[baarn] Some people are not allowed to attend the Vegan Valentine's Bash.

[Guest guest]

I think in this day in age, laughter and comedy is never wrong. As vegans we deal with such somber and sad situations- I always welcome alex's sense of humor. I think we do ourselves a diservice when we take certain aspects of life too seriously. I don't want to debate, just throwing my thoughts out there. ...vegan-shani saying go vegan ~ Sent from my super sweet iPhone...On Feb 5, 2010, at 7:32 AM, Victor Tsou <victor wrote:

 

 

 

> e. ... anyone

from Alaska named “Palin:†Not allowed. We will have

bouncers.

> f.

Person from Alaska named “Palin:â€

Actually we might let you in. What better way to expand your horizons?

 

 

I know these bullet points were intended to be humorous, but I wonder

about the assumption hidden behind them, namely that everybody on this

list does not like Sarah Palin or thinks it is okay to make fun of her.

I think the assumption of political bias is harmful and exclusionary.

For me, veganism is about respecting all beings, non-human and human,

and doesn't have anything to do with political affiliation. What can I

do to make the public events I help organize more open and accessible

to all, and not exclude people? How do I accept and communicate with

those who don't share the same beliefs as me? How can I align my

actions with my firm belief in everybody's ability to embrace veganism,

not just that a certain subset of the population? These are questions

that veganism brings up for me.

 

Of course, you may have very different reasons for being vegetarian and

so these questions might not apply. I've experienced being on the other

end of hidden assumptions in the vegetarian community and beyond. It

can be a very isolating experience and I don't want others to feel the

same way.

 

Victor

-- The Vegan Ideal: http://veganideal.org/

Veganism as Anti-Oppression: http://loveallbeings.org/

[Guest guest]

Thanks for saying that Shani.

 

The exclusion of Palin was not necessarily

because of her political affiliation, but more likely her support of aerial

shooting of wolves and hunting in general- not very vegan. The target could

just as well have been the Olsen Twins because they may wear fur to the event. I

don’t believe it was politically polarizing. Let’s not read too

much into this. And the next line did welcomed her in to expand her horizons!

 

Thanks for the post Alex- it was clever

and humorous.

 

 

Hope Bohanec

Grassroots Campaigns Director

In Defense of Animals

hope

(415) 448-0058

 

 

 

 

 

 

baarn [baarn ] On Behalf Of Shani

Friday, February 05, 2010

8:53 AM

Victor Tsou

Cc: SFBAVEG; BAARN

Re: [baarn] Some people

are not allowed to attend the Vegan Valentine's Bash.

 

 

 

 

 

 

I think in this day in age, laughter and comedy is never wrong. As

vegans we deal with such somber and sad situations- I always welcome alex's

sense of humor. I think we do ourselves a diservice when we take certain

aspects of life too seriously. I don't want to debate, just throwing my

thoughts out there.

 

....vegan-shani saying go vegan ~ Sent from my super sweet iPhone...

 

 

 

On Feb 5, 2010, at 7:32 AM, Victor Tsou <victor (AT) loveallbeings (DOT) org>

wrote:

 

 

 

 

> e.

.... anyone from Alaska

named “Palin:” Not allowed. We will have bouncers.

> f.

Person from Alaska

named “Palin:” Actually we might let you in. What

better way to expand your horizons?

 

I know these bullet points were intended to be humorous, but I wonder about the

assumption hidden behind them, namely that everybody on this list does not like

Sarah Palin or thinks it is okay to make fun of her. I think the assumption of

political bias is harmful and exclusionary. For me, veganism is about

respecting all beings, non-human and human, and doesn't have anything to do

with political affiliation. What can I do to make the public events I help

organize more open and accessible to all, and not exclude people? How do I

accept and communicate with those who don't share the same beliefs as me? How

can I align my actions with my firm belief in everybody's ability to embrace

veganism, not just that a certain subset of the population? These are questions

that veganism brings up for me.

 

Of course, you may have very different reasons for being vegetarian and so

these questions might not apply. I've experienced being on the other end of

hidden assumptions in the vegetarian community and beyond. It can be a very

isolating experience and I don't want others to feel the same way.

 

Victor

-- The Vegan Ideal: http://veganideal.org/Veganism as Anti-Oppression: http://loveallbeings.org/