Srs bsns: Being a Veg Head & Why I Might Go Fishing
- Posted on May 16, 2012 at 10:08 PM
- 3 Shoutouts
- Holla at me
I never intended for my blog to be a srs bsns soap box. And in my past, I’ve spent a lot of facebook time and actual face time debating on behalf of the veg, green, and environmentalist lifestyle. I’ve strayed away from it for a long time because for the most part, people don’t want to hear it. If they did, they could go out and do the research on their own. But today, my blog becomes my little box of soap! I hope you enjoy and I look forward to the comments (trolls) I hope this post brings.
Labels schmabels
Sometimes I feel like we’re mindless slaves to labels. No offense to sXe kids. So – I’m a vegetarian. I’m sorry, no, let me rephrase that. I choose not to eat meat and avoid dairy products and animal made products because I’m aware. I wouldn’t say I “never” eat eggs or ice cream because, hey, sometimes I do. But I am aware. I care about what impact my actions have on myself, my fellow living creatures, and my planet.
I don’t like labels. The label of being a true vegetarian or vegan has always been packaged with a lot of mindless responsibility that doesn’t speak to its true meaning. “I’m a vegan.” “Well do you eat eggs?” “No” “Why not?” “Because… I’m a vegan.” It’s not about being labeled a vegan, or straight edge, or green, or a hippie, or whatever. It’s about making conscious informed choices not because of your label but because of what it represents.
To sum up: The label isn’t what it’s all about. It’s about what you do and why you do it.
Meat tastes awesome.
There is no denying it. I totally get it. But, for myself, the taste of something is affected not only by how my brain perceives it, but what I associate it with. I’m sure fried pugs would taste delicious, but I wouldn’t want to eat them. Why? Because they are adorbz and I heart their dumb little faces and weird little eyes. Doggies are our frenz and we don’t eat our frenz!
“But cows, and pigs, they’re dumb, they aren’t my frenz.” Breaking news: pigs are smarter than a lot of breeds of dogs. I know for sure they’re smarter than my dumb dog. No offense, @Couscousdog. Pigs can solve puzzles, learn to sit, and be affectionate pets. Cows are known to form lifelong bonds with other cows. They’re thinking, feeling, breathing, aware animals. Why kill them and eat them, if they’re feeling, breathing creatures who are sweet and smart, just like pets or people?
To sum up: Don’t just eat something because you like the way it tastes.
Let’s feel feelings, dudes!
Ellen DeGeneres, a vegan, pointed out that she doesn’t eat meat because she believes in an energy exchange. That animal went through a lot of pain and suffering, and then it died. To consume all that nastiness has to have an impact on our bodies in some way. Maybe this isn’t a scientific fact backing a vegetarian lifestyle, but think about it. Can you comfortably eat a cheeseburger imagining the whole story behind it?
I’d argue most meat eaters consider events in the present as they are happening… but shouldn’t we consider the timeline of events?
Some people wouldn’t consider being a vegetarian because “Hey – the meat is already dead and I’m not going to bring it back to life by not eating it!” …but there’s a timeline of events we’re forgetting. What did the animal and the planet go through? What’s the impact of what I’m doing on other creatures, on the planet?
To sum up: Think about the entire timeline of events!
Why I might go fishing, or “Holy crap she’s nuts”
A lot of people who know me might read this headline and think, “WTF MATE!” Because I am a vegetarian. But I think there are levels of impact that eating meat and using animal products have. There are of course the level associated with killing the animal itself and ending its life but there is also the impact of how it was killed, how many of its kind were killed, how were they kept, how much did they pollute the local atmosphere and water supply, and how did they get transported to their final destination. All these things contribute to the overall environmental problem that is “factory farming.”
If I eat a fish, I took it out of a local river or stream. That’s not too bad as far as green house gas emission goes. The fish didn’t have to get delivered in a truck to a market. And the fish already exists in that ecosystem, so it’s no strange amount of new poop or farts in that environment. And yeah, the fish had a perfectly fair chance to get away. I didn’t shoot him while leaning out of a helicopter.
To sum up: Maybe one day I might consider going fishing one time. Maybe.
Apathy is unattractive, but ignorance is even uglier.
I’ve gotten into numerous debates with people and usually it ends at a stalemate of the meat eater concluding, “I just don’t care about the animal, or the planet, or whatever.” And that is totally fine! I can’t make someone care about it and as long as they know what they’re doing, they can keep on keeping on.
But when I come across people who claim that meat doesn’t include fish or chicken, or that humans are made to eat meat because of our teeth, or that vegetarians and vegans statistically are more sickly than meat eaters, or that we wouldn’t get enough protein or iron if they gave up meat, or that dairy cows need to be milked by humans or they’ll die…
To you I say: DUMMY! Do your homework. At least be an informed carnivore! I totally support your choice to eat meat or wear leather or throw eggs at houses as long as you understand the real deal. Don’t be stupid! Know what you’re doing, get informed, and then do whatever the heck you want!
To sum up: Do your homework and don’t repeat mistruths.
Freedom!!!!
I don’t encourage people to go vegan or go vegetarian or make them feel guilty for eating bacon or whatever. I do try to answer their questions when asked and talk about why I do the things I do for myself. Humans have a small blip of time on this planet, and we were gifted with the brains to make our own choices and the bodies to live out our own free wills.
My friend Sara Peg offers up a valid point. She argues that non-veganism impacts everyone, not just you. And I can see her point. This is why a lot of veg heads do try to persuade others to partake in the lifestyle, because it affects *everyone* on the planet, not just them. According to the EPA, the meat industry is the number 1 pollutant of water and cows are responsible for 10% of the 20% of harmful global climate changing green house gases. That’s a pretty big impact just so we can eat meat. And I don’t want people blowing cigarette smoke into my face or peeing in my water supply.
I think if people read Sara’s post, or mine, and just do their homework in general, then they might re-think their lifestyle. Or not, whatever. I’m down for whatever. People deserve the freedom to decide for themselves.
To sum up: Everyone: Do what you want!
Conclusion
Peoples! Do your homework! Don’t just eat something or do something or say something without understanding what it is, where it came from, and what it represents. And after you find out all you want to find out about it, do whatever the heck you want! My unique individuality and the choice to be what I want and do what I want is one of the most important things to me and I wouldn’t want to sculpt anyone to be a little mini-clone of me. I want people to be themselves and make their own choices, because we can.
Sources and crap
The Beef on Sustainability in the Cattle Industry by Marie Burcham
Environmental Impact of Beef Production
Was Your Meat Smarter Than Your Pet?
Ellen DeGeneres on being vegan
Non-Veganism: A Non-Personal Choice
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