DAY 4: CAN'T WE ALL JUST GET ALONG?

            I find it interesting that people are more willing to debate my vegetarianism than my political affiliation. It makes me wonder where the source of this tension is derived from. Is it a jealousy thing, meaning are people envious of my self-control and willpower? Does it come from pure skepticism in my belief that saving animals is more important than eating them? Is it merely a source of argumentation since our culture seems to thrive on debate? Whatever the case may be, it never ceases to amaze me that there are so many anti-vegetarian people out there who feel the need to loudly vocalize their criticisms of my dietary habits.

            Personally, I am not at all confrontational, and I believe strongly in respecting others’ opinions regardless of whether or not I agree with them. Yes, in my own utopia, not a single soul would bite into a slab of beef, chomp down on some chicken, feed on fish, polish off a piece of pork, devour deer meat…you get the idea. However, I am fully aware that these beliefs are specific to me, and I would never push them on others. In fact, most of my friends would qualify as proud carnivores, and although I do not particularly find pleasure in observing my friends cut into the flesh of what was once a real-life version of Wilbur (Charlotte’s Web reference), I refrain from guilting them into what I think is moral. Everyone is entitled to their own opinions, and who am I to tell someone that their views are incorrect? Unfortunately for me, this same courtesy is not reciprocated.

            I am teased on a daily basis for my vegetarian lifestyle. People have called me “lame,” a “loser,” “stupid,” “ridiculous,” “ignorant,” and a “weirdo hippie freak,” which, just as a side note, happens to be a personal favorite of mine. How is it that I, who am just going about my day in a normal fashion, have to endure the various taunts as an effect of my life choices? I am not so thin-skinned as to take these judgments to heart, but it is rather irritating that people feel that compelled to try to force their beliefs on me. I have my own reasons for being a vegetarian, and it would be very much appreciated if others would be mindful of said reasons. It’s almost ludicrous to think that what I eat, or choose not to eat, would spark a fire in others to pick on me for it. Larger, more relevant issues exist, so perhaps it would benefit our society if we focused a bit more on them and a bit less on the harmless veggie-eaters out there. My questions to you are what is one thing that you have been teased about, and how has that teasing affected you?