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| Ah, the endless barrage.... |
Yup. Going vegan is relatively easy
when it comes to diet. Sure, it's hard to change lifetime eating
habits. But you know what people forget? They forget that going vegan
is about not consuming any animal product, not just food. It's also
about being kind to other human beings. Even when they're not so kind
to you. And it has to be said, albeit in the most respectful way,
that some, not all, non-vegans are actually harder to deal with than
any diet or lifestyle changes we are making.
Finding inexpensive vegan shoes,
etc.
They are out there. But if you're on a
limited budget, you can't exactly just pick up a pair of cheap vegan
shoes at Wally World, if you know what I mean. And you have to really
read between the lines on those art supplies. Many other products we
need are made from animal products too. And so, a lot of us poorer
vegans end up begrudgingly buying things that we need that are not
vegan. And that's really rough when you care as much about the
planet, other animals and humans as we do. In fact, it's
heart-breaking.
Friends who insist on you eating
with them at conventional restaurants.
I have a lot of non-vegan friends who
will eat with me at vegan restaurants for the adventure and unique,
tasty food they have never tried. But I also have non-vegan friends
who insist that I go to those other places because I'm the one who
decided to go vegan. It sounds logical, but it's very frustrating and
frankly difficult as all heck to find even one vegan entree on
conventional restaurant menus. And even when there is a description
or you ask the waitstaff, there's no guarantee that they didn't slide
some meat broth, milk or cheese into that dish.
Dealing with vegan jokes.
Ha ha ha Not funny! It's so hard to
have friends look at your lifestyle like it's some kind of joke. Or
even worse, those who laugh about consuming other animals. But don't
get me wrong here. I'm not insulted for me. I'm insulted for the
animals who suffer and die daily at the expense of these jokesters.
Making jokes about someone else's death has to be the most offensive
and inconsiderate thing one could possibly do.
Having to explain yourself every 5
seconds.
Whenever I even make the slightest
mention that I'm vegan, I am immediately analyzed, questioned and
queried or persecuted/condemned.
Sorry folks, but we even tire of giving
all the details of our choices to people who are nice about it. It's
exhausting. We just want to live our lives without constantly playing
20 questions.
Rude/biased omnivores.
Preconceived notions are the worst
thing vegans deal with. Vegans rarely speak up about their beliefs,
protest or even give their opinion without someone telling them how
intrusive they are. It's completely biased. It's a basic human right
to be able to express yourself and to protest injustice, whether
you're vegan or not. And if we mention that, well then, we are told
that the persecution and angry words launched against us aren't
indicative of prejudice when compared to what other groups endure.
That's absolutely true. But guess what?
Abusive/bigoted words and deeds hurt like hell when you are the one
on the receiving end, no matter what category you fit into or to what
extent you are persecuted. Vegans have rights and feelings too. And
hushing them or taking away their right to protest is every bit as
bad as suppressing any other group of people. Bigotry is bigotry, no
matter who it's directed at.
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