Republican Vegans: Eating Rogue

PETA, i am glad to finally see you post something that doesn't slam Republicans. Yay for open mindedness! I am an independent but have voted Republican for the past 10 years or so. I have been vegan for over 15 years. Being vegan does not equate being Liberal. Thanks for letting us conservatives feel welcome to the world of animal rights.

I am a moderate Republican who is vegan. I became vegan for health reasons and then it moved to include ethical reasons as well. It really drives me crazy the Republicans and Democrats seem to feel like they have to behave, look, and feel a certain way. I lean more to the right on many issues, yet I find myself with the left on many other issues. It seems so ridiculous. Why can't people think for themselves? I see many people on the left rejecting intelligent ideas just because they seem too "Republican", and I see the same thing on the other side. I think too many people are closed minded in every area. I love it when I see people breaking barriers, and bucking the "norm".

Is there such a thing?

Recently a fugitive animal rights activist charged with bombing two California offices made news headlines. 31-year old Daniel Andreas San Diego of Berkeley, California became the first domestic terrorist named to the FBI's list of "Most Wanted" terror suspects.

Law enforcement officials and Homeland Security describe San Diego as a strict vegan who possesses a 9mm handgun. On his abdomen, he has tattooed images of burning and collapsing buildings- most likely representing his extremist outlook and personality to do harm to others who disagree with him.

Which prompted me to ask myself a few questions: Is there a common personality type amongst vegetarians and vegans? Are they all crazed radicals with an agenda of terrorism toward anyone who doesn’t hug a puppy every day? Do they all engage in a (some would say) peculiar lifestyle through means of their choice in diet, and seemingly unnatural love of animals?

So, this got me to thinking about the common perception (or perhaps misconception) that all vegetarians are tree-hugging, limp-wristed, granola-munching, pot-smoking hippies, who would rather cut off an arm or leg than consider themselves even slightly conservative. There are common personality patterns, to be sure, but not all stereo-types are accurate. Case in point: Daniel Andreas San Diego.

So, because of San Diego, do all vegetarians have alternative and/or terrorist leanings? After all, they say that Hitler was a vegetarian… so, does that mean all vegetarians are predisposed to support fascist dictatorships and wear trendy brown uniforms? For that matter, do all conservatives have terrorist leanings because of recent warnings sent out by Homeland Security? Are all vegans or animal activists liberals? Are all republicans hunters who bomb abortion clinics? Take this example; for all intents and purposes, liberals typically do not endorse the Second Amendment as heartily as conservatives, but didn't San Diego own a 9mm?

I will say this much: Sure, the largest majority of folks on both sides are in fact in keeping to their respective stereotypes, but not all of them. Some flat out defy the gravity and seeming logic of their individual party's platforms or typical trappings in order to become their own person.

Take me for example. I am not on Homeland Security’s radar (that I know of yet!)… but I am not the ‘norm’ either. I am a proud red-blooded, flag-waving American living in the great South West corner of this country, who has been a vegetarian now for some 18 years and counting.

When you think of vegetarians and animal rights, most people automatically think of the political left which is usually associated with animal activism, legislation and environmentalism. But, this is not entirely justified. On the conservative front you can just as easily find animal advocates (though, perhaps not as many). Heck, we all like our pets, right... conservative or not?!

I am indeed the elusive “Redneck Vegetarian” you’ve only heard about! The one that lives with the Yeti in the backwoods of Utah somewhere with his stockpile of food, rifles, and womens! Okay so that may be an exaggeration… I don’t know any Yeti personally. But I do know a guy who knows a guy…

Still, whether you are currently a vegetarian or vegan who is feeling a bit left out of the conservative revival because you are the way you are, have health problems that preclude you from eating too much red meat, have always been a bit curious and would like to try something new, or simply have that annoying daughter who drives a VW van to her drum circle every Thursday night at that book store down the street; who is tattooed from head to toe with secret vegan symbols you and the misses will never understand, and who berates Uncle Irman every Thanksgiving for killing ‘that defenseless turkey in cold blood’ for the family to consume like they consumed her freedom and would like to understand her better… then, maybe we're not alone!

After all, it’s a big world out there with lots to offer us all—every one of us, and it would be a shame to only eat a hand full of things our whole entire lives long… so, pig out, and have fun while you’re doing it!

Regards,

Nicholas Meyeres

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Rex's mom said she thinks Palin is horrible and Democrats are 100times better. Well I disagree. Considering the context of Palin's wild Alaskan background and having actually visited Alaska I can understand how she is for hunting of wild animals even though I don't personally agree with hunting. What I actaully cannot and do not understand is how in the context of the lives of blue state and other liberal Democrats who don't live in the wild have access and numerous options to meat free food they can consume meat requiring millions and millions of animals tortured and suffered from factory farm systems. I find it totally hypocritical that these liberals bash Sarah Palin for hunting of wild animals that at least lived a natural wild life while at the same time turn on their blinders when it comes to their own much much more cruel custom of eating antibiotics hormone infested factory farm raised animals. Last I know mooses and caribous are subject to the hellish conditions of factory farms. It is also absolutely hypocritcal how these liberals based her for aerial wolf hunting not something I condone while they consume millions and millions of fish caught by GPS line fishing. How are the 2 things different pray tell? Both are to me ghastly acts. However Palin herself has never hunted wolves. OTOH many many liberals consume the fish caught by GPS tracking and line fishing. Anyway I look at it as a vegetarian myself I cannot see how meateating liberals who rile against Palin are themselves any better. If anything I think they're worse. Palin at least has the gall to skin her own animals. She talks of hunting as a mode of survival in the tough terrain of Alaska. What excuse do meateating citydwelling liberals and Democrats have? Purchasing neatly packaged meat that someone else slaughter in places that can't be seen. Out of sight out of mind? Oh yeah I've heard from quite a handful of liberal friends who tells me not to tell them about gruesome slaughterhouse and animal farm practices. They love meat they said and they don't want to know. Please tell me how are Democrats better in this sense?

I'm vegetarian not vegan. Hopefully I'll be able to transition into vegan someday but right now I'm happy where I am. Watching Food Inc. really changed my life and gave me a whole new perspective on the way our food industry works. Do I like how corporations make food cheap? I'll admit I do. What irks me are the unhealthy methods used to do so. Looking at all those animals pumped full of hormones and antibiotics and left in such cramped enclosures to the point where they're full of sores diseases does not sit well with me. I don't eat wilted produce. Why should I have to put up with diseased animals for food? I'm not asking the corporations to give every cow in America a massage and a trip to a bovine day spa. All I want are well raised livestock that are wholesome and healthy by the time they make it to slaughter. So call my reasons selfish but ethical treatment of livestock means healthier food. As for the benefits I can say there's many. I've learned to explore new foods I probably never would've eaten before and my cooking repertoire has gotten much healthier. Also my blood pressure is now at a healthy 10068 down from 13090 and I've lost and kept off 10 lbs. And since diabetes runs in my family I think my selfishness is doing my body a huge favor in the long term.