I was so glad to see that, in honor of World Vegan Day 2008 (today!), Time ran a piece about veganism and its history. The article was featured in the Health & Science section, so I was relieved to know that it wouldn't be some sensationalized, biased drivel and instead would be grounded in, oh I don't know, the facts of Health & Science. No social or political agenda at work. Whew! Just an honest look at a choice that millions of people have made since ancient times and continue to make today, and perhaps some consideration of why it's gaining popularity at this particular moment in history (factory farming... climate crisis... overpopulation... global poverty... etc. etc. etc.).
Um, better take that back.
Let me share with you the opening paragraph:
"November 1 is World Vegan Day, a celebration of people who don't eat meat. Or eggs. Or cheese. Or mayonnaise. Or honey. Or whey. Or gelatin. Or anything that comes from or includes an animal. Nor do they use any clothing, accessory or object made from an animal. No leather, no wool, no pearls, no ivory-keyed pianos."
Seems pretty odd that the opening paragraph says nothing of the reasons people embrace veganism --like doing everything in one's power to reduce the suffering of animals (and ultimately people too. In a nutshell, to be an ethical person.) No, the author, Claire Suddath, not only fails to make that point (which really should be THE point, for an article billing itself "A Brief History of Veganism") in the opening paragraph, she fails to make it anywhere in the article (managing only to explain veganism as merely a list of NOs.) Where is the health and science part in this again?
Rather, she labels veganism as "extreme" (unlike the torture and slaughter of billions of animals?), then goes on to associate the practice with religious sects, including the oddball Sylvester Graham (inventor of graham crackers) who preached abstinence and frequent bathing along with a vegan lifestyle. Then she mentions that Fiona Apple and Woody Harrelson are vegans (super informative), and she notes that vegans have to take supplements because they are at risk of a B12 deficiency. (Thanks.) Oh, and she makes it clear that "there are plenty of people who cheat." (Well who could be expected to follow through with such extreme deprivation all the time anyway!)
For the big finish with her last paragraph, she amuses herself by pointing out that, believe it or not, there are people even more extreme (?!) than regular old hum-drum vegans:
"Then there's raw veganism, which is an offshoot of veganism in which none of the food can be cooked. Take that a step further and you get "mono meals," the idea that the stomach should only digest one type of food at a time."
And my favorite, her closing line; drumroll please: "Basically, if you eat it, there is probably someone else out there who won't."
You know, to each his own, right? Like, I work with this one girl who refuses eat anything red. And what was the name of that serial killer a few years back who ate people? Oh and my old roommate would only drink carbonated beverages with a straw, non-carbonated without. Isn't that funny?! People just like all different kinds of stuff I guess!
