From: CrystalGirl (69-166-228-180.anhmca.adelphia.net)
Subject: Re: I don't feel as lonely as I used to......
Date: February 24, 2005 at 1:08 pm PST
In Reply to: Re: I don't feel as lonely as I used to...... posted by mugunghwa on February 22, 2005 at 10:59 am:
I can sympathize with you completely. When I became a vegetarian 6 years ago (mostly vegan, but not strictly), I was somewhat ostracized by my family, but have come to realize that it's not really that important to me anymore that they understand my lifestyle and food choices. My mother has been at least accommodating to some extent, but my father (who I do love and adore) most likely thinks I'm a participant in some radical sub-culture fueled by PETA propaganda, etc., etc. After six years, they've at least realized that I'm not going to change and return to meat eating (which for my adult life was purely fish and poultry). My sadness and isolation are entirely rooted in the fact that I can only watch as my family continues with their standard american diet and are poisoning themselves. I wish I'd kept count of how many times I've heard from family members and educatated adults "I don't want to hear about it, don't want to know," relative to the truths and horrors of animal agriculture. It seems to be part of a popular belief system that what you don't know won't hurt you. I choose committedly to have full knowledge, even when it's something that is painful to learn. An educated choice is always better than just following the crowd. Compassion is always more blessful than apathy and ignorance. I've learned over time to not be judgemental of loved ones hiding behind their ignorance, because I truly believe that years from now, and maybe not in my lifetime, humanity will look back on their decades of animal cruelty and meat consumption with disdain and a culture of vegetarians will emerge. Cultural beliefs are hard to change, but eventually we WILL as a whole "get there."
As far as the insensitivity of family members at parties, etc., don't allow this to diminish your commitment in who you truly are. Bring your own yummy food, enough to share, and set an example coming from a place of love, instead of resentment. I've actually gotten my own extremely resistent family members to try vegetarian dishes made from tofu and meat analogs (which they never tire of making fun of), and they conceded that they were very good !!!
For now, we are that small voice of a loving counter-culture, but just realize that only love is real - and vegetarianism is about love of life. Social changes will occur - historically we know it's true.
Crystal
crystal1210@yahoo.com
