Trialling at home

823: 

The omnivore, someone who isn’t concerned about any of the ethical background to the food they eat, will go about their daily life, trying to make things more comfortable for themself. In the kitchen or when out shopping, it’s food that’s on the mind.

You’ve just been listening to a most compelling radio discussion - ‘a very interesting talk with a vegan’. You’ve been impressed by their arguments, and perhaps you’re already unhappy about your own eating habits. But your main concern is to not rock the boat. Changing diets is a serious business not to be taken on lightly. You calculate that, since there’s enough going ‘on’ in your life already, that you can’t take-on this too. Soon enough you pull back to where you were before, before hearing that radio program. You return to the comfortable, to the familiar, to the feeling of normality and safety-in-numbers.

            Whatever a vegan’s best intention, it is getting others to agree that counts and, only then letting go. After that, it’s a private matter, where they must test the strength of their agreement and commitment. For them it comes down to practice, where only time and trialling a new diet at home is the only thing that will help get past the obstacles. These are the sorts of personal tests familiar to anyone who has been through major change, like a rehabilitation programme. You face the end of one regime and adopt a new one. If vegans try to force people to agree, there might be agreement for a while but it won’t last. 

            The only person who governs what one is eating is oneself. If I choose to comment or offer advice to you, I have to be ready to fail, and then not to criticise your decision. At this very early stage of Animal Rights awareness, if we place any pressure at all on others, we’re bound to be roundly ignored.

The weight of the collective consciousness shouldn’t be underestimated – an individual standing alone against the conventional lifestyle, diet and general attitude is still somewhat of a rarity.

            All we can do is sow seeds. Perhaps we can stir the conscience. But nothing is guaranteed since there is so much cynicism and suspicion around these days. All new ideas and causes are suspect today, so vegans have to try to be different. If we come on strongly we must be prepared to pull back strongly too. We have to allow space for people to find their own way, and not be over-advisory. It’s a delicate balance.