Vegetarian enough?
People often tell me about how they get grief from people who are "more" vegetarian than them. Isn't that strange? People who can be bothered to make a life changing decision are then chastised by the super veggies for not trying hard enough.
When I became vegetarian back in the day yardy, yardy, yardy suits for half a dollar etc, it was a minor miracle to even hear of another veggie, at least where I came from. When you occasionally met one you befriended them like you had both got 2 heads. Now we have this hierarchy and terminology and different raison d'tre vegetarian. So I ask myself "what am I?" At this point in time I do not eat meat, fish, seafood, insects (coloring) or knowingly anything containing any of the afore mentioned. That makes me a vegetarian.
Or does it? Up until very recently I ate free-range eggs, honey, cheese and wore leather shoes. So am I as bad as the rest of the uncaring and unenlightened world? But wait I care about animal rights, I do not drink milk and yesterday I bought my first vegan cheese. I have campaigned against the wearing of fur (also for free speech ). So apart from a ranting idiot what am I?
OK we have to have some new terms for ourselves and let's see if we can get the world to adopt them. How about vegetarian-plus? Normal veggie but no milk or eggs or vegan-minus because she still has a leather handbag. If the more hard-line of you are still with me at this point please do not think I am trying to trivialize this subject as anyone who knows me will tell you I am very passionate about it. I just feel that sometimes the people who are at the beginning of their vegetarianism need a hand up not a hand off.
Do you know that I did not know about the range of vegan cheeses until yesterday when I found them in a health food shop. I feel I am moving more and more towards the vegan diet so I will keep you informed.
When I became vegetarian back in the day yardy, yardy, yardy suits for half a dollar etc, it was a minor miracle to even hear of another veggie, at least where I came from. When you occasionally met one you befriended them like you had both got 2 heads. Now we have this hierarchy and terminology and different raison d'tre vegetarian. So I ask myself "what am I?" At this point in time I do not eat meat, fish, seafood, insects (coloring) or knowingly anything containing any of the afore mentioned. That makes me a vegetarian.
Or does it? Up until very recently I ate free-range eggs, honey, cheese and wore leather shoes. So am I as bad as the rest of the uncaring and unenlightened world? But wait I care about animal rights, I do not drink milk and yesterday I bought my first vegan cheese. I have campaigned against the wearing of fur (also for free speech ). So apart from a ranting idiot what am I?
OK we have to have some new terms for ourselves and let's see if we can get the world to adopt them. How about vegetarian-plus? Normal veggie but no milk or eggs or vegan-minus because she still has a leather handbag. If the more hard-line of you are still with me at this point please do not think I am trying to trivialize this subject as anyone who knows me will tell you I am very passionate about it. I just feel that sometimes the people who are at the beginning of their vegetarianism need a hand up not a hand off.
Do you know that I did not know about the range of vegan cheeses until yesterday when I found them in a health food shop. I feel I am moving more and more towards the vegan diet so I will keep you informed.