Nov 30 2007
Vegetarians are Buttfaces
I just read an article here about how if we each want to improve our carbon footprint, we’ll eat vegetarian. Now, with any article where people decry eating meat, the first hundred comments are people screaming “how dare you assert moral superiority over me” - even if the author never mentioned morals (or even the ethical reasons to go vegetarian). Carnivores getting a little defensive?
I agree that it’s certainly not my place to tell people how to morally eat. If I’m vegetarian, if I’m vegan, if I’m something in between, that’s my damn choice, and if it fits into my morals then la-di-da for me. But, there is no way anyone can reasonably argue with the fact that the way we produce meat in this country - most of our meat, anyway - is wasteful.
That’s a valid point, but the counterpoint someone offers is this: if I eat a veggie burger, how much energy was put into processing that? Into packaging and transporting it? Same goes for the produce you grab at the store, the grapes they truck in from South America in the winter.
I take issue with the article’s assertion that eating vegetarian is healthier than eating meat. When I was eating mostly veggies with some chicken or some fish, I felt healthier than I do now. When I was vegan, I felt healthier than that. And when I was eating what I picked up from local produce stands, I felt best - morally and health-wise.
Mostly what I take issue with is the fact that we can’t have a reasonable discussion about any lifestyle choice or decision anymore, without something getting defensive about their morals or ethics. Sometimes an issue is only important in practical considerations. I would say any time the government is involved or people say it should be involved - the issue should be discussed as a practical issue only. It makes sense to eat locally, it makes sense to not factory-farm animals from a practical health and environment standpoint. That doesn’t necessitate vegetarianism or veganism.
The final thing that bugged me was the author’s belief that the government should be involved in moving people towards vegetarianism. This is a load. The last thing I flipping want is the government telling me I can only have meat on some occasions, or not at all. I don’t want the meat, but I want the choice to eat it if I so choose. Maybe the government should encourage hunting, local governments could encourage local butchers (we have a local butcher maybe 3 minutes from our apartment), or local farmers (our county has some great local produce markets). These are options a local government, a city government, a state government could choose to put into place just so people know they have other, healthier, more environmentally-friendly options for food close by. These things are often not publicized as well as they should be.
In conclusion, I don’t believe vegetarians are buttfaces; I believe everyone is a buttface.
Thank you.
K.
The contents of this blog entry may not reflect the views of the Webmaster of Doom, Michael.
I’m with you.
have you seen much of the “eat local” and “100 mile diet” challenges? They focus on eating food that was produced locally — everything from meats and fish to flour to produce. That makes a lot more sense to me. There are a couple of sites that list out the local farmer’s markets and other places to get local food/drink.
My friend Andy works for the FDA and he was working out of Annapolis (or thereabouts) — they would organize deer overpopulation hunting trips and the venison meat would go to the local “soup kitchens.”
I felt pretty healthy when I was a vegetarian but I’ve grown to enjoy eating meat on occasion.
I’m just glad I’m within 100 miles of Hanover, PA.
Mmm, potato chips.
Seriously though, I would love to try the 100 mile diet. I don’t know how easy it would be, especially this time of year. I’d be really surprised to find any wheat products at all that are produced within 100 miles of suburban DC. There’s a year-round farmer’s market in Takoma Park that lists the following as currently-available produce: Cabbage, garlic, herbs, leafy greens, lettuce and lettuce mixes, onions, peas, parsley, peppers, potatoes, winter squashes, yams, apples, pears, mushrooms, meats and cheeses. Certainly enough to provide a very healthy diet, but not necessarily an interesting or comfortable one.
You’d have to eat potatoes, yams, and squash as staple foods. In K’s and my present diet that role is filled almost exclusively by wheat products.
I dunno. If I could find locally-grown beans I’d be willing to do it. Soy would be a plus as well, especially if dairy was to be avoided.