Best ways to deal with meat eaters? Hi denise

[Guest guest]

I have a friend in Mt. Vernon, Iowa and she has a hard time being a vegetarian

there. Are you near that area?..Donna

 

organic_homestead <organic_homestead wrote:

Marie,

I know exactly how you feel. At my last job, my boss said being a

vegetarian was unAmerican. And here, in Iowa, a co-worker's husband

asked us, " don't you want to be a part of the food-chain? "

I've also had people a religious diatribe on why eating meat is a

christian duty. Well, I shock them even further by telling them I'm

not christian.

 

I feel that most people who are hostile towards those who are

different are that way because they feel threatened. People who feel

threatened will either use humor or dogma to overpower their target.

I'm sure these meat-eaters would never admit to feeling threatened.

 

A couple of responses I give when I'm faced with an ugly interaction.

 

When I'm feeling kind and gentle:

" I respect what you say and eat and I only hope that you can respect

my personal choice on what I eat and how I choose to live. "

 

When I'm feeling sarcastic or dismissive:

" Buddhists (and other religious groups) have been vegetarians for

centuries and they live perfectly, healthy lives. " - or- " I don't

support the inhumane farming practices and mass murder and filthy

slaughtering conditions and until I can raise an animal myself and

kill it, I won't eat meat. "

 

When I'm feeling like a know-it-all vegetarian:

" Actually more studies show that a vegetarian diet high in fiber and

plant protein reduces risks of heart disease, cancer, and diabetes

and that there are more risks to eating meat, especially due to the

filthy slaughtering practices kept today. "

 

And of course the best suggesting with dealing with an overbearing

know-it-all is to just walk away.

 

When I first joined this group, some of us would post on a regular

basis silly things meat eaters would say to us trying to tell us

we're " wrong. " It was good for me to get it off my chest so I didn't

hang on to the feelings and then when I re-read it on the list and

people's responses I had a good laugh and felt much better.

 

I hope that helped lighten things up for you. I'm sorry that things

can be so difficult but do hang in there. The most important thing is

that your husband and son are loving and supporting and that is all

that matters. You know that you are doing the right thing for

yourself and family.

 

Denise

 

, " Marie "

<countrydreamingspirit> wrote:

>

> Hi all!

> I'm new to this board, but must say I really enjoy being here!

> I was just wondering if any of you have suggestions on how to deal

> with all the overbearing, know-it-all meat eating people in the

world

> who are

> so quick to tell you how wrong you are for being a vegetarian. I

would

> think that being a vegetarian coupled with my intense belief in

> kindness and compassion for all creatures would bring out a kinder,

> gentler side to those around me, but in many cases, it brings out

the

> opposite. I'm not very outspoken in my beliefs unless asked. I'm

> non-confrontational in most circumstances. I just feel very alone

in

> many circles, including work and my extended family. Thank goodness

my

> husband and son are with me on this and are devoted vegetarians and

> animal lovers, too!

> Any insight on this would be most appreciated!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

I moved back to Boulder, CO about a year and a half ago after living

in Oskaloosa, Iowa for three years. It was terrible being veggie

there. I couldn't find much of anything I wanted and everyone thought

I was terrible for not supporting the economy. It didn't help that my

brother-in-law raises hogs for a living and I got grief from them,

too. Even last fall, when I visited, my dad asked " what do you eat? " .

I eat just fine and feel 100% better than I did when I ate meat.

 

Boulder is very enlightened and has lots of veggie grocery stores and

restaurants. No problem finding the food I want here, but I work a

little north of here and my co-workers think I am nuts.

 

Linda

 

 

On Mon, 24 Jan 2005 17:16:01 -0800 (PST), GeminiDragon

<thelilacflower wrote:

> I have a friend in Mt. Vernon, Iowa and she has a hard time being a

> vegetarian there. Are you near that area?..Donna

>

> organic_homestead <organic_homestead wrote:

> Marie,

> I know exactly how you feel. At my last job, my boss said being a

> vegetarian was unAmerican. And here, in Iowa, a co-worker's husband

> asked us, " don't you want to be a part of the food-chain? "

> I've also had people a religious diatribe on why eating meat is a

> christian duty. Well, I shock them even further by telling them I'm

> not christian.

>

> I feel that most people who are hostile towards those who are

> different are that way because they feel threatened. People who feel

> threatened will either use humor or dogma to overpower their target.

> I'm sure these meat-eaters would never admit to feeling threatened.

>

> A couple of responses I give when I'm faced with an ugly interaction.

>

> When I'm feeling kind and gentle:

> " I respect what you say and eat and I only hope that you can respect

> my personal choice on what I eat and how I choose to live. "

>

> When I'm feeling sarcastic or dismissive:

> " Buddhists (and other religious groups) have been vegetarians for

> centuries and they live perfectly, healthy lives. " - or- " I don't

> support the inhumane farming practices and mass murder and filthy

> slaughtering conditions and until I can raise an animal myself and

> kill it, I won't eat meat. "

>

> When I'm feeling like a know-it-all vegetarian:

> " Actually more studies show that a vegetarian diet high in fiber and

> plant protein reduces risks of heart disease, cancer, and diabetes

> and that there are more risks to eating meat, especially due to the

> filthy slaughtering practices kept today. "

>

> And of course the best suggesting with dealing with an overbearing

> know-it-all is to just walk away.

>

> When I first joined this group, some of us would post on a regular

> basis silly things meat eaters would say to us trying to tell us

> we're " wrong. " It was good for me to get it off my chest so I didn't

> hang on to the feelings and then when I re-read it on the list and

> people's responses I had a good laugh and felt much better.

>

> I hope that helped lighten things up for you. I'm sorry that things

> can be so difficult but do hang in there. The most important thing is

> that your husband and son are loving and supporting and that is all

> that matters. You know that you are doing the right thing for

> yourself and family.

>

> Denise

>

> , " Marie "

> <countrydreamingspirit> wrote:

> >

> > Hi all!

> > I'm new to this board, but must say I really enjoy being here!

> > I was just wondering if any of you have suggestions on how to deal

> > with all the overbearing, know-it-all meat eating people in the

> world

> > who are

> > so quick to tell you how wrong you are for being a vegetarian. I

> would

> > think that being a vegetarian coupled with my intense belief in

> > kindness and compassion for all creatures would bring out a kinder,

> > gentler side to those around me, but in many cases, it brings out

> the

> > opposite. I'm not very outspoken in my beliefs unless asked. I'm

> > non-confrontational in most circumstances. I just feel very alone

> in

> > many circles, including work and my extended family. Thank goodness

> my

> > husband and son are with me on this and are devoted vegetarians and

> > animal lovers, too!

> > Any insight on this would be most appreciated!

>

..