The (un)Ethics of Veganism (moral, choice, communion, moral)

[BrandonE]

The hot dog thread reminded me of a blog post I recently read on At the end of Desire (Tuesday, August 1, 2006; titled Communion, with a truly excellent photo atop it)

Originally Posted by At the end of Desire

...I read a remarkable book by Kathryn Paxton George, who argues that the vegan ideal is sexist, racist, ageist, and classist - that it relegates all but the most robust, healthy, privileged to a position of moral inferiority.

Now, I haven't read the referenced book, but the idea that the vegan ideal is tantamount to self-righteousness really struck me in a way that few statements due - the immediate penetration of a previously unseen, but self-evident truth. I've never understood vegans, as I see humans' omnivorous state as natural and thus, part of the natural order. I think this statement is dead on, though I don't think that most vegans consciously make this choice out of self-righteousness or condescension.

With all the above in mind, I do understand that today's industrial farms treat animals in abominably inhuman ways, but I think that a more moderate response, as the blog writer made (eating closer to the source), is closer to the ideal.

What do you think?

[Booko]

I think that a vegan diet right now would pretty much kill me, so I don't exactly look kindly on the occasional vegan who decides I'm evil for not eating as they do.

Fortunately, I have rarely run into such a person.

[Bishka]

About a year ago I stopped being a vegetarian.

[BrandonE]

Originally Posted by beckysoup61

About a year ago I stopped being a vegetarian.

Can I ask why? Was your reasoning similar to the above, or was it health-related? Of course, if it's none of my business, that's fine too.

[Jaymes]

I think to argue it's classist is pure foolishness... many of my friends that are vegan are also lower class or have starved in the past and still refused to eat animal products or animals. Obviously veganism can't work for everyone; sometimes people will be unable to be vegan because of their health or circumstances. How does that make those that can and have the desire to be vegan sexist and all those other -ists?

[Quoth The Raven]

Originally Posted by Booko

I think that a vegan diet right now would pretty much kill me, so I don't exactly look kindly on the occasional vegan who decides I'm evil for not eating as they do.

Fortunately, I have rarely run into such a person.

I've never been swayed by arguments that I'm lacking in moral fibre for eating meat (gods know, I'm lacking moral fibre in so many areas ) and I sincerely doubt I ever will.

[Green Gaia]

I don't agree with the statement. Not everyone can eat a vegan diet and those that do, do so for a variety of reasons. It's a personal choice and one that each makes for themselves and has no bearing on anyone else's choice.

I tried to eat a mostly vegan diet for a while, and it was probably the healthiest I've ever eaten. That's why I did it, but it didn't last. I like chicken and cheese too much to give it up forever.

For those opposed to animal cruelty in the industrial farms but who don't want to give up meat and dairy completely or who can't, eating closer to the source or raising your own animals if possible is an excellent solution, I believe. This goes not only for animal products but for anything you buy, buy local when possible.

[BrandonE]

Originally Posted by Jensa

I think to argue it's classist is pure foolishness... many of my friends that are vegan are also lower class or have starved in the past and still refused to eat animal products or animals. Obviously veganism can't work for everyone; sometimes people will be unable to be vegan because of their health or circumstances. How does that make those that can and have the desire to be vegan sexist and all those other -ists?

I'm not saying that someone that chooses to be vegan is necessarily any of those -ists, nor do I think the blog was; note the wording of the quote: "the vegan ideal is...". However, I do think that the promotion of veganism as a morally superior dietary choice, does fall into those -ist traps, and a lot of pro-vegan literature that I've seen seems to take this position. Anyone that understands that it isn't for everybody, but chooses to do it for their own personal reasons, does not necessarily fall into the trap, and I certainly have no problem with those sorts.

The "classist" statement, at least in my mind, has more to do with the tradition and education limitations of the underpriveleged rather than the economic impact of the diet itself.

[Bishka]

Originally Posted by BrandonE

Can I ask why? Was your reasoning similar to the above, or was it health-related? Of course, if it's none of my business, that's fine too.

I want children and I didn't want to be eating tofu the rest of my life. Especially when I was pregnant. Plus, meat just sounded good after 7 years of not eating it.