This is brilliant and just what I needed.
I am new to being veganism and was worried that I was doing something wrong or not enough. Food was the easy part but I worried about clothes and items in the home that I couldn't just replace due to costs.
It is easy to keep to because I just remember why but I still doubt I am not doing enough due to a low income. So I just need to focus on what I do already, as I do plan when I can to be full Vegan.

Hi Paul,

Sarah here. I re-read my blog, and can see why you would think that I was saying that people can be "percentage vegans," but I'd ask you to re-read it carefully. I have always sided with your complaint, and actually wrote a blog about it back in September called "Vegan-ish", (http://thevegannextdoor.blogspot.com/2011/09/vegan-ish.html) about how I really don't like it when people claim to be partially vegan. As you pointed out (and I agree,) you can't be part-vegan, as veganism is a philosophy. You can be partially eating a plant-based diet, but you can't be partially vegan.

In my recent blog, I point out that there are people who are beating themselves up because they are not 100% vegan. This, which I may not have made clear, means they are now not vegan. So, if you re-read it, knowing my intent, you'll notice several comments:

"...people who USED TO BE 100% vegan but now slip up ..."

"...Just by saying, “I really strive to eat a vegan diet and am about 95% of the way there,” ..."

"Whether you’d like to be vegan, but haven’t yet made the final leap, whether you USED TO BE vegan but have recently fallen to temptation..."

" If and when the time is right for you, you will go vegan."

I believe these comments point out that if you aren't eating a full-vegan diet, you are not technically vegan.

But I believe you missed the intent of my article. My intent, and what I hope you will see too, is that even if a person isn't 100% vegan he or she is still doing amazing work at making a difference. That is what I want people to focus on. You and I may not struggle being 100% vegan, but there are countless people who do. When they are given a hard time because they still put milk in their coffee, they are likely to get discouraged and give up completely. I'd rather take people who are almost vegan and encourage them to keep trying, than to point out their dietary imperfections and have them give up completely and go back to a standard American diet!

I appreciate your willingness to be the devil's advocate. I have a lot of respect for people willing to stand up and speak out.

Makes sense.