Grass-eater?

I always get asked, even after 20 years, " WHY ARE YOU VEGETARIAN, dude you're missing out on SO much yo". I'm not even kidding, people I've known for years, people I just met, random buggers at cafes, you name the category and they have asked me why I'm not a carnivore. And time and again, with immense patience and a "suck-it-up" policy, I just say that I love animals too much to eat them. But that does not deter the Non-Vegetarians. At all. It doesn't happen now that much thankfully, but some people used to say things like, "someday I will make you eat non-veg without your knowledge!!!". Really? I mean, what exactly do you get out of tricking me mate? #evidenceofidiocy

I'm a hardcore Vegetarian and friggin proud of it. AND I DO NOT EAT GRASS AND JUST SALADS. In fact, us Veggies have more varieties of food than the lay person assumes. We don't just sit and crunch on celery and chew on a carrot every single day. Especially when there are foodies like me around. I've come across a lot of stupidass things people who aren't Vegetarians say. No offence of course, this is purely from my experience. And sometimes, the moment they open their mouths, all I can think in my head is " What in Geranimo's godforsaken name is wrong with you, you twat? Too much meat is getting to you." But obviously, I'm a lot more sophisticated than that and either I walk away real slow-like or just fake laugh it off and THEN walk away.

Before I get into the details of what it's like being a herbivore, here's the reason I've always been a Vegetarian and why I'm so stuck on the principle and deathly proud of it.

Ever since I was a diaper-wearer, I had this fascination for things that were not human. Ladybugs, Slimy snails, frogs and toads, magpies, giraffes, slugs, dung-beetles, you name it, I had touched it or picked it up. I was never scared of them. I felt they were there to be my friends ( as naaaaw as this sounds, it's true) and I still feel that. And as I started growing up I became more and more aware that many people did not feel the same way, and was under the impression that something was drastically wrong with everyone except me. And the narcissism began at an early age as you can see.

 And then once I hit kindy, people would bring tuna and chicken to school and I'd be sitting with my little box of lettuce and cheese sandwiches and M&M's. And I was the happiest person ever. And I still am. Whether or not anyone agrees or disagrees with me, because I really don't give a rat's arse, animals are just not meant to be eaten. They deserve to have lives of their own just like we do. They don't deserve to be slaughtered, caged, plucked at, force fed. Like Dr. Dolittle says, " Why do we treat animals like animals? Animals treat us so well".

 Do you know how true that is? It's our actions collectively as the human race that have made certain occurrences happen like man eating tigers attacking or elephants going on a rampage. And it's so bloody easy for us to calmly blame the animal kingdom and not our behavior. I've been involved to a good extent in animal welfare. And in some of my experience, I have seen videos, videos that are unimaginably grotesque and just downright disgusting. It's enough to make you want to give up food for good and live on water and air. I have cried at the plight of many animals, all over the world. It still doesn't settle with me why people eat another creature's flesh. Why? I do know a lot of people who are non vegetarians, definitely, and I like all of them, I don't judge them for it. Nor do I try and convert people, although I'm starting to think that that is necessary. But even after all this time, I still don't get it. It's just like I don't understand the concepts of drinking, smoking and one night stands.

Their eyes talk to you. They literally scream out for help. I've seen it, I've felt it. And I know other animal lovers out there will know exactly what I'm talking about. Whether it takes me decades and much more, I've made it one of my life's purposes to fight for their rights and their freedom. And being vegetarian is the first step towards that. I'm proud to say I have been vegetarian my whole life, I did eat egg when I was a kid, but that stopped 13 years ago. Vegetarianism is one of the essential things that define me, and no matter what any random who-da-wat says, it will remain that way.

Being veggie, I've come across a lot of interesting and rather hilarious comments and statements. I avoid arguing as much as I possibly can because there really is no point in a NV Vs Veggie debate, it'll end in a war. And sometimes, I'm just left in sheer amazement of how stupid the arguments and comments can get sometimes.

Here are some of them. ( Please note again, that I have nothing against non veg eaters, but only against the concept. No offense is meant to anyone)

#1: This would probably be my favourite, most heard comment and tops my list.  " YOU KILL PLANTS AND EAT THEM" So it's the same except you kill plants and we kill animals. 
 Yes of course it is the same you enlightened souls. NOT. It's made to sound like a hell hole when vegetarians are faced with eating just that all their lives and we basically live on killing all flora species. So really, what difference does it truly make whether it's a plant or an animal right?

wrong. Yes, agreed that every thing that is 'matter' as per the rules of science does indeed involve some form of 'living' or 'energy'. But then there is also the element of survival, defense mechanisms and pain. Three areas in which plants are not developed. And it has always been that way even if you take the theory of evolution into consideration. HOWEVER, plants do not feel pain. They do not possess a central nervous system, thet are not sentient beings, they do not feel emotionally inclined to avoid being eaten, and to be honest I haven't ever witnessed my tomatoes and broccoli charging at me when I'm armed with a cutting knife and then disappearing far far away from my chopping board. So I'd really like to say that it is not the same thing. Even the most indifferent person when sitting down and giving it a 5 second thought would see that.

#2: If God wanted there to be Vegetarians, then why did he make animals out of meat?

What? You expected them to be made out of stuffing and gum? Grow up! It proves the heights of immaturity when you decide to drag religion into something.  We're all meaty, are we ALL cannibals? I wouldn't recommend this article to tribals from South America though if there really are still cannibals around.

#3: If there's no meat eater  in the world, the animal population will increase. 

This is one dumb-ass argument that always leaves me with what I call the Genie Jaw Drop.



Livestock, poultry, cattle. IT's ALL US . We breed them! As for wildies, they take care of their own circle of life without us humans poking are fatass sleves in between.

#4: So what do you eat? Grass? Salads?



That is literally how I feel when someone says something so abominably stupid. I can list out 365 Vegetarian/Vegan recipes for every day of the year. Boom.

#5: You CARROT-MURDERER

I'm sorry but that doesn't even deserve an insane response let alone a sane one.

#6: No bro, I need my protein

 Soy, nuts, pastas, Spinach, legumes. RICH IN PROTEIN. So there.


It's really childish, baseless statements like these that get me annoyed and even more of a staunch Veggie. Here's a small excerpt from a blog I read on Veganism a few months ago and it really nailed the whole Veg Vs Non Veg debate for good.

Now, after all of this plants-are-living-things stuff, if you’re still on a mission to save as many plants as possible from the ravages of the dinner table and feel that eating dead animals is somehow serving that end, remember: we are currently feeding about 80-plus% of many of the crops we grow in the world to farm animals.  So by eating animal products, you are actually causing the “death” of even more plants (to say nothing of animals), since we feed a disproportionate amount of plant foods to animals, relative to what they yield to humans in the form of food.

The irony here is that, by trying to use this killing plants argument as a case against veganism, it’s actually making more of a case for it.

Just a little more food for thought…

Whoever wrote this, you're a friggin genius!

So as a kind request, those of you who AREN'T vegetarian, by all means, do your thing, or rather eat your thaangs. But stop with the maddening comebacks because, really, you're just making us veggies look a whole lot better rather than stupid.

And to all my fellow Herbivores and Vegans, Keep it up! Don't let what anyone says make you give up your choice because it takes a strong person to be a Vegetarian. I can guarantee you that a million times over.

Cheers!

Prat.