Dining with non vegetarian/vegan relatives

January 7, 2010

Lorraine,

This answer re-enforces my thoughts & confidence.

I am in a society where we meet with friends and we respectfully discuss,

next time we meet we discuss again. Lot of time, you just move on...but i

try to thing and justify me being vegetarian by Birth (next eat meat).

Reason for doing something for a purpose is important and boost my

confident. So I go into deep discussion.

I still things drawing parallel between Vegan-Meat and Healthy-Sick child is

valid, because in our last discussion you mentioned that we can eat

Vegetable and not meat (even of both are living being) because vegetable

does not have nervous systems developed as animals. That makes it direct

comparison between healthy-mentally regarded person.

But I don't have to answer everything is where i STOP

Thanks,

Jay

On Wed, Jan 6, 2010 at 12:41 PM, Lorraine <ldemi wrote:

>

> Hi Jay,

> Wow, you are really getting questions I've just never even heard before

> - and I grew up in a farming family that slaughtered and smoked their

> own meat on the family property - I thought I'd heard all the crazy

> responses for meat eaters trying to justify their decisions even when

> they saw my good points.

>

> My response to this: " If you have 2 sons, 1 healthy, 1 sick or disable,

> do you treat them

> differently ? " might be something like " wow, it is interesting that you

> draw a parallel between vegetarianism/veganism being healthy and eating

> meat being sick or disabled somehow . " (that was not likely their

> point, but might make them pause for a minute . plus gives the embedded

> message that that is what you believe, in a light-hearted way.) One

> issue with this discussion for you might be based on this part of your

> answer: " Animal eats plants, and we eat Animal,. " Your response helps

> them assume that we eat meat, and if we choose not to, we don't eat

> meat. I might say something like some animals eat plants, some eat

> animals . people have choices.

>

> And you know, the most important thing to remember is that we do not

> have to have responses for these things - we do not have to justify our

> own decisions. We do not have to prove to anyone why we make our own

> compassionate decisions. I think if we leave this situation in the

> hands of each person - we all make our own decisions - then meat-eaters

> will be the ones feeling that they must justify their own decisions.

> Plus, we will never get through to some people on these issues . I feel

> we must just sometimes save our energy for people who want info and want

> to change and want to have respectful, intelligent, non-antagonistic

> conversations on how to change the world for animals, people and the

> environment. Just as meat-eaters won't change our minds to eat meat, we

> can't change the minds of some people who are just not going to budge at

> all on anything . and who would argue with you in such a disrespectful

> way.

>

> Good luck with all this!

>

> Lorraine

>

> <%40> [

> <%40>] On

> Behalf Of Jatin Shah

> Wednesday, January 06, 2010 10:05 AM

> <%40>

> Re: Re: Dining with non vegetarian/vegan relatives

>

> That's not very convincing answer, because next questions they ask is

> fairness :

>

> If you have 2 sons, 1 healthy, 1 sick or disable, do you treat them

> differently ?

>

> Usually, I answer like this :

>

> Animal eats plants, and we eat Animal, so it's more environmentally

> friendly

> & efficient, if we eat plants directly.

>

> But this is core questions, we need better answer for this one.

>

> On Tue, Jan 5, 2010 at 7:00 PM, Erikka Fogleman <edfogleman (AT) gmail (DOT)

> <edfogleman%40gmail.com <edfogleman%2540gmail.com>> com>wrote:

>

> >

> > Hi Jay - I find the whole idea of comparing plants to animals to be

> > incredibly annoying - it's a just a way of deflecting, IMO.

> Personally, if

> > it were me, I would remind them that plants don't have central nervous

> > systems. Also, there is the fact that we don't need to eat animals to

> live,

> > but we do need to eat plants to live.

> >

> > - Erikka

> >

> > On Tue, Jan 5, 2010 at 1:27 PM, Jatin Shah <jatin7 (AT) gmail (DOT)

> <jatin7%40gmail.com <jatin7%2540gmail.com>> com<jatin7%40gmail.com

> >>

>

> > wrote:

> >

> > >

> > > Hi I am Vegetarian too.

> > > Sometime when I ask same questions, like " Who are you eating " , some

> > people

> > > have answered me plants also have life, just because they cannot

> " Scream "

> > > does not mean that they do not feel it, we eat 1 cow or pig for 3-4

> days

> > > entire family however, we (us) eat 1000's of seeds everyday.

> > >

> > > How do we take this answer ?

> > >

> > > Thanks

> > > Jay

> > >

> > > On Tue, Jan 5, 2010 at 10:31 AM, soy_decaf_latte

> > > <soy_decaf_latte@

<soy_decaf_latte%40<soy_decaf_latte%2540>>

>

> <soy_decaf_latte%40><soy_decaf_latte%

>

> > 40>>wrote:

> >

> > >

> > > >

> > > > >> I had a moment a while ago where my son asked his nanna what

> she was

> > > > eating ...

> > > >

> > > > This is an aside, really, but when I get into one of those " what

> are

> > you

> > > > eating? " exchanges, I sometimes reply and then ask " who are you

> > eating? " .

> > > > Definitely makes them think! :-)

> > > >

> > > > - Alan

> > > >

> > > > @gro

<%40<%2540>

> >

> ups.com <%40><%

> > 40><%

> > > 40>, Angela

> >

> > > > Nagle <angel.nail wrote:

> > > > >

> > > > > Hi,

> > > > > I really think it depends on how your family members and friends

> feel

> > > > about

> > > > > your diet. I wouldnt eat out with a raving carnivor with my son

> > because

> > > > its

> > > > > not nice to have your ethics mocked and i find it particuarly

> hard to

> > > see

> > > > > people eating meat so disrespectfully. As my son is only 3 i get

> > > > concerned

> > > > > that he is going to want to eat what nanny or poppy is eating or

> > anyone

> > > > > else. He does know that we don't eat animals because they are

> our

> > > > friends,

> > > > > and he has now interpreted that by telling people we dont eat

> them

> > > > because

> > > > > they have eyes and noses and mouths! I had a moment a while ago

> where

> > > my

> > > > son

> > > > > asked his nanna what she was eating and i had a moment of

> wondering

> > > what

> > > > my

> > > > > mum would say to him, but she told him that it was lamb and he

> didnt

> > > eat

> > > > it

> > > > > because it was against our religion, so i thought that was a

> nice way

> > > for

> > > > > her to verbalise her understanding of my ethics and reinterate

> it to

> > my

> > > > son.

> > > > > Anway again its all about who it is. I think if your child is

> going

> > to

> > > > have

> > > > > a tantrum about not being able to eat animal (and lets face it

> if

> > kids

> > > > see

> > > > > others eating it and they cant have it they will probably want

> it

> > till

> > > > they

> > > > > are old enough to understand more) than its good to know that

> the

> > > people

> > > > > around wont scowl or say 'oh just give him some, what will one

> bit

> > > hurt'.

> > > > I

> > > > > worried about my grandparents saying that at christmas and

> getting

> > mad

> > > at

> > > > me

> > > > > for not letting my son have meat but my mum came prepared and he

> > > stuffed

> > > > his

> > > > > face with felafels and didnt notice the big meat platters! I

> recently

> > > > showed

> > > > > him a book that had a picture of where food comes from,

> including

> > meat.

> > > > He

> > > > > asked what the stake was and i showed him the cow it was linked

> to.

> > He

> > > > was a

> > > > > bit confused but said 'we dont eat that!' I do wonder if in a

> year or

> > > two

> > > > he

> > > > > is going to start being a vocal vego and harrass people! I

> wouldn't

> > > mind

> > > > at

> > > > > all but i think we would be ommitted from party invites!

> > > > > Anyway i thinnk you have to be comfortable. If your not

> comfortable

> > > with

> > > > > meat eaters at dinner than either say as much before the event

> or

> > don't

> > > > go.

> > > > > I get very upset when my best friend eats meat, but i think its

> more

> > of

> > > a

> > > > > dissapointment and saddness that there are so few vegetarians

> and

> > even

> > > > less

> > > > > vegans in the world. I do have a friend that is an animal rights

> > > activist

> > > > > and has a meat eater boyfriend. I wonder how she does that

> sometimes,

> > > but

> > > > as

> > > > > she says she made her choice and she cannot force it onto

> someone

> > else.

> > > > > Good luck with it.

> > > > > Ange

> > >

> > > > >

> > > >

> > >

January 7, 2010

Hi Jay,

Glad our discussion was helpful. And you know, you don't have to

justify your vegetarianism since birth - just be grateful for it! :-)

Your gratefulness eliminates any need for justification. Your reason

for being vegetarian is simply that that is who you are. I don't think

people ask (or at least politely ask in a society of equality) for

people to justify their nationality or religion or hair color . you were

born a vegetarian, that is who you are. No justification necessary.

:-)

And do you mind if I ask in what part of the world you live? I am

fascinated with the differences in attitude toward diet and

vegetarianism in different parts of the world.

And for clarity, I wasn't assuming that the link between sick and meat

in our previous discussion was referring to sick meaning mentally

delayed in some way. Mental delays aren't sicknesses to me, they're

also ways of being, just who the person is, and totally acceptable . I

was thinking more a flu/virus kind of sickness in my comment. I don't

think it's helpful in a discussion with meat-eaters to introduce the

idea of mental issues being related to their eating meat . they will

only hear an offense (and think you are calling them mentally retarded)

and not hear the rest of what you say. Just wanted to clarify my intent

with that comment. :-)

Best of luck in your discussions!

Lorraine

On

Behalf Of Jatin Shah

Thursday, January 07, 2010 7:25 AM

Re: Re: Dining with non vegetarian/vegan relatives

Lorraine,

This answer re-enforces my thoughts & confidence.

I am in a society where we meet with friends and we respectfully

discuss,

next time we meet we discuss again. Lot of time, you just move on...but

i

try to thing and justify me being vegetarian by Birth (next eat meat).

Reason for doing something for a purpose is important and boost my

confident. So I go into deep discussion.

I still things drawing parallel between Vegan-Meat and Healthy-Sick

child is

valid, because in our last discussion you mentioned that we can eat

Vegetable and not meat (even of both are living being) because vegetable

does not have nervous systems developed as animals. That makes it direct

comparison between healthy-mentally regarded person.

But I don't have to answer everything is where i STOP

Thanks,

Jay

On Wed, Jan 6, 2010 at 12:41 PM, Lorraine <ldemi

<ldemi%40ucsd.edu> > wrote:

>

> Hi Jay,

> Wow, you are really getting questions I've just never even heard

before

> - and I grew up in a farming family that slaughtered and smoked their

> own meat on the family property - I thought I'd heard all the crazy

> responses for meat eaters trying to justify their decisions even when

> they saw my good points.

>

> My response to this: " If you have 2 sons, 1 healthy, 1 sick or

disable,

> do you treat them

> differently ? " might be something like " wow, it is interesting that

you

> draw a parallel between vegetarianism/veganism being healthy and

eating

> meat being sick or disabled somehow . " (that was not likely their

> point, but might make them pause for a minute . plus gives the

embedded

> message that that is what you believe, in a light-hearted way.) One

> issue with this discussion for you might be based on this part of your

> answer: " Animal eats plants, and we eat Animal,. " Your response helps

> them assume that we eat meat, and if we choose not to, we don't eat

> meat. I might say something like some animals eat plants, some eat

> animals . people have choices.

>

> And you know, the most important thing to remember is that we do not

> have to have responses for these things - we do not have to justify

our

> own decisions. We do not have to prove to anyone why we make our own

> compassionate decisions. I think if we leave this situation in the

> hands of each person - we all make our own decisions - then

meat-eaters

> will be the ones feeling that they must justify their own decisions.

> Plus, we will never get through to some people on these issues . I

feel

> we must just sometimes save our energy for people who want info and

want

> to change and want to have respectful, intelligent, non-antagonistic

> conversations on how to change the world for animals, people and the

> environment. Just as meat-eaters won't change our minds to eat meat,

we

> can't change the minds of some people who are just not going to budge

at

> all on anything . and who would argue with you in such a disrespectful

> way.

>

> Good luck with all this!

>

> Lorraine

>

> @gro <%40>

ups.com <%40> [

> @gro <%40> ups.com

<%40>] On

> Behalf Of Jatin Shah

> Wednesday, January 06, 2010 10:05 AM

> @gro <%40> ups.com

<%40>

> Re: Re: Dining with non vegetarian/vegan

relatives

>

> That's not very convincing answer, because next questions they ask is

> fairness :

>

> If you have 2 sons, 1 healthy, 1 sick or disable, do you treat them

> differently ?

>

> Usually, I answer like this :

>

> Animal eats plants, and we eat Animal, so it's more environmentally

> friendly

> & efficient, if we eat plants directly.

>

> But this is core questions, we need better answer for this one.

>

> On Tue, Jan 5, 2010 at 7:00 PM, Erikka Fogleman <edfogleman (AT) gmail (DOT)

> <edfogleman%40gmail.com <edfogleman%2540gmail.com>> com>wrote:

>

> >

> > Hi Jay - I find the whole idea of comparing plants to animals to be

> > incredibly annoying - it's a just a way of deflecting, IMO.

> Personally, if

> > it were me, I would remind them that plants don't have central

nervous

> > systems. Also, there is the fact that we don't need to eat animals

to

> live,

> > but we do need to eat plants to live.

> >

> > - Erikka

> >

> > On Tue, Jan 5, 2010 at 1:27 PM, Jatin Shah <jatin7 (AT) gmail (DOT)

> <jatin7%40gmail.com <jatin7%2540gmail.com>>

com<jatin7%40gmail.com

> >>

>

> > wrote:

> >

> > >

> > > Hi I am Vegetarian too.

> > > Sometime when I ask same questions, like " Who are you eating " ,

some

> > people

> > > have answered me plants also have life, just because they cannot

> " Scream "

> > > does not mean that they do not feel it, we eat 1 cow or pig for

3-4

> days

> > > entire family however, we (us) eat 1000's of seeds everyday.

> > >

> > > How do we take this answer ?

> > >

> > > Thanks

> > > Jay

> > >

> > > On Tue, Jan 5, 2010 at 10:31 AM, soy_decaf_latte

> > > <soy_decaf_latte@

<soy_decaf_latte%40<soy_decaf_latte%2540>>

>

> <soy_decaf_latte%40><soy_decaf_latte%

>

> > 40>>wrote:

> >

> > >

> > > >

> > > > >> I had a moment a while ago where my son asked his nanna what

> she was

> > > > eating ...

> > > >

> > > > This is an aside, really, but when I get into one of those " what

> are

> > you

> > > > eating? " exchanges, I sometimes reply and then ask " who are you

> > eating? " .

> > > > Definitely makes them think! :-)

> > > >

> > > > - Alan

> > > >

> > > > @gro

<%40<%2540>

> >

> ups.com <%40><%

> > 40><%

> > > 40>, Angela

> >

> > > > Nagle <angel.nail wrote:

> > > > >

> > > > > Hi,

> > > > > I really think it depends on how your family members and

friends

> feel

> > > > about

> > > > > your diet. I wouldnt eat out with a raving carnivor with my

son

> > because

> > > > its

> > > > > not nice to have your ethics mocked and i find it particuarly

> hard to

> > > see

> > > > > people eating meat so disrespectfully. As my son is only 3 i

get

> > > > concerned

> > > > > that he is going to want to eat what nanny or poppy is eating

or

> > anyone

> > > > > else. He does know that we don't eat animals because they are

> our

> > > > friends,

> > > > > and he has now interpreted that by telling people we dont eat

> them

> > > > because

> > > > > they have eyes and noses and mouths! I had a moment a while

ago

> where

> > > my

> > > > son

> > > > > asked his nanna what she was eating and i had a moment of

> wondering

> > > what

> > > > my

> > > > > mum would say to him, but she told him that it was lamb and he

> didnt

> > > eat

> > > > it

> > > > > because it was against our religion, so i thought that was a

> nice way

> > > for

> > > > > her to verbalise her understanding of my ethics and reinterate

> it to

> > my

> > > > son.

> > > > > Anway again its all about who it is. I think if your child is

> going

> > to

> > > > have

> > > > > a tantrum about not being able to eat animal (and lets face it

> if

> > kids

> > > > see

> > > > > others eating it and they cant have it they will probably want

> it

> > till

> > > > they

> > > > > are old enough to understand more) than its good to know that

> the

> > > people

> > > > > around wont scowl or say 'oh just give him some, what will one

> bit

> > > hurt'.

> > > > I

> > > > > worried about my grandparents saying that at christmas and

> getting

> > mad

> > > at

> > > > me

> > > > > for not letting my son have meat but my mum came prepared and

he

> > > stuffed

> > > > his

> > > > > face with felafels and didnt notice the big meat platters! I

> recently

> > > > showed

> > > > > him a book that had a picture of where food comes from,

> including

> > meat.

> > > > He

> > > > > asked what the stake was and i showed him the cow it was

linked

> to.

> > He

> > > > was a

> > > > > bit confused but said 'we dont eat that!' I do wonder if in a

> year or

> > > two

> > > > he

> > > > > is going to start being a vocal vego and harrass people! I

> wouldn't

> > > mind

> > > > at

> > > > > all but i think we would be ommitted from party invites!

> > > > > Anyway i thinnk you have to be comfortable. If your not

> comfortable

> > > with

> > > > > meat eaters at dinner than either say as much before the event

> or

> > don't

> > > > go.

> > > > > I get very upset when my best friend eats meat, but i think

its

> more

> > of

> > > a

> > > > > dissapointment and saddness that there are so few vegetarians

> and

> > even

> > > > less

> > > > > vegans in the world. I do have a friend that is an animal

rights

> > > activist

> > > > > and has a meat eater boyfriend. I wonder how she does that

> sometimes,

> > > but

> > > > as

> > > > > she says she made her choice and she cannot force it onto

> someone

> > else.

> > > > > Good luck with it.

> > > > > Ange

> > >

> > > > >

> > > >

> > >

January 7, 2010

Hi Lorraine,

I am from India originally, I grew up in State of Gujarat.

FYI.

Gujarat may have @80% of vegetarian, and probably india @50-60% Vegetarian.

infact Indian FDA have a special symbol for each food that is Vegetarian.

I am proud of who I am, but curious how did our community went vegetarian to

start with....I am sure non-violence is not only the reason. That's what

make me think deeper.

On Thu, Jan 7, 2010 at 12:10 PM, Lorraine <ldemi wrote:

>

> Hi Jay,

> Glad our discussion was helpful. And you know, you don't have to

> justify your vegetarianism since birth - just be grateful for it! :-)

> Your gratefulness eliminates any need for justification. Your reason

> for being vegetarian is simply that that is who you are. I don't think

> people ask (or at least politely ask in a society of equality) for

> people to justify their nationality or religion or hair color . you were

> born a vegetarian, that is who you are. No justification necessary.

> :-)

>

> And do you mind if I ask in what part of the world you live? I am

> fascinated with the differences in attitude toward diet and

> vegetarianism in different parts of the world.

>

> And for clarity, I wasn't assuming that the link between sick and meat

> in our previous discussion was referring to sick meaning mentally

> delayed in some way. Mental delays aren't sicknesses to me, they're

> also ways of being, just who the person is, and totally acceptable . I

> was thinking more a flu/virus kind of sickness in my comment. I don't

> think it's helpful in a discussion with meat-eaters to introduce the

> idea of mental issues being related to their eating meat . they will

> only hear an offense (and think you are calling them mentally retarded)

> and not hear the rest of what you say. Just wanted to clarify my intent

> with that comment. :-)

>

> Best of luck in your discussions!

>

> Lorraine

>

> <%40> [

> <%40>] On

> Behalf Of Jatin Shah

> Thursday, January 07, 2010 7:25 AM

> <%40>

> Re: Re: Dining with non vegetarian/vegan relatives

>

> Lorraine,

>

> This answer re-enforces my thoughts & confidence.

>

> I am in a society where we meet with friends and we respectfully

> discuss,

> next time we meet we discuss again. Lot of time, you just move on...but

> i

> try to thing and justify me being vegetarian by Birth (next eat meat).

> Reason for doing something for a purpose is important and boost my

> confident. So I go into deep discussion.

>

> I still things drawing parallel between Vegan-Meat and Healthy-Sick

> child is

> valid, because in our last discussion you mentioned that we can eat

> Vegetable and not meat (even of both are living being) because vegetable

> does not have nervous systems developed as animals. That makes it direct

> comparison between healthy-mentally regarded person.

>

> But I don't have to answer everything is where i STOP

>

> Thanks,

> Jay

>

> On Wed, Jan 6, 2010 at 12:41 PM, Lorraine <ldemi<ldemi%40ucsd.edu>

> <ldemi%40ucsd.edu <ldemi%2540ucsd.edu>> > wrote:

>

> >

> > Hi Jay,

> > Wow, you are really getting questions I've just never even heard

> before

> > - and I grew up in a farming family that slaughtered and smoked their

> > own meat on the family property - I thought I'd heard all the crazy

> > responses for meat eaters trying to justify their decisions even when

> > they saw my good points.

> >

> > My response to this: " If you have 2 sons, 1 healthy, 1 sick or

> disable,

> > do you treat them

> > differently ? " might be something like " wow, it is interesting that

> you

> > draw a parallel between vegetarianism/veganism being healthy and

> eating

> > meat being sick or disabled somehow . " (that was not likely their

> > point, but might make them pause for a minute . plus gives the

> embedded

> > message that that is what you believe, in a light-hearted way.) One

> > issue with this discussion for you might be based on this part of your

> > answer: " Animal eats plants, and we eat Animal,. " Your response helps

> > them assume that we eat meat, and if we choose not to, we don't eat

> > meat. I might say something like some animals eat plants, some eat

> > animals . people have choices.

> >

> > And you know, the most important thing to remember is that we do not

> > have to have responses for these things - we do not have to justify

> our

> > own decisions. We do not have to prove to anyone why we make our own

> > compassionate decisions. I think if we leave this situation in the

> > hands of each person - we all make our own decisions - then

> meat-eaters

> > will be the ones feeling that they must justify their own decisions.

> > Plus, we will never get through to some people on these issues . I

> feel

> > we must just sometimes save our energy for people who want info and

> want

> > to change and want to have respectful, intelligent, non-antagonistic

> > conversations on how to change the world for animals, people and the

> > environment. Just as meat-eaters won't change our minds to eat meat,

> we

> > can't change the minds of some people who are just not going to budge

> at

> > all on anything . and who would argue with you in such a disrespectful

> > way.

> >

> > Good luck with all this!

> >

> > Lorraine

> >

> > @gro

<%40<%2540>

> >

> ups.com <%40> [

> > @gro

<%40<%2540>>

> ups.com

> <%40>] On

> > Behalf Of Jatin Shah

> > Wednesday, January 06, 2010 10:05 AM

> > @gro

<%40<%2540>>

> ups.com

> <%40>

> > Re: Re: Dining with non vegetarian/vegan

> relatives

> >

> > That's not very convincing answer, because next questions they ask is

> > fairness :

> >

> > If you have 2 sons, 1 healthy, 1 sick or disable, do you treat them

> > differently ?

> >

> > Usually, I answer like this :

> >

> > Animal eats plants, and we eat Animal, so it's more environmentally

> > friendly

> > & efficient, if we eat plants directly.

> >

> > But this is core questions, we need better answer for this one.

> >

> > On Tue, Jan 5, 2010 at 7:00 PM, Erikka Fogleman <edfogleman (AT) gmail (DOT)

> > <edfogleman%40gmail.com <edfogleman%2540gmail.com> <edfogleman%

> 2540gmail.com>> com>wrote:

>

> >

> > >

> > > Hi Jay - I find the whole idea of comparing plants to animals to be

> > > incredibly annoying - it's a just a way of deflecting, IMO.

> > Personally, if

> > > it were me, I would remind them that plants don't have central

> nervous

> > > systems. Also, there is the fact that we don't need to eat animals

> to

> > live,

> > > but we do need to eat plants to live.

> > >

> > > - Erikka

> > >

> > > On Tue, Jan 5, 2010 at 1:27 PM, Jatin Shah <jatin7 (AT) gmail (DOT)

> > <jatin7%40gmail.com <jatin7%2540gmail.com> <jatin7%2540gmail.com

> >>

>

> com<jatin7%40gmail.com

> > >>

> >

> > > wrote:

> > >

> > > >

> > > > Hi I am Vegetarian too.

> > > > Sometime when I ask same questions, like " Who are you eating " ,

> some

> > > people

> > > > have answered me plants also have life, just because they cannot

> > " Scream "

> > > > does not mean that they do not feel it, we eat 1 cow or pig for

> 3-4

> > days

> > > > entire family however, we (us) eat 1000's of seeds everyday.

> > > >

> > > > How do we take this answer ?

> > > >

> > > > Thanks

> > > > Jay

> > > >

> > > > On Tue, Jan 5, 2010 at 10:31 AM, soy_decaf_latte

> > > > <soy_decaf_latte@

> <soy_decaf_latte%40 <soy_decaf_latte%2540>

> <soy_decaf_latte%2540>>

>

> >

> > <soy_decaf_latte%40><soy_decaf_latte%

> >

> > > 40>>wrote:

> > >

> > > >

> > > > >

> > > > > >> I had a moment a while ago where my son asked his nanna what

> > she was

> > > > > eating ...

> > > > >

> > > > > This is an aside, really, but when I get into one of those " what

> > are

> > > you

> > > > > eating? " exchanges, I sometimes reply and then ask " who are you

> > > eating? " .

> > > > > Definitely makes them think! :-)

> > > > >

> > > > > - Alan

> > > > >

> > > > > @gro

> <%40 <%2540>

> <%2540>

>

> > >

> > ups.com <%40><%

> > > 40><%

> > > > 40>, Angela

> > >

> > > > > Nagle <angel.nail wrote:

> > > > > >

> > > > > > Hi,

> > > > > > I really think it depends on how your family members and

> friends

> > feel

> > > > > about

> > > > > > your diet. I wouldnt eat out with a raving carnivor with my

> son

> > > because

> > > > > its

> > > > > > not nice to have your ethics mocked and i find it particuarly

> > hard to

> > > > see

> > > > > > people eating meat so disrespectfully. As my son is only 3 i

> get

> > > > > concerned

> > > > > > that he is going to want to eat what nanny or poppy is eating

> or

> > > anyone

> > > > > > else. He does know that we don't eat animals because they are

> > our

> > > > > friends,

> > > > > > and he has now interpreted that by telling people we dont eat

> > them

> > > > > because

> > > > > > they have eyes and noses and mouths! I had a moment a while

> ago

> > where

> > > > my

> > > > > son

> > > > > > asked his nanna what she was eating and i had a moment of

> > wondering

> > > > what

> > > > > my

> > > > > > mum would say to him, but she told him that it was lamb and he

> > didnt

> > > > eat

> > > > > it

> > > > > > because it was against our religion, so i thought that was a

> > nice way

> > > > for

> > > > > > her to verbalise her understanding of my ethics and reinterate

> > it to

> > > my

> > > > > son.

> > > > > > Anway again its all about who it is. I think if your child is

> > going

> > > to

> > > > > have

> > > > > > a tantrum about not being able to eat animal (and lets face it

> > if

> > > kids

> > > > > see

> > > > > > others eating it and they cant have it they will probably want

> > it

> > > till

> > > > > they

> > > > > > are old enough to understand more) than its good to know that

> > the

> > > > people

> > > > > > around wont scowl or say 'oh just give him some, what will one

> > bit

> > > > hurt'.

> > > > > I

> > > > > > worried about my grandparents saying that at christmas and

> > getting

> > > mad

> > > > at

> > > > > me

> > > > > > for not letting my son have meat but my mum came prepared and

> he

> > > > stuffed

> > > > > his

> > > > > > face with felafels and didnt notice the big meat platters! I

> > recently

> > > > > showed

> > > > > > him a book that had a picture of where food comes from,

> > including

> > > meat.

> > > > > He

> > > > > > asked what the stake was and i showed him the cow it was

> linked

> > to.

> > > He

> > > > > was a

> > > > > > bit confused but said 'we dont eat that!' I do wonder if in a

> > year or

> > > > two

> > > > > he

> > > > > > is going to start being a vocal vego and harrass people! I

> > wouldn't

> > > > mind

> > > > > at

> > > > > > all but i think we would be ommitted from party invites!

> > > > > > Anyway i thinnk you have to be comfortable. If your not

> > comfortable

> > > > with

> > > > > > meat eaters at dinner than either say as much before the event

> > or

> > > don't

> > > > > go.

> > > > > > I get very upset when my best friend eats meat, but i think

> its

> > more

> > > of

> > > > a

> > > > > > dissapointment and saddness that there are so few vegetarians

> > and

> > > even

> > > > > less

> > > > > > vegans in the world. I do have a friend that is an animal

> rights

> > > > activist

> > > > > > and has a meat eater boyfriend. I wonder how she does that

> > sometimes,

> > > > but

> > > > > as

> > > > > > she says she made her choice and she cannot force it onto

> > someone

> > > else.

> > > > > > Good luck with it.

> > > > > > Ange

> > > >

> > > > > >

> > > > >

> > > >

January 7, 2010

Wow! I think that is amazing that you were vegetarian from birth (and secretly

jealous-haha). You should be so proud of who you are and all that you have

accomplished in your lifetime for the animals and the environment. I am raising

my 2 children (6 and about to turn 4) vegan from birth, and I always hope that

this is something that will stay with them forever. I hope they will be just as

proud of it as you are, when they are grown.

-Anna

Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

Jatin Shah <jatin7

Thu, 7 Jan 2010 14:32:54