Meet me halfway
I consider myself a vegetarian in the same way that many people consider themselves part of a denominational faith: I believe strongly in the principles (environmental sustainability, organic production, the health benefits of a plant-based diet, ethical treatment of animals) but am not always a saint in practice. I like the occasional hamburger. Sometimes, during the wee hours of the morning, I could care less where it comes from. I enjoy a good plate of sushi, even though I know that fishing practices in most parts of the world are shameful. The way I see it, I make a few mistakes, but all-in-all I am doing the right thing. Unfortunately, this isn’t how other people tend to view vegetarianism.
For better or worse, it is a movement that seems to be painted black and white. You are either a militant vegetarian or just another omnivore. Don’t get me wrong - I have a lot of respect for vegetarians and vegans who are able to take the complete plunge. But there are plenty of people like me out there who are helping the vegetarian movement but are getting no credit! Actually, we get scoffed at and called hypocrites by both militant vegetarians AND omnivores. Here are some of the common reactions I get when talking about my jack-vegetarianism:
- So, you don’t eat any meat? — Well, I usually don’t eat meat, but occasionally I don’t mind sushi or a good organic burger. This ALWAYS provokes awkward stares, as if they can’t comprehend how my plant-loving zealotry could have possibly lapsed for even a moment.
- How long have you been a vegetarian? — Well, most of my life I guess. I grew up on a majority plant-based diet and since learning more about the benefits of a plant-based diet in college, I have become more committed to vegetarianism. I love this question, because it seems to imply that vegetarians are enduring some kind of trial, as if every day we succeed in surviving without meat we wearily scratch another notch into the wall of our self-imposed prison cells.
- Do you eat fish? — Well, like I said, I do like sushi on occasion. This always tends to pique the interest of the inquisitor, as if they are saying “Ha! You are a hypocrite after all!” Even when I respond that I only rarely eat sushi, my admission is usually enough to be considered among the weak who can’t quite handle the challenging restrictions of the vegetarian movement.
Conversations with vegetarians tend to be less inquisitive, and mostly go something like this:
- Are you a vegetarian? — Yeah, but ………….. (they have stopped paying attention, choosing instead to ponder my lack of judgment in an overly obvious way before changing the subject).
These conversations make me a bit aggravated. First of all, from an economic standpoint, I am doing much to further the vegetarian movement. If 90 percent of my food purchases are funding a plant-based diet, I am voting with my wallet heavily in favor of establishments that have organic vegetarian options. If everyone purchased the same food as I, the fast food menu as we know it would go extinct, even though everyone would still occasionally eat meat. In other words, change can come from a lot of people making small changes.
Second, as cliche as this sounds, I value personal freedom. One of the great privileges in life is the ability to choose from a wide range of food options. Food sustains us, strengthens us, and brings many of us together. It represents an integral part of the cultural fabric of many diverse groups. Provided that I am aware of my options and capable of making my own decisions, I should be able to eat what is available to me. For instance, I ate a bit of turkey this Thanksgiving, not because it is the American way, but because it is a tradition I enjoy on a personal level.
Finally, just because it’s not meat doesn’t make it good to eat! Greasy potato chips and Nestle candy bars may be acceptable for the average vegetarian, but both are cut from the same fabric of mass-produced health-damaging environment-destroying practices used by the meat industry.
It goes to show that every movement has shades of gray and, more importantly, that diversity is a good thing! While militant vegetarians should be free to live their life in ways that fit with their personal ethics, they would be wise to be more accepting of people such as myself who are helping the vegetarian cause in numerous ways. Diversity could also help bring more omnivores into the fold. So long as vegetarianism is perceived as all-or-nothing, it will be a fringe movement more divisive than inclusive. The average overweight meat-dependent American will not abandon age-old eating habits if the only alternative is eating fresh produce from the garden.
Imagine if vegetarianism were viewed as an abstract commitment to eating more nutritious, sustainable, and ethical meals rather than an adherence to a strict set of rules. What happens if more people like myself start calling themselves vegetarians? Would a more inclusive definition bastardize the movement? By making vegetarianism more accessible for omnivores like me, would the movement die a slow, painful, hypocritical death? Or can we learn to meet halfway?
