tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7693738848429710464.post427234666723428591..comments2024-03-27T11:11:49.219-04:00Comments on Girl with Pen: GUEST POST: Vegetarianism Served up with a Side Dish of FeminismUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7693738848429710464.post-82285463858005102632008-08-17T19:09:00.000-04:002008-08-17T19:09:00.000-04:00Jess -- You are an amazing writer and quite convin...Jess -- You are an amazing writer and quite convincing, too!! I think you will be happy to know that this summer, I have consumed mostly veggie burgers and salad, as I am a campaign girl on the go, and I really enjoy them. As a matter of fact, I just found the "tofu" section at the supermarket, and I have been trying random items. I will certainly continue the practice into the fall when I return to teaching! Alexandra may well be following in your footsteps, as the idea of meat and fish, in the last few months, turns her stomach! Keep writing and forward your results! TriciaTriciahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13928628339719297644noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7693738848429710464.post-37230704136467328112008-08-15T12:22:00.000-04:002008-08-15T12:22:00.000-04:00wanted to add that the original essay, tying nonvi...wanted to add that the original essay, tying nonviolence, vegetarianism, and feminism together, is stunningly well done! ... lost that original impetus for commenting in my own angst about our return to meat-eating....smilla's simple lifehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06494635617865231854noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7693738848429710464.post-83276430656009829702008-08-15T11:45:00.000-04:002008-08-15T11:45:00.000-04:00wow, anniegirl and I are on fire with comments thi...wow, anniegirl and I are on fire with comments this week!<BR/><BR/>I have a little different perspective -- my husband and I became vegetarians 5 years ago (and were vegan for a year, before I got pregnant and CRAVED eggs). We ate a plant-based diet because of a result of four Buddhism and Yoga practice, and knowledge of the horrible practices in care, slaughter, and packing of animal food products. <BR/><BR/>We raised our son as a vegetarian until 3 months ago. At 3 1/2, he began announcing that he was a meat eater. He said, "I know it is a pig. I know it is dead. And I am eating it," and grabbed the pork chop off my step-mom's plate. He also, on his own, began saying he was a polar bear and ate salmon. <BR/><BR/>Aaron (my husband) and I watched this with some interest - and noticed that Wyatt (our son) really did seem to need meat protein at this stage in his development -- not coincidentally, though he is still nursing, he's only doing it for about 5 seconds a day; I assume he is needing this form of protein and Omega3s. He grew (he's always been 2nd percentile for height - we're not worried, cause we're small, but it was nice to see him add some height), and where he previously wouldn't eat breakfast - he'd sit down to a nice little meal of elk sausage and fruit, happily.<BR/><BR/>We've decided to listen to his body's wisdom, and allow him to eat meat, and to add meat back into our diet for the short term at least. We're trying to eat meat ethically -- locally raised, humanely slaughtered (OK I shudder to say humanely slaughtered), ethically employed packers. This is difficult and expensive, and we're not perfect.<BR/><BR/>I feel EXTREMELY conflicted about it - I want to honor his own body's wisdom, and I understand buddhist teachings' prohibition on killing to be much more broad than the slaughter of animals, and I want to be compassionate towards myself in my failings around this issue --- and we've just moved back to the midwest, where it is much harder to be a vegetarian than it was where we started in southern california .... I imagine that we'll be vegetarians again in the future. <BR/><BR/>Treat me gently in replies, please!smilla's simple lifehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06494635617865231854noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7693738848429710464.post-23664798355941154392008-08-15T09:53:00.000-04:002008-08-15T09:53:00.000-04:00Awesome. Very thought provoking.We are raising are...Awesome. Very thought provoking.<BR/><BR/>We are raising are little one sans meat and I wondered if it will stick once she is a teen. Nice to see evidence that it does.<BR/><BR/>I think that vegetarianism is associated with weakness based on the old hunter gatherer thing. The strong forage and hunt game while the weak farm. The adventuress roam and the timid put down roots.<BR/><BR/>There is also the misconception that you can't possibly be strong and vigorous without animal protein in your diet.<BR/><BR/>And of course, different is always fair game and people who are easily intimidated or followers will pounce on those of us "outside".<BR/><BR/>Great piece. I loved it.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com