The V-word
Eating Healthy and trying to avoid being labeled.
One of the cook books I’m reading is called “Vegan a GoGo”. It looked interesting because it offered tips of how to improvise plant-based meals while traveling. I travel a lot. I’m trying to eat plant based meals.
The lady who wrote this book is a famous herbivore. She uses the V-word, a lot. The reason I bring this up is that, not all, but some Vegans are their own worst enemies. They are trying to influence change and they are just scaring people. I’m going to go as far as to say the word has been infused with such radical, negative emotional connotations as to be counter-productive.
In my Vegan a GoGo cook book the author sprinkles amusing photos of herself throughout the chapters. She dresses anachronistically in 60’s prints and mini-dresses. She has a wonderful collection of tattoos garnishing any exposed skin.
My favorite is a picture of her in a hot pink rain coat that has “I heart Vaginas” on it.
Don’t get me wrong, I think this is all playful and great fun, as she intended, and I heart vaginas too. I get it. Her brand is a little fringe. My point here is that if you V-word people are expecting to create a grass roots movement to move the center of our society, you’re going to have to cast off some of the radical trappings.
When the great scared quivering mass of society moves, it moves away from risk and fear and towards safety. I don’t think you’re making that easy. I think you have made the V-word synonymous with communist gypsies stealing babies in the night. If you’re going to create a brand for change you need to not create a bogey man.
My daughter told me that there was a young man handing out Vegan pamphlets at her college. He had the V-word burned into his arm. Seriously? Who brands something into their body? That’s medieval. You want people to change? Try not scaring the crap out of them.
I understand that historically the great shifts in society start on the edges and move towards the center. Maybe this is that process and we have to feed a few Christians to a few lions to create a healthier society.
Don’t be mad at me. I’m trying to not eat meat and to eat a less-processed, plant-based diet. Don’t call me the V-word. I’m going make up my own word that is much happier and doesn’t involve self-mutilation and all the other baggage of the V-word.
You’ll see me eating clean out there.
Chris,
Chris, two things. First I totally agree, you cannot bring people over to your side by being radical. This applies to liberal ideals as well as conservative. Secondly, why? Why are you going veg on us? I tried it for 6 weeks and it was a disaster. I went by the books and hated every minute of it. Never ever again.
You’ll have to wait for the ‘why’ post. 🙂
I love your perspective Chris! As a fairly new vegan (went vegetarian one year ago and had a gradual change over the course of that year to veganism), I recognize that in order for people to make what is a dramatic lifestyle change, they need to come to that decision on their own, not be preached at. I am glad to hear you are trying to eat less meat and more plants, it benefits your body, the environment and of course the animals. For more info, I would suggest Colleen Patrick Goudreau’s work (http://www.compassionatecooks.com/) she has a FANTASTIC podcast, which is what converted this former meat eater. On a more scientific note, I also loved The China Study.
Hi Chris,
As a “V”egan myself, I could not agree more with your post. I am horrified by some of the PETA tactics (like the new porn-site. Really? Way to win over the moms, PETA). They really are their own worst enemies.
As for the preachiness, I will say that since going vegetarian and then vegan, sometimes it’s hard to know about the abuse of animals that goes on without any public knowledge. Most people are just unaware of the implications of meat– on their health, the environment, the planet, and animals. Most people (dog-lovers especially) would never stand for the horrific abuse of what goes on in factory farms.
So how does one find the balance between educating v. preaching? Some people definitely cross the line! But I try my best not to be a scary vegan. 😀
Happy that you’re going plant-based– with or without the V-label!
Jenni
Great “food for thought” Chris.
I did not do well on an all vegetarian diet (haven’t tried going Vegan). It surprised me because for several years, my diet has been overwhelmingly vegetarian – I prefer plant foods and love their flavors.
I’m fortunate enough now to be able to buy my meat from a farmer who raises them humanely and locally, but not everyone can do that.
Looking forward to hearing how your change progresses!