I found this little gem of a book, called Skinny Bitch, which is so delightfully annoying that I can't help commenting on it. Basically it's a manifesto on veganism painfully disguised as a witty, hip, in-your-face guide to eating. Which, in this case, translates into writing like you're 14 and using lots of profanity.
Now, I really don't have a problem with veganism as an idea, but I can't stand the attitude that seems to go with it. Adopting an air of superiority because you've chosen to due away with animal products is really not merited, especially when your eating choices make you a really obnoxious dining companion.
Their first argument describes meat as decaying, decomposing lump of waste, so ewww, why would you want to eat that? Except it was more like "So why in the f****** h*** would you want to eat that s***?" Well, dead is dead, whether animal or vegetable, so I would think that by this same logic, a salad is really just a nicely tossed compost pile. But what would I know? I'm just a fat slob who's idea of a nice dinner is decaying meat and potatoes.
The second argument was against dairy. Apparently "big dairy" should joining the ranks of "big oil" and "big tobacco" as an industry that's really trying to exploit people by taking their money then killing them. Now, this may be true, but from my experience, it's usually the people who don't eat animals that are interested in exterminating people. According to the authors, humans are the only species that drinks milk from another species and that drinks milk into adulthood. My response to this is that the authors are either A. Stupid, B. Have never actually spent any time around the animals, or C. Pushing an idealogical agenda.
I decided to test their theory on test subjects of both different stages of life and species.
Apparently, full-grown kitties and 8-month-old puppies enjoy drinking cow's milk. What's more, the draw of cow's milk was so strong they were able to overcome their natural aversion of each other and drink in harmony.I've also milk goats on a goat farm, and the goats when nuts trying to drink their own milk, even the adults, so I don't buy that.
Here's something else humans do that animals don't do: actively care for the sick and wounded, not only of our own kind, but other creatures as well. We follow a rule of law, rather then resolving our problems through violent means (at least until we evil red staters take over). And we waste our time reading and writing on decaying remnants of trees.
Here's something people don't do that animals do: Eat poo. My dog seems to think the litter box is actually a treat box.
Now, I love animals. I couldn't live in a 650-square foot apartment with husband, two cats and a dog if I didn't. But animals don't deserve to be on a pedestal. Anytime spent around animals will reveal that on the whole they are selfish, gross, and nasty creatures that are mainly interested in eating, whether poo, grass, or each other, and procreating. After centuries of domestication dogs and cats are barely tolerable, but even thats only after individual training and time to make them worthwhile to be around.
Another things humans do is is allow each other to make their own choices on how to live their lives (at least, the humans who live in the West do. But still, it was homo sapiens who came up with the idea). So don't eat meat if it makes you sleep better at night. But don't look down at your nose at me if I do. Now I'm off to eat some eggs for breakfast. And my pets will have the audacity to hope that I'll share some with them.
2 comments:
Yummy, yummy compost. Much tastier than a pile of manure. (:
I think veganism is usually pretty silly -- and this is coming from a vegetarian. I'm not extreme though, and despite getting asked about it all the time, I do not object (or get grossed out) when people around me eat meat. But that's me of course.
Still, the #1 question: How can vegans give up cheese? It's even more tasty (and flexible) than bacon!
(Pretty much everyone -- even the most vegan of the vegans -- will admit that bacon, while cooking, smells good.)
More on the serious side: There are many wonderfully valid reasons to abstain from meat-eating (and also some from eggs & cheese). Gloating is not one of them... Doing so just annoys everyone else (both meat and non-meat eaters), and it makes non-meat-eaters look stupid, as if that person is representing all of us. (Of course, this is true of people gloating about any sort of thing!)
I actually thought of you when writing this, because I've always respected your vegetarian diet and the way you quietly enforced it while still being willing to hang out with us at restaurants etc. You are definitely not the target of this post!
Like I said, my overall point (which I hope got through the obnoxiousness, lol) is the superior attitude that bugs me, not the lifestyle. I think you're great, and I miss you!
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