Dealing with Vegetarianism
Bria | Jan 11, 2010 | Comments 2
Vegetarianism is pretty common nowadays. Most people at least know a few others that have given up on meat, or on animal products all together. Still, lots of people get the wrong idea about vegetarians because of the ones they’ve met or heard of that choose to shout their choices out at anyone who dares to eat a hamburger within a mile of them.
I’ve been a vegetarian for 5 years now, and it’s one of the best choices I’ve ever made. Unlike many of my fellow vegetarians, however, I really don’t care if the people around me eat meat. I’ve made my choice and other people are free to make theirs. Unfortunately, this doesn’t mean that I always get the same respect in return. There have been many times at family dinners or just when I’m out to eat when people have given me crap for my choice. ”How can you live on that soy stuff? Are you some sorta tree-hugger? Or a crazy liberal?” they ask me. I really do try to always be nice and courteous but I’ve got a bit of a temper. There are times when I just can’t keep my mouth shut and I know it’s a fault of mine.
Sometimes, if people have been ragging on me about my vegetarianism for a bit too long, I’ll lash out back at them. Believe me, the temptation to show every cocky carnivore PETA videos of slaughterhouses is very strong. But, hey, I’m a nice girl. I don’t want to ruin steaks or chicken nuggets for everyone I meet. Though it’s been a while since I’ve had either, trust me: I know they’re delicious. But this doesn’t mean that I can always resist.
Recently, a family member was teasing me about my diet, so I decided I’d shut her up for a bit. I took her into the computer room and showed her a video of slaughterhouse employees torturing cows with cattle prods, showing absolutely no care for the animal. Within two weeks, she had cut red meat out of her diet and apologized for ever having made fun of my choice. Now, let that be a lesson to you. Not all of your veg friends may have as strong a temper as I do, but everyone has a breaking point. Be nice to them, or the next thing you know you’ll be staring in horror while they show you where your hot dog came from.
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The most obnoxious attack against vegetarianism I’ve ever had to deal with? “You know, Hitler was a vegetarian.” (By the way, he wasn’t.) I simply replied, “Hitler also had a mustache. A bit like yours, actually.”
I don’t eat meat either. I still eat fish and occasionally chicken, but your right. People are always bothering me about it. It’s not terribly annoying but sometimes people can go a little far.