Questioning Going Vegan

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Edited by CJ Tointon

Meat is symbolic of 'rich' living (despite the fact that almost everyone in the West can afford to buy some meat) and, along with other rich and exotic animal foods, it is regarded as 'quality food'.

Animal products are nearly always promoted as the main attraction of any dish because they’re so attractive to the average person's tastebuds.  And they’re often expensive enough to be associated with 'fine dining and good living'.  They appeal to those who want to think they are appreciating the good things in life.  

In contrast, vegans show how unhealthy and unethical these foods actually are, so we make people feel guilty for wanting them.  Consequently, people who like their steaks and lobsters and cream cakes tend to dislike vegans and the sort of foods we recommend.  The main thing that might stop people considering going vegan, is the thought of missing out on foods they have always associated with pleasure and social acceptance.  People may realise that what they’re eating is not good for them in the long run, but they want it (and eat it) anyway.  They can't face missing out on 'roast dinners' - and a whole lot more!  

Vegans have 'taken the plunge' and thus have earned the right to promote non-violent foods.  Some of us have taken it further and promote non-violence as a behavioural model.  Our aim is to interest others in both food and ethics - at the same time.  In contrast, non-vegans can’t take non-violence seriously if they persist in contributing to animal abuse and slaughter by consuming animal products.  The human race is therefore held back from making substantial ethical progress for the sake of maintaining the 'hard-nose' approach to life, especially speciesist attitudes towards animals. 

Most people do what others do.  They don’t think things through for themselves, but submit to the many reasons other omnivores put forward for NOT taking up a vegan diet.  Here are some of their reasons: 

It’s so restrictive!  Since freedom of choice of food is so important, food can take on greater importance than it warrants. For omnivores, the idea of having to give up their animal-based snacks, treats and food 'favourites' is like pulling teeth.   And then there’s the loss of 'cuisine' associated with what one especially likes to eat, like 'French' or 'Chinese' or 'Indian' foods.  The thought of being restricted to eating only the plant-based dishes of these countries would seem unnecessarily limiting.  The thought of not being able to experience many of the great dishes of the world would seem like a great loss. 

But it isn’t just food, it’s clothing too.  For example, there's not much choice of footwear for the 'fashion conscious', outside the leather range of shoes.  And entertainment!  Many people love to see animals in zoos and circuses and aquariums.  Imagine having to explain to kids why the idea of keeping lions in cages is wrong, when their eyes fill with wonder at their first sighting of a real, live lion! 

For teenagers who need work, to earn money for all the things they want, imagine being told that it’s unethical to take available work selling hamburgers at McDonalds.  And for young people who want to train as chefs, imagine being told that virtually every popular dish uses the corpses of executed animals.  Obviously, for anyone with a vegan-leaning, that career path is out of the question. 

Here’s a common problem for the would-be vegan.  You're invited to a dinner party or a wedding.  Either you don't eat at all, or you have to ask for something 'special' thus irritating those providing the food.  

There are other problems connected with being vegan.  What do we do at Christmas or a birthday, when we’re given a woollen jumper as a present?  What do we say when invited to sit on a leather sofa?  What do we do when a lover gives us a kiss and it tastes of the last meaty meal they ate?  What do we do at home if we have to share a kitchen with someone who cooks meat?  How does it feel having to share a fridge in which there are bits of dead animal flesh or smelly cheeses?   What if there are 'stinky' fish leftovers in the waste bin attracting flies?  How do we cope with eating alongside others who eat things that are so obviously disgusting to us? 

If you're single, and looking for a partner, how many suitable vegans are there to choose from?   If you're a vegan,  you know it would be impossible to live with a carnivore, or even a vegetarian.  Could we work with colleagues who make us the butt of their vegan jokes?   If you’re a student at school and the canteen has nothing vegetarian on the menu (let alone vegan) what do you do?   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? 

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". 

Maybe you are thinking of "Going Vegan"?  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, helping to feed starving children;  only to discover you're raising funds for milk and meat!  Or worse, that these funds are being used to buy live animals, who will be farmed?  Our 'unreasonable' disapproval would seem like our wanting to see kids starve! 


These are just some of the problems facing us when we Go Vegan.