I don't expect everyone to agree with me, Coug. I realize being a vegan and arguing for animal rights is kind of novel, especially for people from the farm belt who have spent their whole lives using animals. I realize that if you do use animals, it is difficult to really think about them very much, because then you would have to think about what you are doing to them.
I think people who make comments about how great meat tastes or taunt me in other ways are on a very deep level perhaps threatened by someone doing something really differently than they do. I also think that in many parts of the country, meat is a huge part of the culture. When mad cow strikes heavily, maybe some of them will reevaluate. In any event, their comments give me a chance to debate them, and perhaps some people will consider a different point of view, or at least listen somewhat respectfully.
At the same time, I do not discount the potential connection between rudeness, arrogance, narrowmindedness and the supporters of the administration in power. It is totally obvious, for example, that the Bush administration has no shame at all and must consider its followers just plain stupid, because how would intelligent people buy all of their lies? |
