How to Bash a Vegan
Lately there have been quite a few snarky articles denouncing the horror that is veganism and the people that promote it. We are an insensitive lot, they relate, that try to force our will on unsuspecting omnivores, who want nothing but to be left alone with their personal choices. One article denounced masked vegans who threw a cayenne-laced pie — evidently that reader did not understand that true vegans do not resort to violence, it is antithetical to a belief in non-exploitation, respect and non-violence; I would denounce them too. Yes, some very well-know groups call themselves animal rights groups and they do use unsavory tactics like sexism and assaultive techniques, but most self-respecting vegans I know distance themselves from such organizations.
Another young woman, after insulting a vegan friend she had invited along for a campout who refused to eat animal products — well, she totally trashed her friend. Of course, it was this pesky vegan that was sooo difficult. Maybe she was, but was publicly trashing her the right way to work things out? This is a peaceful process? Then followed an article that was a very sarcastic piece about how even eating plants was not kind so she would eat only fruit that fell from the tree, but then she would waste all those seeds so….maybe she would just quit eating. Do these people think vegans have never heard this kind of nonsense before? I get an occasional tweet like that, you know the kind, “So you hate plants?” “What about the death of carrots; don’t you care?” Really, is that the best you have in your mental arsenal?
This brings the strangest scenario to mind. When I was a young child, I can recall seeing grown adult men having to be held back from a tiny little girl trying to attend school in Alabama. I was horrified and mystified. What was wrong with these grown men to act so stupidly? How could they stand themselves? I just heard that the little girl was praying for her tormenters; she said they needed it. Indeed. But this was right before the old ugly business of Jim Crow was about to die and only a few decades before our first African American president was elected. I know this is hard for some folks to understand, but I was so overjoyed when that happened, I never thought I would live long enough to see it. We beat the drums and danced and wept for four hours. It was incredible. The old ugly was gone, or dying at least — the death throes of ugliness are never pretty. And the meanest spirit and the worst of ignorance are raising their desperate destructiveness once again. I remember Ruby, that tiny little African-American child, so full of wisdom in the face of an entire culture set against her. I try to think peaceful thoughts to those who are promoting death and destruction, too.
Maybe all the fear, hatred and hanging onto dead culture and cruel tradition will end the same way, with people refusing to see what is all around them. Perhaps they will keep denying their own cruelty and complacency, and just want things to go as they always have (which is really only in very very recent history, but theirs nonetheless). Maybe all this crankiness is a sign that this change too will happen rather rapidly. We are ready for it, the animals are ready for it, the planet is ready for it. But from what I know of the vegan community, the vegans who are thoughtful, non-violent abolitionists, will not waver. They will keep trying to open eyes and let the personhood of each animal be seen and appreciated. They will continue to respect life and remain non-violent and as non-exploitative as they are able. They will keep a positive thought in mind for those misguided souls who so enjoy bashing us vegans.
I want to be fair, so here are the rules if you want to bash a vegan:
1) Explain how it will save the planet to use animal products.
2) Tell us how eating animal products is not causing an epidemic of obesity, heart disease and cancer.
3) Give a detailed account of how trapping, torturing and killing innocent living beings will help make the world a more peaceful place.
4) Let us know how your God wanted you to disrespect the creation he left in your care, how delighted he would be at the suffering and degradation you are causing.
5) Advance the cause of exploitation, whether it be child trafficking, sexism, gender stereotype and homophobia, racism, or speciesism. Explain how that improves the quality of life for the bulk of living entities. Or even your own.
6) Inform of us how personal choices can be made that affect only you and not the rest of the planet. How is it that eating another being has no impact on that being, on the waste he gives off, on the water and grain he consumes, on the life he must endure and the death he must experience?
7) Tell us where you are going to get the 5 or 6 other planet Earths that you will need for everyone else on the planet to eat as you choose to eat and live as you choose to live.
Most of us vegans are not omnivore bashers. Most of us love omnis up close and personal; some of us are even married to them. They are our parents, our siblings, our children. While we wish they would stop exploiting animals, we know that all we can do is provide information. We really have no concerns for what you eat, but we do care about whom you exploit. So, vegan bashers, we will not bash back. We believe in respect. Really. We just want you to awaken.
Graphic by John Colvin
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I appreciate your comments to omnis about bashing vegans. I don’t bash omnis, and I like your last comment that “most of us love omnis up close and personal.” I also dislike the sexist tactics that PETA employs. However, one thing really really bothers me about your article: when you bring up the civil rights movement. You make it seem like all people needed to do was to peacefully think nice thoughts for their oppressors and everything would be fine, it really seems to me that what you described was beating drums and celebrating the victory of a fight you seemingly did nothing to fight for. So many people were jailed, there was so much violence involved in the struggle to come to that point where they would achieve the same privilege most of us have now: to be non-violent and to have our rights. That little girl would not have had the privilege of saying those wise words if so many before her had not fought very hard, very often having to resort to non-peaceful means in order to defend themselves and their rights, so that there would be someone to hold back those men who were trying to hurt her. That was a victory indeed- that she could now be non-violent and still retain her rights. However negating everything that happened before her is really a crime and insult for those who gave up and risked so much to get what you were so glad to celebrate.
I also feel you are going a bit far in your classification of who is and who is not a self-respecting vegan. The subject is so much more complex than you make it out to be. I don’t think “peaceful” vegans should be bashed for not supporting the ALF or direct actions to liberate animals that are suffering right now etc. They are doing their part as well, by educating people, and not eating animals themselves. However, I think you are taking on too much in bashing those who do. How about we try to respect everyone’s personal choices, since you seem to want to respect those of people who eat meat, how about letting vegans decide how they want to act as well and who they want or don’t want to support.
The Civil Rights Movement was a successful non-violent action; and that little girl had to walk through crowds of screaming adults just to go to school. There was nothing in that negating anything that came before. But I see you are pointing to the stance for non-violence in the animal rights movement. I am an abolitionist and believe in a non-violent approach but that does not mean I am bashing anyone. I can respect the sincerity of anyone who fights for justice even if I think their tactics are ineffective or counterproductive. I do not believe it is being a respectful vegan to throw pies at people or use other violent actions. It only serves to push animal rights into the category of being an unstable fringe movement (which we both know is not true). I can sense your sincerity and passion in your comment and I do respect those, very much. And there are times I would like to see every abbatoir burned to the ground before they can torment one more animal. But I also know that as long as there is a demand, the animals will be slaughtered. Disagreeing about tactics is not bashing; there is a difference between snarky attacks and legitimate discourse about tactics. I am a non-violent abolitionist vegan; hence I take a stand for non-violence. I wish you well and I wish you peace!
This was a very interesting article! I love how you tied food knowledge with humanitarianism (anti-racism and peace) into one piece!
Thanks so much! I think that racism, sexism, speciesism and other “isms” that denote domination/subjugation have much in common.
Totally love it and I will be quoting it on my Facebook status if that’s ok with you. Or, to be honest, even if it’s not. Logic and compassion that good needs to be more widely seen. Thank you for making me smile and for putting so clearly the arguments I spend so long trying to make clear to omnis.
Thanks for considering my post FB worthy! I think it is important that we behave in respectful ways towards the opposition.