The Grass-seed Radical: Thirteen Years of Vegetarianism

[dawn_felagund]

Thirteen years ago today my cousin Trish had her high-school graduation party. How do I remember this? Because thirteen years ago today, I also became a vegetarian.

I was twelve years old at the time, and for a twelve-year-old, those sorts of family parties are always boring affairs. So I brought a book--okay, a stack of books--with me for company

Comments

[noliel]

*attests to the fact that high school is sure as hell *not* the best time of one's life*

First off, way to go! Thirteen years and not being facey about it- you rock. I do admire vegetarians very much, but having someone look at my food, roll their eyes, make a face, and say, "How can you eat that stuff- blech!" really annoys me. (One of my Hindu friends said that- kind of took me by surprise, since I was about to comment on the wonderful variety of lunches she brought.) Being bashed over the head with anything is annoying.

That being said, there's a lot of vegetarianism in my school- a lot Hindu and Sikh students- and it's very nice. Especially all the vegetarian choices in food. But people still act weird when they hear someone (without religious reasons) say they're vegetarian. One of my teachers is- and everyone went, "A vegetarian? Really?" (Noooo. She's just lying.) "What do you eat?" (... Hello! What do you *think* she eats?! Yeesh.) It went on and on and on and on until I verbally lost it on the lot of them. ><

(Or, more likely--especially where I live, which is close to D.C. and, hence, Dick Cheney--get shot.)

*snigger*

[dawn_felagund]

Oh, the "what do you eat?" drives me crazy! Actually, I'd intended for this post to be a humorous piece about that very question, but I got off on the "grass-seed radical" tangent, and the social psychology of niche communities (like animal activists or Silmficcers :^P) is always irresistible to me. Well, there's the 14-year anniversary ...

I like to answer that question with "Every kind of food that isn't meat." Of course, in the U.S., it's hard for many people to imagine what that is. Just look at an American menu and everything has meat, meat, meat. But in my years of vegetarianism, I've tried so many things that I probably never would have even considered if I was still eating meat. So it always sort of baffles me that people whose menus are limited to beef, chicken, and fish look at me and ask what I find to eat!

But I agree with you: being bashed over the head with anything is unpleasant. And maybe I'm just a unique case, but I've "converted" more people by just peacefully living my lifestyle and honestly answering questions when they arise than those who preach and turn up their noses at the choices other people make. Which is pretty intriguing, considering that "conversion" is never even my intent! :^D