Buying meat for other people

[Guest guest]

Hi again Everyone,

 

I just came across this post (see below) from my own local veggie

group. I wrote it. It was from 3 months ago. I really wanted to share

it, because at the time I wrote it I was in such a peaceful place. It

was a response to a lady who was having resentment toward others for

eating meat. Though the thread I started here actually concerned

buying the meat for someone, I feel like so much of it still applies.

Kendrah

 

 

 

Thanks for writing in. I'm sure that most of us, at some point in our

veg journey, could relate to your current scenario. For me, it is

helpful to remember the person I was prior to becoming vegan. I can

remember about 7 years ago sitting at a restaurant with my now

husband. We were both eating a chicken pot pie. My husband wasn't veg

at the time, but had been on and off throughout his highschool years.

He also listened to music about veganism & animal liberation. We got

on the topic of veganism. Ignorant of what it really was, I started

to put my two cents in on the topic. " Well, if you are vegan then you

couldn't possibly shower. We have millions of living bacteria on us

and we (general we) wouldn't want to kill them (insert sarcasm

here). " Ah yes, ignorance on the topic was bliss as they say. At the

time I didn't want to understand (or even think about) veganism, or

vegetarianism for that matter. If I understood, then I knew I'd have

to change. I just wasn't ready for that back then.

 

Four years later I went vegetarian, along with my husband. A year and

a half after that we had progressed into vegans. I understand that it

is difficult when it comes to something we feel strongly about, not

to feel like it is wrong for people to do otherwise. Seven years ago

I was still a compassionate person, a good person. I was uninformed

yes, but I still felt deeply and had much compassion. It just hadn't

made its way into my dietary habits yet!

 

What is the reality of your situation (and most of our situations)?

We (general we again) have wonderful people in our lives that prefer

to eat meat. Probably hormone invested, antibiotic ridden meat that

has caused much suffering to many animals. That is the reality of it.

I can try to argue with the reality, but when I argue with reality I

always lose. Letting my thoughts about the situation cause me anger,

sadness and pain doesn't do anything but hurt me.

 

Being veg is a very compassionate, understanding choice. I choose

to take that compassion & understanding over to other relationships

in my life as well. Being vegan, while it is a huge part of who I am,

it doesn't define me. I am many other things. So are your friends &

family who eat meat. Are they heartless people who enjoy contributing

to animal suffering? Or are they simply people who are uninformed and

at this point do not have a desire to become informed? Maybe they

will someday, maybe they won't. Luckily, that is not for you to worry

about! Only they can live their lives, and only you can live yours.

My parents are not veg. I know they can see what a difference it has

made in me though. Physcially, I maintain a healthy weight, my skin &

hair have benefited. Emotionally, I feel a deep amount of integrity

for living this way. I live that, I model that.

 

One thing I know for certain about being vegan (and every other thing

I believe in life) is that if I think it is so great, then *I* should

live it! That is the reality that I have some power over. So, the

next time someone raves about their chicken marsala and you don't

think you can stomach it (the conversation, not the chicken marsala!)

then politely excuse yourself. And remind yourself of all the things

you do love about these people, that doesn't involve food. If you

want to be more pro- active bring some tasty veg recipes along to

visits that they can try, or invite them over for dinner. Once people

see that as veg folks we aren't deprived of seriously good food, they

can start to understand our choices, and maybe even embrace them for

themselves. That shouldn't be our goal though. Simply sharing time

with people we love, and enjoying the meal or treat should be. They

can decide for themselves if they want to embrace it or not.

 

My husband has a co-worker who just had a birthday. She *asked* if I

could make her some peanut butter/oatmeal cookies (he's taken them to

work before). She says they are the best cookies she has EVER tasted

in her whole life. The fact that they were vegan blew her away. No

better way to share the joy of a veg lifestyle than through some

really good cooking & baking!

 

Best Wishes,

Kendrah:)

 

 

[Guest guest]

First of all... there are healthy vegan alternatives to easy meals (aka

" lunchables " ).

Try the frozen food dept at Whole Foods... or you can find many vegan dishes

in their deli. Their vegan dishes can be bought in individual serving sizes,

heated and served as a meal.

Easy & inexpensive!

 

Secondly, I don't believe we are helping anyone by purchasing animal products

for another. In doing so, we are supporting factory farming, further global

warming, and harm individual health.

 

My daughter is vegetarian & I am vegan.

I am full time caregiver for my elderly parents who live with us:

http://abcnews.go.com/Health/ElderCare/story?id=3312814 & page=1

 

Before we all lived together in our vegan house, my parents ate a traditional

meat & potatoes (kosher) diet. My mother has embraced the change & has become

totally vegan. However, my father misses having animal products at home.

 

Under Jewish law, we are obligated (among other things) to honor our parents,

to protect our environment, and to preserve health. I don't believe I would be

fulfilling these obligations if I fed my parents animal products.

 

My parents' doctors marvel at their remarkable good health, considering their

age & their family history. Even though my parents are not the youngest of

their families, my mother (88 next month) has outlived all 4 of her siblings and

my father (90 in August, G-d willing!) has outlived 5 of his siblings. The only

difference between my folks and their siblings is that my parents have been veg

for the past 10 years.

 

I firmly believe that my parents vegan diet has helped keep them alive.

 

Wishing you all long life & good health,

Michelle

 

 

 

Group for Jewish Veg: JVeg/

 

 

 

 

Miriam's Well

Michelle Booth, owner

796 Niantic Drive

Foster City, CA. 94404

(650) 341-4400

www.miriams-well.com