Lobster's Don't Grow on Trees....

Neither do fish or pigs or for that matter, cheese. Seems obvious doesn't it.

It gets me riled up when people dilute the meaning of the word vegan and even vegetarian. These words and life styles are born out of principals. What is the point of having them, if you are going to eat meat or cheese or seafood "every once and a while". Or "on special occasions".

Take these statements:

"I only eat babies once in a while"
"I am only racist when I am in a restaurant"
"I only burn my dog on special occasions"
"I respect homosexuals except when I am in church. It's too hard there"

I hope these statements sound fucked up to you, because they are. They are, in fact, as fucked up as pseudo-veg*ns.

I hate listing out the things I don't eat/use/consume, because it makes veganism look like deprivation (which it is not). But for the sake of this post, I am going to list what makes a vegan a vegan.

1. Does not eat ANY animal products. (This includes: meat, cheese, fish, milk, dairy of any kind, chicken and honey). A vegan also avoids "hidden" animal products like whey, gelatin, and glycerin.

2. Does not wear animal carcasses. (This is a tough one. I know many vegan's, myself included, have leather shoes that are from our pregan days and in perfect condition. I will not purchase animal carcass any more, but to avoid consumerism, will use the ones I have until I can't wear them any more.)

3. Does not purchase products tested on animals or with animal by products. This includes make up, hair products, house hold cleaners, laundry detergent, etc.

Those are the three biggies.

Are there certain times that being vegan is impossible? Yup. My car is a great example. It certainly has animal products some where in the tires and I kill bugs when I drive. But unfortunately, where I live has a piss poor public transportation system. I have very few options in this case. Same with perscriptions. I could stop taking my crazy pill, but then I would be crazy and possibly go postal, and that's not helping any one.

The main point of this post is don't call yourself vegan if you aren't. If you eat cheese you're not vegan. I am not trying to be militant, but when you dilute the word you are hurting the movement.

Fear and Loathing and the Happy Holidays

I know. It's only October 2nd. But I am freaked out. Shopko announced that it is proudly displaying their Holiday decorations already. It's not even Halloween yet dammit.

I often wonder if there needs to be a program for people like me. Recovering Flesh-Eaters or something. The first step would definitely be Thanksgiving. (Side note: Thanksgiving does bug me in more ways than just eating turkey. It is, in fact, a reminder and celebration of American's becoming ethnocentric jerks. I think blankets with small pox. Okay, back to the bird) There are a couple obvious solutions. I could bring my own dish and then I at least have one thing to eat. I could go over and help MIL cook in the morning and come armed with soy milk and Nature's Balance. I could make a Tofurky holiday dinner. These are all fantastic ideas, except that I don't think the family is buying. I could offer to make a couple of things and not tell them it is vegan, but when I eat it they will all know.

This is what is scary...I don't think I can be at the table with the turkey. I do okay around meat that doesn't look like meat. I don't do well with meat that still looks exactly like the animal it is. I don't even know if I can begin to explain this to my family.

Next comes Christmas. Normally we celebrate Christmas Eve at our house. It is big enough for both sides of our family, and I don't have to worry about boarding the dogs or anything. Normally MIL bring's ham. I am not sure I can even begin to tell them I don't want ham in the house. I know it's my house and I should be able to do what ever the fuck I want, but I also know that if I say "no meat" I am being "selfish" or "dramatic" or some other adjective. (This brings forth a funny thought. Why is it that no one feels guilty when I have nothing to eat? Why isn't that selfish?) I think the easiest option I have for Christmas is not having it at my house any more. Which is sad, because I actually kind of enjoy it. I can't even believe I said that out loud. Or in blog, shit now it's in writing.

Thoughts?