perspective

[Guest guest]

A man walks into a bar and sees an attractive woman and asks the bartender

to send her a drink. He walks over to say hello, and she says, " Thanks for

the drink, but I must tell you, I'm a lesbian. " " What's that " asked the

man. It means I prefer having sex with women. She leaves and the man

starts sobbing. The bartender asks what's wrong? " I just found out I'm a

lesbian. "

Just because I think I'm a lesbian doesn't make me one. My beliefs may

comfort me, but they may not always be true to the concept. Vegetarians

don't eat fish. Fish eaters may follow a mostly vegetarian diet. Same for

chicken eaters. I wish everyone was vegan, to me it's a major component for

our species to advance to a higher level. ( " Imagine no religion " sang John

Lennon, and until we stop killing each other in the name of god...) But the

value of language is to facilitate communication. To do so, we must agree

on the terms. It may comfort you to call yourself a vegetarian, just as I

call myself a doctor because I diagnosed my athlete's foot, but for the sake

of clear communication, we must agree on terms, even if that shakes your

comforting personal belief system. I'll stop calling myself a doctor now.

Tammy's example of one fish eating veg in a restaurant etc. points out the

need for clarity.

A radio station broadcasts its message out to all; it's signal is clear.

I cannot alter the message if it makes me uncomfortable or challenges my

beliefs, I can either reexamine my beliefs, or change the station so I no

longer have to face the troubling thought that my beliefs may be out of

tune.

We are hard on others, but exceptionally forgiving of ourselves. If not,

then we wouldn't ask others to amend their behaviors, we'd examine ours and

change what we control: ourselves. And at the same time, like many others,

I am much harder on myself than others. Life is a dichotomy. In essence, I

do what I can when I can with a greater good in mind.

I became vegetarian for health and environmental reasons. I became vegan

for animal issues. Nonetheless, while not everyone chooses the same path, I

am grateful that those folks who eat fish occasionally predominately follow

a vegetarian diet, and if everyone followed their lead, the world would be a

better place. For me, I became vegetarian immediately upon viewing Diet

for a New America, and vegan upon reading the same. Others may approach it

in small steps. I'd be happy if all the beef eaters in the world, or USA,

had ONE soyburger a month instead of a hamburger. It's a start. Aren't

Israelis and Palestinians descended from a common ancestor? Aren't vegans,

vegetarians, and fish eaters closer in spirit than mainstream folks driving

through McDonalds's in SUV's? I'd clearly welcome my pesco friends to

dinner, I just wouldn't serve fish.

So, in a backhanded way, I've introduced myself: I'm a 43 year old male

lesbian who's been vegan for about 11 years, although I never marked the

calendar.

And for those who post inflammatory items of a dubious intellectual

foundation: I hope you've seen that there are several smart folks here who

can rebuff your " friends " arguments with logic and compassion, so don't

waste time. Use it instead in self-examination.

And for those folks who can't get over cheese: try Tofutti Brand Better

Than Cream Cheese and their Mozzarella and American slices; all vegan,

tasty, and melts like cheese. Make your own vegan pizzas at home easily

with these items.

Aloha,

Bill

[Guest guest]

On 8/2/02 6:56 PM, " Bill Minikel " <baldmin wrote:

 

> And for those folks who can't get over cheese: try Tofutti Brand Better

> Than Cream Cheese and their Mozzarella and American slices; all vegan,

> tasty, and melts like cheese.

 

 

When will they have toffuti Œmilk¹ chocolate? When that day happens, then

maybe I can be vegan.

 

 

tony