We all have certain things we consider to be un-vegan. For some it's using an old wool sweater, but the same person has no problem using sugar refined with bone char. For another person it's okay to use a wool sweater from their pre-vegan days, but they will not buy or consume sugar refined with bone char.
For some it's the consumption of animal products and by-products that is the issue, for other the cruelty and exploitation that goes along with those things that is the issue. Some are personal purists, some are more relaxed.
Some people will avoid zoos on principle, some people avoid certain zoos but support the ones that work for animal conservation.
Some people conveniently forget humans are animals too and hate humanity. Some people extend their compassion to humans as well.
Some believe in shock as an animal rights activist tool. Some use yummy vegan foods and quiet, friendly conversation.
We are all vegans. We all have various hot button topics. We will not agree on everything. That doesn't mean we have to give ourselves the right to revoke other people's "Vegan Cards" left and right. Discussion and disagreement is good in ethical philosophy. We could be a little more friendly about it, though.
Even the supposedly spiritual, jainist inspired vegans get way too hot under their collars.
Remember, pokes and prods aren't the only thing that hurts. Words can hurt too, and you are probably not the leading authority on bio-ethics or animal rights philosophy. You can present your opinion and your point of view, but don't condemn other for having minor deviations of ethical or philosophical opinions from your own.
The definition as put forth by The Vegan Society ( "Veganism is a way of living that seeks to exclude, as far as possible
and practicable, all forms of exploitation of, and cruelty to, animals
for food, clothing and any other purpose" ) is probably latitudinarian in it's wording in order to be inclusive rather than exclusive. It's about the ethics and the rights of animals, not your personal claim to purity.
So let's learn from each other instead of trying to revoke each other's vegan cards. Discussion and debate is fine. But turning around and pointing the finger going "THAT'S NOT VEGAN!" is not helping anyone.
And here is where my hypocricy beings and ends; Veganism is a way of living that seeks to exclude, as far as possible
and practicable, all forms of exploitation of, and cruelty to, animals
for food, clothing and any other purpose.
If you are eating a plant based diet because of health and could not care less about the ethics, then they are right. You are not a vegan. Because veganism is all about the ethics, and that definition is inclusive enough as it is.
Ah, hypocrisy. No one is immune to it. :)
This is very eye opening post that a lot of people don't take into consideration to fellow vegans. Thanks for getting the word out!
ReplyDeleteMy only concern with veganism was expressed within this piece is the problem of referring to vegan "ethics" as somehow homogenous. That's just false on it's face. If vegan ethics are so rigid as to be inclusive of a category of things rather than proposing a test it becomes dis-useful. In that sense there has to be a basic categorical consideration such as stating unequivocally, "I am a dietary Vegan" or "I am an ethical Vegan". These categories set a nice distinction. What is entailed in those positions is highly debatable and people are narrow-minded to say that what is vegan is defined by some council of wizards called the "Vegan Society". Revolution in its most permanent and irreducible sense is about rejecting arguments from authority and definition rigidity. Veganism is a revolutionary lifestyle. People need to really start acting that out.
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