tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3152075557786187210.post836971566813832546..comments2024-02-27T03:26:11.640-05:00Comments on Food, Literature, Philosophy: Theory and Practicezemmelyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01217872533250581698noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3152075557786187210.post-8694854966080864432009-08-24T14:41:05.945-04:002009-08-24T14:41:05.945-04:00In many, many ways I am in agreement with Matt'...In many, many ways I am in agreement with Matt's perspective on veganism--he sums it up in an earlier post: http://foodliteraturephilosophy.blogspot.com/2009/07/some-thoughts-on-ethical-veganism.html<br /><br />So: why I decided to become vegan (in addition to the above reasons, as enunciated by Matt)...<br />I have always been interested in vegetarianism, sensitive to the relationships that people have with their food, how those relationships conceal more than they reveal. In ways other than veganism, I have been aware of the construction of normativity, and have always urged myself to analyze, to look beyond, to examine relationships. I am a curious person. I became vegan three months after realizing that such a lifestyle was possible and, in fact, a viable possibility even on a graduate student's stipend. Veganism is my response to a culture that is unaware of actions, unaware of repercussions, unaware that they have the power to make decisions that influence the world in a positive way. Veganism IS living the change; it is the most important decision of my life because it connects me with everything else in a positive way, rather than a destructive one. <br /><br />I mean, yes, there are the health benefits, but those are one of the last things I considered. There are environmental reasons (just practically thinking, in terms of how much grain is wasted to feed "food animals," which are an unnecesary luxury; this very grain could--in turn--feed numerous starving populations around the world). It is an ethical tenet that is stronger than any religion, to me. <br /><br />Personally, I don't make it a goal to "convince" people of veganism (per se), especially those who have already made up their minds to not be influenced. I do, however, strive to make everyone more aware, more critical, more understanding of social, moral, economic relationships and our everyday involvement in their structures--in fact, this is what I do every time I teach a composition class. Veganism is a way in which my outlook on life manifests itself.zemmelyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01217872533250581698noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3152075557786187210.post-58892995128486308562009-08-24T14:14:40.155-04:002009-08-24T14:14:40.155-04:00I've always wondered why most people who espou...I've always wondered why most people who espouse veganism do so... Perhaps you can speak for a portion of them (and if not, you'll at least assuage my curiosity about you) and tell me why it is you've decided to take up that lifestyle? Is it for health reasons or ethical considerations? Is it a moral choice? Is there some line of rhetoric that you could give to an avowed carnivore like myself that could convince me to turn to veganism? I mean, I doubt that you could convince me, but if there was one solid argument that you could give as a reason to take up that lifestyle, I'd certainly be interested in 'hearing' it.Aaronhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03220357835544051777noreply@blogger.com