The Romain Rolland quote I posted last week has been on my mind a lot lately:
To a man whose mind is free there is something even more intolerable in the sufferings of animals than in the sufferings of man. For with the latter it is at least admitted that suffering is evil and that the man who causes it is a criminal. But thousands of animals are uselessly butchered every day without a shadow of remorse. If any man were to refer to it, he would be thought ridiculous. And that is the unpardonable crime.
It rings so true to me. Sometimes it just floors me that people are eating the flesh of sentient beings everywhere I go, and yet if I say anything about how unnecessary or disgusting it is, I’m the crazy one. People look at you like you are either a) a complete idiot, or b) off your rocker.
Here’s a great example: This past weekend I went to a charity gala. The menu was very meat-centric: chicken, shrimp, and really, really rare steak. While my boyfriend was kind enough to call ahead and make sure they had a vegan entree prepared for me, we somehow ended up right next to the buffet line. Directly behind me was a man cutting the pink flesh of what had once been a beautiful cow. It grossed me out, and I thought about it all night. I looked around and saw people take big helpings of animal flesh without once giving a thought to the fact that it had been a living, breathing, feeling being not long ago. Not even the blood pooling on their plates made them think of it. Here were a bunch of good people gathered together, celebrating and raising money for a great cause that helps families with seriously ill or injured children, and I was the only one there who requested a vegan/vegetarian meal. I guess it shouldn’t surprise me, but it did. The chefs were all wondering who the vegan girl was, and brought my special meal out as everyone sat down (it was great, incidentally – and one of my table mates commented on how delicious it looked!).
Anyway, Romain Rolland kind of hit the nail on the head with this one. We veg*ns are sometimes looked at like space aliens or something, but I think it’s important that no matter how odd some people think we are, we don’t give in to the pressure, or start to question why we’ve made this lifestyle choice.
Stay strong, vegans!
Creature Talk 
I’ve been in that exact same situation before. Just looking around at a gathering baffled that I’m the only one who sees the buffet for what it really is. Glad to know I’m not the only one! (And thanks for that great quote!)
Angie, you’re definitely not the only one! And you’re welcome!
Ugh, how gross, and just imagine how much of that poor cow was wasted too–that’s what really ticks me off. I went to Medieval Times (!!) for a birthday party last month, and each diner was served a half chicken AND ribs. Count up all the children in the audience that (I hope) can’t eat that much, and that is SERIOUS waste. So sad.
Since becoming a vegetarian, I’ve found that ordering a vegetarian meal at a catered event basically means you have the tastiest meal at the party and everyone else is inevitably jealous. I’m high-maintenance, food-wise, and have always been upset with mass-produced food, so had I known this trick, I would have went veg loooong ago.
LENGLI: Yeah, people throw away animal products like they’re nothing! It’s disgusting. And at that dinner, the people at the table WERE jealous of my food. It was this yummy pasta with all kinds of fresh vegetables in it – much more colorful than any of their food!
It’s always confusing when we learn that choosing compassion over killing is considered abnormal or “extremist.” I guess more people need to pick up a copy of “Fast Food Nation” for a look at real “extremism.” (I’m reading it for the first time and Oh MY GOD. You think you know stuff and then you learn more and it’s horrifying.)
For the past few years I’ve celebrated Thanksgiving with some friends who carve up a dead turkey but, for the most part, are very tolerant of my vegan dishes. Some even enjoy them. But this year I’m going to attend Veg DC’s big, gourmet T-Day dinner and speech because I just can’t stand the carcass on the table any longer.
s.
I SO agree with every word you’re saying.
Great post. Thanks. 🙂
NOTHONEY – I read Fast Food Nation ages ago. I should probably revisit that!
HASE – Thanks!
Thanks for reassuring those of us that actually care about something bigger than themselves that they are not crazy! I have the distinct pleasure of living in the Midwest where everything here is meat and potatoes and I am vegan. Its a hard road, but it is easier with the voices of others who care. With regard to your comment about how good your vegan food looked to the non-vegetarians “there are millions of vegetarians out there, they just don’t know it yet!”
Thanks!
I’ve never understood how ethical consistency could be labeled “freaky.” Perhaps members of our own community ought to reject this characterization and make efforts to normalize veganism through education. As opposed to collapsing into our own little “freaky enclaves” and spurning those who dissent.