I'll start off by saying that I'm working on becoming vegan. I've given away my hot dogs and mac & cheese to fellow college students and I scour my local Grocery Outlet weekly for deals on Yves and Tofurkey. I gave up milk, eggs, and cheese last spring. The food isn't an issue for me. I've never been a meat-hungry kind of guy, and vegan alternatives to the rest (I swear by Daiya - I refuse to use anything else on bagel pizzas) suit me just fine.
It's more mindset-type-things that I'm working on.
I'm on board with the "lifestyle." I really have no good reason to NOT be vegan. And when you look at it, nobody really does (I mean, yeah, there are various health things), but if you sit someone down and explain about factory farms and hand them the literature and all, they won't be able to come up with any response better than "but I love bacon."
Another part of being vegan says that if less meat/dairy/animal products are being purchased, then less will be produced, therefore saving animals. Economically wonderful. Which also means that this is not meant to be a 'secret' lifestyle. Others should listen and get on board.
Yes, "every vote counts" and every vegan counts, so it's not like an entire massive community needs to be involved (although it would certainly help) to make just a fraction of a difference.
But.
If being vegan is such an obvious choice, and being vegan means that you're helping the planet more than most, how is it possible to not look down on others for not being vegan?
Vegans are vegan for many reasons, but the top being that vegans are saving animals from harm (correct me if I'm wrong). Vegans more than recognize the issue; they're doing something about it. Therefore, people who recognize the issue but don't do anything about it are, what, terrible people? Cruel? Ignorant?
If you have a friend or family member who, even after reading brochures and books and pamphlets and websites and watching videos, still orders that Red Robin burger every week, how is it possible to not lose respect for them? Or, conversely, if you maintain your same level of respect for them, how can you be a 'true' vegan?
So finally, can I be vegan and still maintain the same level of respect for my omnivorous friends?
(Thanks for reading, and thanks for your responses!)
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