There is "reduce the suffering of animals" type of vegans and "my body is a temple" vegans. The former is interested in systematic change to help animals. The latter is more self-centered, concerned with moral purity and body purity (no meat juices on the grill!). "My body is a temple" vegans are fine until try to speak out against systemic changes such as Burger King Impossible Whopper or groups like THL and MFA working on welfare campaigns. We should (probably) never be stopping people working for the animals, even if their approach is not something we support.
Yeah, I like to think of myself as a "reduce suffering" kind of vegan. The way I see it, any kind of improvement is progress - the world won't go vegan overnight, but if we keep going, one Impossible Whopper at a time, we'll get to a future where there there are no meat juices on the grill because there is no meat. But we won't get there if we resist progress and put people off going vegan.
Yes, to all of this! My husband and I say we are plant-based or vegetarian to avoid contempt. I've heard people say that we shouldn't wear vintage animal products, either. I have no interest in wearing leather or fur, but I have a blazer with 30% wool purchased ten years ago that is in perfect condition. I'm not going to throw it away because someone thinks it will encourage people to buy wool.
However, I do understand that people who are new vegans are very passionate and may feel guilty, so they try to be very strict. It's just not for me.
I also really want all these vegan, ethical brands to go mainstream. I would love to hear a meat-eating friend raving about her pineapple leather bag or apple leather shoes. I wish these strict vegans would realize that, like any movement, community, or business, we need to be kind and welcoming.
Ooh I so often advocate for people to keep wearing the animal-derived clothing they already have. Will write about that soon! It's so important that we're not wasteful with our clothing, textile waste is a huge issue.
And this is exactly what I mean, that you and your husband can't even say you're vegan without people analysing every tiny little detail of your lifestyle. This kind of attitude creates division and alienates not only potential vegans, but existing ones too.
There is "reduce the suffering of animals" type of vegans and "my body is a temple" vegans. The former is interested in systematic change to help animals. The latter is more self-centered, concerned with moral purity and body purity (no meat juices on the grill!). "My body is a temple" vegans are fine until try to speak out against systemic changes such as Burger King Impossible Whopper or groups like THL and MFA working on welfare campaigns. We should (probably) never be stopping people working for the animals, even if their approach is not something we support.
Yeah, I like to think of myself as a "reduce suffering" kind of vegan. The way I see it, any kind of improvement is progress - the world won't go vegan overnight, but if we keep going, one Impossible Whopper at a time, we'll get to a future where there there are no meat juices on the grill because there is no meat. But we won't get there if we resist progress and put people off going vegan.
Yes, to all of this! My husband and I say we are plant-based or vegetarian to avoid contempt. I've heard people say that we shouldn't wear vintage animal products, either. I have no interest in wearing leather or fur, but I have a blazer with 30% wool purchased ten years ago that is in perfect condition. I'm not going to throw it away because someone thinks it will encourage people to buy wool.
However, I do understand that people who are new vegans are very passionate and may feel guilty, so they try to be very strict. It's just not for me.
I also really want all these vegan, ethical brands to go mainstream. I would love to hear a meat-eating friend raving about her pineapple leather bag or apple leather shoes. I wish these strict vegans would realize that, like any movement, community, or business, we need to be kind and welcoming.
Ooh I so often advocate for people to keep wearing the animal-derived clothing they already have. Will write about that soon! It's so important that we're not wasteful with our clothing, textile waste is a huge issue.
And this is exactly what I mean, that you and your husband can't even say you're vegan without people analysing every tiny little detail of your lifestyle. This kind of attitude creates division and alienates not only potential vegans, but existing ones too.