Have Gone Vegan

so I'm thinking of calling myself a 'New Abolitionist', snort

Cuz you know, it's classy, clever and cool to attach the word "new" to a term to make it a pejorative. Um, no, it's actually old and tired, but hey, small things amuse me. All kidding aside though, I DO struggle with what to call myself. I'm abolitionist, but have no problem supporting reform measures that reduce suffering. And for that I may have earned the openly mocked "new welfarist" label by some, but tough. 

So why am I bringing this up now? The beginnings of this post has been sitting untouched in my drafts folder since February of 2012, and I suppose I just wanted to finally get it off my chest. And because this time of year tends to make me a little Grinchy before the spirit of the season eventually manages to infiltrate my system, I thought I'd deal with it so I can hopefully move on to a more positive state of mind. And clean up the coal before the new year begins. ;)  

I've been vegan for a fairly long time now (8 years next summer is pretty long, no?), but did you know that I almost gave up on being vegan practically right after adopting the label? As soon as I decided to go vegan I looked up the concept online so I could join the group of loving, joyous, peaceful and supportive folk that vegans obviously were. [Okay, I'll give you a minute here to guffaw at my naïveté.] You can imagine my shock then when I discovered that the animal rights movement was more divisive than any other movement I'd thus far encountered, and in comparison made being a feminist look like a walk in the park.

One of my first online searches landed me in a forum (it may have been Examiner) where I soon noticed this one person being even more obnoxious than the rest. What also annoyed me was that unlike everyone else who just went by their first name, this individual kept including their educational and work credentials every time they said something. Who is this jerk, I thought, and why are they so damn status-conscious? Sorry, but that kind of crap doesn't impress me, and I hoped they would just go away already. Oops, as I learned soon enough, this was the leader (leader!) of an influential branch of the movement, and I was almost ready to throw in the towel. Because if this jackass (or, to be more fair, person with jackassy ways) was supposed to be someone to admire and learn from, well, the movement could count me out. 

I was genuinely bummed for a while, but then figured that there had to be other vegans whose philosophy and approach more closely resembled my own, and of course, there were. Veganism is about compassion and other animals more than the petty (and sometimes not-so-petty) differences between vegans, and it wasn't long before I found my own kind of people so to speak.

That first person who rudely awakened me to the reality of the vegan movement never did go away, and I encountered them again years later in a completely fruitless one-on-one online discussion that cemented my dislike of this person even more. It also made me question their professional skills because surely a lawyer would know that parroting the same stock phrases over and over does not an argument make? Zero listening skills, debatable debating skills, complete arrogance, and the most linear black-and-white thinking I've ever seen. Not exactly a recipe for inspiring change methinks.

That opinion hasn't changed. And while I'm sure that this individual started out with the best of intentions and still truly believes that their approach and strategy is the best one where other animals are concerned, we have to call a spade a spade. Or in this case, a bully. Not a label I use too often, but from my own personal and work experience, I tend to recognize bullying behaviours almost instantly.

Okay, at this point you're probably thinking that I'm not being nice right now either, and you're likely right, but I also believe that vegans have a responsibility not only for our message, but for our messengers as well. And allowing even one of those messengers to be controlling, to delete comments that even slightly deviate from their own opinion, to ban group or forum members outright for not strictly toeing their philosophical line, and to deny any legitimacy to other approaches is well, unacceptable. What's worse is that this kind of behaviour would be rightly recognized as abusive were it to happen in a personal relationship, so why do we condone it when it happens in a political movement?

It's not right, and we shouldn't.

These days I tend to describe myself as abolitionist in theory and ideals, and pragmatic in approach. In short, a pragmatic abolitionist. Call me new welfarist if you will, but I define myself as an abolitionist because I want to see the abolition of animal use. I just don't see it happening as quickly as certain absolutist abolitionists do, and definitely not by just chanting the world is vegan if you want it over and over. It will, in my opinion (and those of others), require many strategies (both abolitionist AND reform), many approaches, and the inclusion of people who aren't even vegan.

Until that time, we need to be nicer to each other, and to those we are trying to reach. We need to lead by example (myself included), both online and out in the real world that we're trying to change. Because if compassion for others isn't shown, why the hell should non-vegans think compassionately about other species?

In sum, I can't really call myself a new or old anything if I don't at least try to live up to the ideals of what veganism really means. So I pledge, right now, to become a better person in the new year, and to try and become the kind of vegan I admire. Anyone with me? :)

so is Ellen still vegan? part 1

Well, I have my own thoughts on this (which I'll likely share in part 2), but the reaction from the vegan community at large* certainly seems to have answered some of the questions I posed in my previous temptation with eggs post. Interesting timing, huh?

Q: Would I have been stripped of my vegan title? A: Absolutely. I may also have been tarred and feathered -- wait, feathers aren't vegan, but tar still is, I think.

Q: And by whom? A: Anyone and everyone. Being vegan isn't a matter of self-definition apparently, and anyone who deems you unfit can declare you non-vegan, and even claim that you weren't vegan to begin with. Vegans who are thought to be "welfarist" by others shouldn't be calling themselves vegan either, I learned.

Q: Would posting about it have been folly? A: Yes.

Q: Is posting about even being tempted foolish? A: Probably.

Q: What would have happened had I given in to temptation? Would that have undone everything I have tried to do these last four years? A: Likely.

Now, don't get me wrong. I'm not saying we shouldn't be disappointed that Ellen is possibly eating eggs again, but I do think we should be equally disappointed with how vegans as a whole have reacted. First, talk about being quick to pounce and denounce! Could we at least get more clarification and feedback from Ellen before vilifying? Could we be a bit less vulture-like? No offense to vultures intended of course.

Could we stop reserving our compassion (supposedly the cornerstone of veganism) for non-human animals only and have some left over for human animals as well? And other vegans especially? Could we try not to perpetuate the stereotype that vegans are angry, judgmental and self-righteous assholes? That one is hard, I know, because I'm angry, judgmental and self-righteous a lot of the time too. And an asshole on occasion.

Could we remember that only about 1% of us are vegan? That even with 19 million booklets handed out by Vegan Outreach over the last decade or so that that percentage hasn't changed much? If any? (Why is that, by the way?) That veganism isn't the end, but the means?

I dunno. I'm still glad I didn't partake of my uncle's eggs (well, not HIS eggs, but you know what I mean), and luckily I'm not famous so don't have my mistakes/choices witnessed by gazillions, but this whole Ellen episode (and the reaction especially) has left me feeling disheartened, sad, annoyed, angry and questioning. While I will always be vegan (self-defined at least), do I really want to call myself that now? Because at the moment the word is calling to mind all kinds of other negative V words like vicious, vilification, vitriol, vengeful, and vindictive -- not what I thought I signed up for. 

* from what I've read anyway

Okay, because I'm still in a pissy mood right now but would rather not be, and before I continue my thoughts in part 2, I'm going to insert this video parodying another hugely famous (except that I haven't seen it yet) video, and see if it cheers me up a bit. Watch with me if you like! :)

 

my temptation with eggs

So here's what happened.

Of course I know eggs are cruel. This is why I haven't bought or consumed them for over four years, and am careful to check ingredients to make sure that egg isn't included. But eggs were the last and hardest thing for me to give up (dairy? cheese? meat? no problem!) and the one item I actually missed.

Fast forward four years and I'm at my uncle's place discussing eggs and the awful reality of factory farming while admiring the beautiful chickens that seem to be quite content as we walk among them. They're busy taking dust baths, and conversing with each other and clearly not afraid of this man who seems to be taking good care of them. Lots of space to move around, an enclosure to protect them from the elements (the coop is closed at night for predators), perches galore, water and food. My uncle is quite proud that he treats the birds well, and that he doesn't force them to lay the eggs he takes. Eggs, as he rightly points out, that are usually produced under horrible conditions because people want them cheaply. Eggs that he gives with me because he understands why I protest commercial eggs and how animals are treated and used.

And I have to admit that I take the eggs home. Put them in my fridge and think of how much I have missed soft-boiled eggs (I know, even the thought is revolting to many of you!), and imagine being able to eat one of these brown beauties. They stay in my fridge for a few days, tempting me every time I open the door, and I confess to wanting to eat them. I think about how the chickens don't seem to mind the eggs being taken, about how they're clearly cared for, and about how if I was ever able to rescue chickens and let them live out their natural lives unencumbered that surely they wouldn't mind me taking a few eggs (I wouldn't if I noticed them becoming upset) in exchange for their upkeep, so to speak? I even email a friend as I continue to hem and haw.

But then I remember asking my uncle what eventually happens to these delightful birds, and him admitting that they go into the soup pot. After only about two years. Two! And then I also remember walking into a barn and seeing the cutest little rabbits and for a fleeting moment thinking they were pets before realizing they probably were being raised for meat, and I know what I have to do. The eggs go to my mom's fridge (at age 85 she puts up with my "craziness" but most certainly isn't willing to give up animal products herself) and I let my uncle know thanks, but no thanks. Because what kind of message would I be giving him? And what of my resolution not to be a participant in this animal-dismissing madness?

Still miss eggs though, so what does this former egg-lover do? Gets on her computer and orders herself three packets of Vegg and now happily dips her toast in soft yellow goop without any of the guilt, snort. Plus, even though scrambled eggs were never my thing before, I now absolutely love mixing Vegg with scrambled medium-firm tofu -- yum!

But this whole incident also got me thinking about the pressures and expectations of being vegan, and of ex-vegans as well. What would have happened had I given in to temptation? Would that have undone everything I have tried to do these last four years? Would I have been stripped of my vegan title? And by whom? Is temptation itself enough to render one no longer vegan? Would posting about it have been folly? Is posting about even being tempted foolish? And is it possible that some vegans become ex-vegan because they feel they shouldn't slip up even once? That even one mistake is so bad they'll be crucified by other vegans? (Odd, by the way, given that veganism is supposed to be about compassion.) That if you can't be "perfect" you might as well give up completely and revert to your carnivorous ways? What do you think?

veganlly incorrect no doubt, but funny nonetheless

 

 

Well, alrighty. The video that WAS once here, has obviously left the building. Awwwww...

 

 

Okay, I thought it was funny. Hysterically so, actually. And you know what they say, "Those who can't laugh at themselves, leave the job to others." Amen!

12 questions vegans might want to ask themselves

• what does being vegan mean to me?
• am I vegan enough? who gets to decide?
• who gets to define veganism? abolitionism?
• is it more important to me to be right, or more important to be effective? 
• how do I know that my advocacy IS effective?
• is it even possible to change anyone else's behaviour?
• is there any point in having a blog if I'm only preaching to the converted?
• is there anything that would stop me from being a vegan?
• what can I do to keep myself motivated in being an activist?
• what can I do to prevent burnout?
• what would a vegan world actually look like?
• what progress do I see happening? what's working? what gives me hope?

There are of course no right questions, just as there are no right answers, but are there other (and probably better) questions that YOU ask yourself?

the weird world of the animal rights movement

Most of us grow up conditioned to believe that it's okay to use animals. We even go to great lengths to forget that as members of the Mammalia group, we too ARE animals. Many (although too few) identify with some animals enough to want to prevent at least certain types of cruelty and implement certain measures to improve animal welfare. Others believe this minimal effort isn't good enough and label them welfarists or new welfarists. A very few of us break free from the dominant thinking that animal use is fine and call ourselves vegan. Some vegans label themselves true abolitionists and believe that vegan education is the only way to animal liberation. Other abolitionists believe this effort isn't good enough and scoff at all the theorizing, semantics and ideological correctness. They believe that only direct action (and sometimes others will label that action violent) is the key to setting animals free.

All groups along the animal welfare/rights spectrum however feel that they are right. That their approach will work. That it's the other groups who are being divisive, cultish even, and are censoring and stifling others. If only the other groups would listen, see reason and stop being the ones responsible for the infighting. Sadly, all groups tend to see things through the lens or filter of their own ideology (not surprising, as veganism is a filter as well) and discard whatever doesn't already fit within their framework. Even more sadly, this doesn't change the minds of at least 95% of the population who view members of all of these groups as any of the following: crazy, misguided, extreme, weird, dangerous, judgmental, radical, annoying, self-righteous, fanatical, stupid or delusional. 

But I bet all the animals still stuck in cages, farms, zoos, circuses and other domiciles not of their own choosing couldn't give a rat's ass (I think rats are lovely by the way) what we call ourselves, what words we use to justify our ideological/theoretical positions and our infighting, and wish we would just stop USING them in our debates. Because really, isn't that what we're doing? We, as vegans who should know better?

(For the record, I consider myself a human animal, a vegan, an abolitionist, and an abolitionist who isn't opposed to welfare measures to reduce current suffering.) 

are vegans capable of multi-tasking?

Of course they are. Seems like a silly question doesn't it, especially given the number of female vegans and the fact that many of us are involved in more than one social justice movement. So what I don't get is the almost obsessive paranoia some abolitionists seem to feel about vegans and non-vegans engaging in any activity that they would label welfarist. Excuse me? I for one welcome any effort that reduces animal cruelty in whatever arena because there's more than enough cruelty going around for all of us to tackle. Sure, one of the most effective tools is to be vegan, and it's important to encourage others to go vegan as well, but to suggest that we refrain from anything that smacks of welfarism is shortsighted in my opinion. To me that's like arguing that compassion is a finite resource that we have to be super careful in doling out. Hogwash (am I allowed to use that expression?) I say. We can be both vegan AND try to help the nonhuman animals that are alive right now. Why does it have to be either/or? Why act as if the two are mutually exclusive? That's like the tired human rights vs. animal rights argument folk throw at us. In fact, the stance taken by some abolitionists that we shouldn't be putting any energy into initiatives that will help reduce current suffering reminds me a bit of the pro-life movement's complete focus on the unborn instead of individuals already walking the earth. And while we're at it, is it really helpful to mock those who are actually doing something concrete instead of just trying to keep an ideology pure? Is it really an effective strategy to ridicule and berate the very people who we are hoping will one day join us and become vegan as well? Or am I the only one who feels this way? 

is there one right way to be vegan?

I asked myself this after reading author and feminist psychologist Harriet Lerner assert, "There is simply no one right way to be a family." I agree, and after having concluded many years ago that there isn't one right way to be a feminist either, I think the same applies to veganism. There probably isn't even one right way to become vegan, and while I personally may feel that ethical concern for all species is the most important and compelling reason to embrace veganism, the pragmatist side of me figures that as long as the end result is the same, then so what if health or environment is the motivating factor that draws a person in? I like to think that once a person becomes vegan, then those issues become interrelated anyway, and it becomes clearer that veganism is better for the planet and for all of her creatures.

Obviously there is the minimum requirement of abstaining from using nonhuman animals for food or any other purpose (although I draw the line at not being able to enjoy the company of animal companions), and it's important that the term vegan doesn't become so diluted that this isn't the case, but are there right ways to be vegan beyond that? I'm not so sure. Like any movement that seeks radical change (think feminism, civil rights), there's the danger of not accepting divergent viewpoints and of believing that one ideology or person has all the right answers. Maybe I'm too old, or too jaded, or haven't been vegan long enough, but I get downright uncomfortable when arguments are presented in black and white or all or nothing terms, and when it feels as if certain small but vocal parts of the animal rights movement are trying to bully me into toeing their prescribed party lines.

What it comes down to for me I think is that I'm more interested in how we can actually get members of the general population (those who think we're nuts anyway because the belief that it's okay to use animals is so strong and ingrained) to become, and stay, vegan. What are the most effective approaches? What approach will work with what group? Because we need to remember that people don't like being told that they're wrong or cruel, and that people tend to defend their current belief systems and behaviours until there's a shift either within themselves, or within society. And while I don't want to be part of the infighting as such, I think it's important for vegans who don't feel that they're adequately represented to feel free to say so, because we have a monumental effort ahead of us in helping everyone make the shift to a vegan world.

am I the only vegan who DOESN'T like cupcakes? ;)

I know; I almost feel like a traitor just for saying it! Snort. And it's not as if I hate them per se, but they just don't do anything for me. They don't make me squeal with delight, don't make me go ooh and aah, and they don't (unlike a certain cookbook would like) take over my world in any way. Now before you go thinking I'm the grumpiest vegan ever, I've never really liked regular-sized cakes either. The icing, especially, is usually too sweet for my taste.

And that, at the risk of you viewing me as ultra grumpy, brings me to the commonly held assumption that a vegan diet is healthier. Well it can be, but not always. All those cupcakes and other admittedly yummy vegan desserts can be high in both sugar and fat. I myself gained weight after turning vegan in part because I felt I deserved more treats. Using a generous amount of olive oil when sautéing onion and garlic didn't help either. In some ways, I find eating healthy even more of a challenge these days because I've never liked vegetables much, am not keen on most faux products, and find that beans will only take you so far!

Now another perfectly reasonable explanation for my cupcake aversion could be that I'm not only grumpy but also lazy, and not having easy access to vegan sweets in a small town means that I would have to bake them myself. And baking is NOT something I'm good at, or enjoy. Or maybe my appetite is so large that those little cakes are too darn small for me?

So, do you like cupcakes? Is it unveganly not to? Should there be a support group for cupcake-challenged vegans like me? ;)

Tito Ortiz's anti-dogfighting ad

 

I know, many people (including most vegans) don't like PETA (and I don't care for a number of their tactics either), but I DO like this ad. It's an old one apparently, although I only saw it for the first time today, and while I don't know/care who Tito is, I like what he's doing here! And while PETA-bashing may (perhaps even rightfully so) be a popular sport as well, I don't think any vegan would disagree that the blood-sport of dog fighting needs to stop, and whether support for this notion comes from animal welfare or animal rights groups shouldn't matter.

 

Behind-the-scenes footage from Tito Ortiz's PETA photo shoot.

what I think I know about veganism so far

Having been vegan for over a year I decided I wanted to know more about veganism and animal rights, so I gingerly dipped my toe into the pool of knowledge that's on the Internet, and boy the learning experience has been a humbling one! Here is what I've gleaned so far, but please keep in mind that my observations (in no particular order) are subjective, and may change over time. I will probably also expand on some or most of the points below in future posts.

All I think I know for sure in this moment is that:

1. Vegans piss people off. Both within and outside of the animal rights movement.
2. The word I see most often in connection with vegan is self-righteous. True, this usually comes from people who aren't vegan themselves.
3. The thing most people who aren't vegan seem to object to the most is the attitude of moral superiority they perceive most vegans to have. I sympathize. But what do you do when you feel that veganism IS a morally superior stance?
4. Veganism has a language all of its own. And abbreviations to boot.
5. The words vegetarianism and veganism are sometimes used interchangeably, which is inaccurate and confusing.
6. There's a bit of vegetarian bashing going on right now by some vegans, which I don't think is particularly helpful.
7. As much as I used to hate proselytizing by Christians, I'm now much more sympathetic as I would love to be able to convert everyone RIGHT THIS SECOND!
8. Having said that, I'm not convinced proselytizing is effective.
9. Veganism is not A diet, which my mom still doesn't get every time she offers me something that only has "a little bit" of milk or egg or anything else.
10. Veganism is ABOUT diet, environment, and most of all, other animals.
11. But vegans become and stay vegan for any of the above reasons, and I'm not sure we can decide which one is more valid for any one vegan in particular.
12. Vegans hold themselves and others to very high standards, and can be awfully hard on, again, both themselves and others.
13. If compassion is to be the underpinning of this movement (and in my opinion it should be), then that compassion needs to be directed not only to other animals, but also to ourselves and to each other. Each other would include vegans, vegetarians, omnivores who try in their own way to help animals, liberationists, abolitionists, and animal welfare activists.
14. Derisively calling animal welfare activists new welfarists doesn't strike me as particularly compassionate. Or helpful.
15. I am an abolitionist in the sense that I am vegan and support the long-term goal of abolishing all animal use, but I'm uneasy about the abolitionist movement (although I think the proper term is faction) itself. Just as I don't believe that Christianity is the only path to God, I don't believe that abolition is the only path to animal liberation, especially when animals need our help NOW.
16. Because it scares me when any one individual or group is convinced that they have the only, and the right, answers.
17. And I think it's dangerous to be so married to your own group ideology that you're not willing to listen to and consider any other perspective.
18. Any person brave enough to head any large enough animal welfare or animal rights group or organization will be vilified by at least one other group.
19. I have read different takes on Michael Vick and the NFL, and even though I think he's a complete and utterly vile scumbag, I can see valid points for both supporting and opposing his reinstatement.
20. But no, I don't think gleefully torturing dogs (including companion animals) with your bare hands is quite the same as sitting down to dinner. For those who can't see the difference, I would point to intent, level of involvement, and participation in a socially and legally sanctioned activity, however criminal we may think it is. Besides, if the goal is to convert omnivores to veganism, treating them as morally equivalent to Vick is going to help how?
21. I honestly don't believe I would have eventually turned vegan (I was 46) had I not adored my cat and finally made the connection of "if you wouldn't eat a cat, why eat a cow?"
22. I think taking advantage of the love that people feel for their companion animals is a perfectly good place to start vegan outreach.
23. Dismantling any ism is necessarily complex, and while it's easy to pay lip service to the idea of inclusion, in any movement largely led by white, privileged men, only those who are most affected can say whether there is racism, sexism, or any ism left in the movement. To declare otherwise is naive.
24. Animal liberation is not only not going to happen overnight, it won't happen in our lifetime (at least, not mine), and unless we're willing to be a bit more co-operative for the sake of the animals, and come up with a flexible enough framework that takes the best of all approaches OR represents the majority of activists that fall in the middle, then there's real danger of movement collapse.
25. And that, would suit those people who think vegans and animal rights activists are all whacko, just absolutely fine.

Finally, what I really know for sure (depite my tone), is that I have no answers, and definitely not even all of the questions.