I know there aren't a lot of vegans in the world. So I understand the curiosity about us lettuce-munching creatures. I get why some of you can't help but parse my politics over lunch. You want to know why I do it - how I can tolerate my life of gastronomic asceticism. "Don't you miss the sensual pleasure of eating a greasy, oozy, cheesy pizza?" you ask. "Where's the hedon in you, woman?"
That's fair enough. Becoming a vegan was a conscious decision - I should be able to explain myself (even if I shouldn't have to), and most of you are polite about it anyway. Many of you are thinking about veganism for yourself, trying to see if you should care about it, if it's a good fit. I'm not a missionary and am not looking to convert you, but it's cool that you're interested. We should become friends.
But the rest of you - you find out I am a vegan and suddenly think I want to know about that kangaroo you ate in Australia? And oh, now your friend wants to chime in too? He had the chance to try horsemeat, but he was too chicken? (I know you intended that pun, don't tell me you didn't.) How sad for him.
I could try to change the topic to the weather, but you aren't done. You want to share the history of your culinary adventures. Fine. I'll stare at my water and smile politely.
My theory is that this is a test. You're cutting your blue steak and telling me about those juicy lizards you ate in Thailand and you're mentally salivating for me to give myself away. You want to see if I'll condemn you to the bowels of hell for your carnivorous appetite. If I'll rise in fury, point at you prophetically like damnation will come upon you, and stomp out of the restaurant with my nose in the air.
I'm tempted to do many things, but I won't do that. For those of you who don't understand the irony behind steering a conversation about the philosophy of veganism to a conversation about all the animals you have devoured, I can see why this would be hard to get.
So why don't I just stick it to you and walk out? To understand that, you need to know why I'm a vegan. There are the usual reasons. I like that it promotes environmentally friendly habits. I like that veganism attempts to reduce the amount of harm and suffering and pain that humans inflict on other beings. I like that it makes me conscious that we need to become less tolerant of violence, all kinds of violence, so that's a part of it as well.
But it teaches me about respect, too - respect for all life, animals, humans, plants, whatever. It helps me become a better person.
That means I try - even when I find it difficult - to respect your thoughts. You teach me something. I see your point that eating other creatures is a key aspect of "nature." That's why I don't feel comfortable saying or even thinking that non-vegetarianism is "wrong."
How could I possibly know what's "wrong" or what's "right"? I form tentative ideas about it, but I also have a fallible mind. So do you. But I try to think about where the food I eat comes from, and about morality, principles, and the meaning of life. I dive into books about anthropology and philosophy and food politics to attempt to find some answers.
And you know what? I think so much that sometimes when I go out to lunch I want to eat my dairy-free, coconut-rich, Jamaican pad thai in peace. When we are better friends - good luck - we can talk about food politics in a conscientious, thoughtful manner, but you have to earn that. Being deliberately provocative doesn't win you any points, and neither does staring at the food on my plate and saying things like, "A meal's not complete without some dead animal." Thanks, but you're the only one who found that kernel of insight profound.
Mahak Jain is a U3 Cultural Studies student.
Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 2
Julie
posted 11/11/09 @ 10:53 PM EST
Well said Mahak! Really well written!
Ganesh - Shrewsbury, Massachusetts
posted 2/15/10 @ 2:39 AM EST
Wow. Simply - wow. I haven't come across such thought-provoking writing in a long, long time. Thanks!
- ganesh
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