The End of an Era
I stopped eating red meat in 7th grade. I had toyed with the idea for a while - since I am a known friend to animals. I finally made the commitment when a 11th-grader (a CHEERLEADER even) in a local production of Wizard of Oz with me wrinkled her nose at a slice of peperoni pizza and stated “Ew, I don’t eat red meat.”For political reasons I had to agree, and then try to buy a jean jacket like hers.
This began a 14 year journey into vegetarianism that took me through all the various veggie stages: ovo-lacto vegetarian hippy, 6 years straightedge vegan, dabbling anorexic, vegetarian-but-when-I-drink-I-smoke-and-eat-bacon, and “Eggs Are Still Gross.” In the past few years, my veggie alleigances have waned, but I still felt vegetarian deep down, under all the exceptions for sushi and bites of other people’s food. I felt I was still a member of this socially conscious group, these people who know that actions speak louder than words, and who refuse to be part of an abusive system of oppression.
Then I got this email from PETA, regarding their “fish quilt” -
By creating a patch for the “Fish Quilt,” you can let people know that fish are intelligent individuals who suffer and feel pain, just like cats and dogs do—fish don’t deserve to be hooked or eaten!
This is ridiculous. Fish, while pretty, swimmy, and tasty, and by no means “intelligent individuals”. They have no opinions, besides “I like water.” They hardly have a GROUP identity, let alone INDIVIDUAL ones. They are swimming food, like sandwiches with gills.
Even more ridiculous is the idea that they “don’t deserve to be hooked or eaten!” Who does? Is that what being a vegetarian is about? Only eating things that DESERVE to be eaten? “Fuck those carrots - I’m eating those goddamn bastards!” So what did lentils do that made these PETA folks so pissed off? Additionally, does PETA advocate eating terrorists and pedophiles?
This email made me feel so distanced from PETA, I realized that I’m not really a vegetarian anymore. The breakfast sausage is no longer an exception, but a rule. I left that club, and the members now sound bananas to me.
Next I will start to hate rap music. WAIT FOR IT!
But chickens are still totally gross, and factory farming sux, guys. FOR REAL.
May 7th, 2006 at 2:00 am
Don’t let PETA become representative of vegetarians as a whole! PETA is actually a front created by the Beef Farming Association to turn all reasonable human beings into vegetarianism-shunners!
IT’S TRUE!
May 9th, 2006 at 10:05 am
If what Lynn is saying is true, then The Beef Farming Association are marketing geniuses and I’m going to eat more beef just out of awe.
Also, bacon is God’s meat.
May 10th, 2006 at 9:15 pm
I feel like you’re morally in the clear as long as you take a reflective moment before dining to say, “Screw you, animal! I’m glad you’re dead, and now I’m going to eat your flesh!”
If you do that, you still get to play with the puppies and kittens in Heaven. And also, eat them. If you want to. Because its Heaven, and you can do whatever you want. Except be mean to Jesus, I think. I’m not exactly sure how it works.
May 23rd, 2006 at 12:22 pm
Still, my pants don’t fit. What’s with these pants? I mean, every day I do, like, ten sit-ups and then some pushups if I’m not too tired. And then, every morning, these goddam pants don’t fit again! What the hell?! Is there no pleasing these pants? Fuck.
Ah, life in the big city…
…sorry, that’s not relevant, but I’ve always wanted to write that. I think I’ll do it again: Ah, life in the big citye!
…dammit.
July 28th, 2006 at 3:58 pm
Hehehe! Excellent article! I must admit I painted a quilt patch for the Anti-Fishing quilt, but not because I don’t eat fish - I do - but in an effort to change the type of net used… But I’m really tired of PETA stating that humans are animals too, that’s why we shouldn’t shouldn’t eat them… I am a vegetarian, but I’m HUMAN! I say rock on vege sausages, but let the salmon bbq’s continue!