken for granted all their lives, then the idea of taking on a vegan lifestyle would seem, at first sight, outrageously restrictive. And since people get very toey about losing their freedom of choice, especially when it comes to food, then the little things start to take on big proportions. It becomes immensely important NOT to be giving up their snacks, treats and food-favourites. A branch of this is the fear of losing the sophistication associated with ‘cuisine’ - one might like to eat ‘French’ or Chinese or Indian foods. The thought of being inhibited over a particular cuisine, confined to eating only their plant-based dishes, might seem limiting. The thought of not being able to experience the great dishes of certain countries would seem like a great loss.
But it isn’t just food, it’s clothing too. For example, for the fashion conscious there’s not much choice of footwear outside the leather range of shoes. And again, in entertainment ... how kids do love to see animals ... so there’s the zoo visit to think about. Imagine having to explain to kids why the idea of keeping lions in cages is wrong.
For teenagers who need work the difficulties are bad enough without being told that available work selling hamburgers at McDonalds is unethical. For young people wanting to train as a chef in a restaurant, they’ll inevitably need to cook animals, since virtually every popular dish uses them. For a vegan, that career path is out of the question, along with just about every other career associated with preparing food.
Here’s a common problem for the would-be vegan – one would normally associate being invited to eat at someone’s place with pleasure but of course not for us. When we’re invited to dinner or a wedding or meeting at the local cafe, at some stage food becomes a problem. We either don’t eat or have to ask for something ‘special’, and that’s just one big irritation to those providing the food.
There are other problems connected to being vegan. As a vegan, what do I do at Christmas when I’m given a woollen jumper? What do I say when invited to sit on a leather lounge? How far do I take it? (It’s sounding a bit obsessional isn’t it? ) A lover gives you a kiss, and it tastes of the last meal they ate. What do I do if I have to share a kitchen with someone who cooks meat? What’s it like to share a fridge full of bits of dead animal flesh and smelly cheeses ... and what about the stinky fish left-overs in the waste bin and the flies buzzing around in warm weather? And how does it feel to eat my food alongside others who eat things that disgust me?
If you are single and out there looking for a partner, how many suitable vegans are there to choose from? I know I couldn’t live with a carnivore. What about a vegetarian? Could I work with colleagues who make me the butt of their jokes? If you’re a student at school, does your canteen have anything vegetarian to eat, let alone vegan? What if I joined an environmental group or a peace movement dedicated to non-violence and found myself attending a typical, fund-raising sausage-sizzle? I think I’d want to run for my life. The environmentalists would probably excuse themselves with, “Veganism? We’ve got enough issues to handle, concerning forests and pollution and global warming without getting hot under the collar about animal farming”.
Still, you may be thinking of going vegan? But how will you keep your opinions to yourself when all you really feel like doing is expanding the consciousness of your fellows? Maybe you’d like to be involved in charity work – you’re helping to feed starving children ... and then you find out that milk and meat products are being donated, or live animals are being provided for animal farming. As a vegan, this sort of disapproving would seem like you wanting to see kids starve.
These are just some of the problems facing us when we go vegan.
I should let that sink in before regaling the reader of all the advantages of being vegan. I think I’ve pretty much covered that already, anyhow.