Still Vegan

In January 2013 I made the final transition, to veganism after being a vegetarian since 1993. Took me twenty years, and the first few months were difficult, but I sit here (3.5 years later) and do not have any regrets. I went vegan for many reasons, ethical and health-related the top two. My students, many of them hunters, are astounded by the fact that I do not eat bacon or drink milk. Three and a half years ago I was still drooling over the smell of melted cheese and looking longingly at people eating ice cream cones. But since then I have learned the tricks of the trade, so to speak, and have found so many yummy vegan products that I rarely miss the "real" thing. I can go almost anywhere and have a great meal, without contributing to cruelty. If I want to go all out at home, I can eat Daiya Cheezy Mac, or pizza, Amy's Veggie Loaf, in addition to the hundreds of other homemade vegan options. For dessert I am never left hanging, Guidos, a local market makes an amazing vegan chocolate cake and topped with So Delicious whipped coconut topping (and frozen desserts) my calorie count can match any omnivore's. So no, it is not difficult to stay vegan

One of the many benefits aside from a clear conscious, has been a healthier body. I feel more awake, more alive, and I have energy to participate in physical activities. My race times (running) have improved immensely. I finally, at age 42, ran a sub two hour half marathon (1:52). So yes, I am still vegan...

Was Jesus a Vegetarian and Other Ponderings

The other day I had an interesting interaction with a gentleman (that I do not know personally) on Facebook, concerning a recent bacon controversy.  A Muslim vegan woman complained about a restaurant sign promoting bacon served in a restaurant. As the neighborhood had a larger Muslim and Jewish population, the restaurant took the sign down. No problems. It seems though, that some folk are up in arms. These people do not think that one person's opinion should sway business decisions. A heated discussion ensued on Facebook and other social media outlets. The gentleman that I argued with went as far as to say that if that woman didn't like bacon, to go back to her own country. First off, she was probably an American, and going back to her own country would be impossible as she was already there. The restaurant took the sign down and the bigots came out of the woodwork. No, this country was not founded on the freedom to eat bacon. But after being called a hypocrite (I did run the Hogsback [named after the road it takes places on] half marathon recently for the cute pig t-shirt) I started pondering. Pondering might not be the right word. Self righteously railing perhaps. First, how dare someone call me a hypocrite when they, as a right wing Christian, eat a dead animal and follow the ten commandments: "Thou shalt not kill." How could any Christian eat meat and spout off bible verses? 

I began to search the internet and found an interesting blog post on the Huffington Post. Was Jesus a vegetarian? God said: See, I have given you every plant-yielding seed that is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree with seed in its fruit; you shall have them for food." (Genesis 1:29-30) Sounds like a vegetarian diet to me. After the fall however humans started to eat meat. If you do a search on the internet you will find articles for vegetarianism and against. Bible verses can be quoted to back up both sides of the argument. So where does that leave me? I am not a Christian, but am still confused when anyone who calls themselves pro-life, eats a cow. 

So I was left to stew, after all this man called me a hypocrite. But my staunch vegan stance is merely a reflection of his anger at me for abstaining from bacon. After all, meat and potatoes is American and America is  god fearing society. Within this entire exchange, I had the strong need to be right. This gentleman did as well. What comes from being right and from pushing someone to argue? The surge of adrenaline perhaps. In the end, he was a reflection of myself. If I were to look in the mirror and see someone who is the complete opposite of me, it would be this gentleman. Does it really matter if Jesus was a vegetarian? It doesn't matter to me, as I am not a Christian. So in the end, I need to let others have their opinions. I will continue on the path of non violence, imperfectly. I will do my part to peacefully promote the compassionate treatment of the animals in this world I adore, merely all of them (deerflies do not count!)

Pro Vegetarian Resource (this is a vegan blog, not a bipartisan effort)

Christian Vegetarian Association