Why I am not a vegan

[outerheaven]

Sure, I like it, Shemaya!

Part of it is an identification thing. Identifying as vegan , or omnivore will guide choices. Saying I eat a plant based diet describes more what I do instead of identifying as a specific group. And being something I do, rather than what I am.....it flows more, has less boundary and is not as limiting.

I definitely see where you're coming from. When people ask me if I'm a vegan or vegetarian I just kind of chuckle and don't know what to say. I don't like the labels at all nor the charge that comes with them. Besides, I don't limit my diet so totally, either. I might go a year without eating meat ... or a month or a day. It depends.

It's kind of like alcohol for me, too. I think alcohol is bad for me on several levels (mentally, emotionally, physically, spiritually, haha) and don't want to ingest it generally. But it's hard to avoid alcohol for a lot of the same reasons that meat can be hard to avoid. And I know that historically, if I try to swear it off entirely, I create an inner-conflict where I lose my balance and actually want it more than if I just came to understand the root of my desire and its consequences.

***

As an aside, something I've read in the multiple incarnations of this thread and didn't agree with -- I don't believe that plants don't feel pain and/or are "happy" to be eaten. Some might not mind their fruits being eaten -- I'm willing to buy that -- and thanking/communing with the living entity before harvest has been shown to ease their pain. But I don't think a plant being topped and then growing side-shoots means it wants to be eaten.

I recommend reading "The Secret Life of Plants," an excellent book released in 1974 that should've rocked the mainstream understanding of science to its core, but I digress. Anyhow, this book compiled a plethora of research showing that plants absolutely do feel pain -- and even grow an immense fondness towards their care-takers. Or, alternatively, plants can remember those who "abuse" them and can defensively go into a state of shock triggered by the abuser's mere presence. So they don't feel the pain of their leaves being ripped off before it even happens.

I don't say this to scare vegans or vegetarians into starving themselves to death, nor do I say this to justify meat-eating. I say this because I think we need to recognize that this vibratory existence we try to maintain* is a so-called "service to self," and one that requires the consumption of other life forms in order to continue.

*When I say "vibratory existence," I don't mean life in general, though I think that is a possibility. Rather I mean the frequency we all operate on, i.e. our agreed-upon culture -- beliefs, attitudes, religion, entertainment, etc. (Look around you and observe how much of the clothes I'm/you're wearing, or the electronics we're sharing for me to get this message across, was produced with exploited and impoverished labor, etc? Now we're getting somewhere.)

Basically, me and you, we're currently mired in the density of suffering for whatever reason. Until we recognize it in all forms and accept it for what it is, we ain't moving on. I think that's an important point that's sometimes lost in the "plants love to be eaten" argument.

There, now omnivores, vegetarians and vegans can unite in tearing me apart!