"Plant Based Diet" as a Different Way of Framing It

[Steppingfeet]

My ego isn't involved in the idea of being vegan. There is no charge at all, only that sense of relief and "the correct path" for me. But one must ask what is involved in the defensiveness of those who do the judging against vegans/vegetarians. It seems a senseless waste of energy to me. The bigger picture is a planet in trouble who is a being herself, animal suffering on a huge scale, starvation, capitalism used for STS-style profiteering at the expense of human health and unsustainable rape of this planet. 

I honor everyone's free will. And if using the term "plant-based diet" makes it more comfortable for the general population, I'm all for it. I don't care about being right, or standing my ground. If there is a way to get humans on board with acting consciously and responsibly within this world ecosystem, great. 

(Bold and underline added.)

I appreciate and agree with this attitude.

It would be one thing if ones personal diet was strictly a personal choice that extended no further than the end of their rectum. Each could then go merrily about eating this thing or that, and no other person would need to make a fuss about whether they ate that thing, or this thing – even if their eating habits lead to the demise of their own health.

But so far as I understand, our individual, seemingly personal diets have impacts upon, and consequences for, the whole.

While I think individual rights are paramount, I also think they must be balanced against the the responsibility to the health/well-being of the whole.

If twenty people are on a boat together with limited food rations, their fates contingent upon each other, I don't think it a personal choice for a few people to go hog wild on the rations at the expense of everyone's survival.

Likewise, if a portion of the meat-crazy world is causing our global village to live in an unsustainable way upon the planet, I think it well and good to raise awareness strongly upon the issue.

That raising of awareness, however, to be most effective, especially when it is destined to be an uphill battle, needs effective tactics and strategy. Coming from a place of self-righteousness, ego, or over-identification with a tribal culture (i.e., "I am a vegan and you are not.") is probably not a very effective strategy, as it may trigger emotionally charged reactions that eclipse the information which needs communicated and heard.