It's always nice to read long-ish posts about veganism. :> I started about twelve years ago, and it's been a very interesting road.
I feel very, very differently about the politics of veganism... to me, it's extremely political to refrain from oppressing nonhumans. Things eat each other, sure, but we have big brains and it's not difficult, or it shouldn't be, to figure out "hey, this causes suffering, let's not do it". With power comes moral responsibility.
I've read some vegan-feminist critical theory (Carol Adams, Melanie Joy) and it's become apparent that there is no "greater than"... human and animal oppression intersect. The fruit picker or slaughterhouse worker exposed to dangerous working conditions is exploited for the same reason that animals are, because our culture has decided that some groups are fair game.
I agree about organic's importance -- it's an absolute must. I'd rather spend all my money on organic produce than be rich and eat crap (not that organic produce /shouldn't/ be cheap and available to everyone). Not a locavore, though. One, I feel good about sending my money southward, and two, I freaking love plantains. :p
Sorry, I'm sure you didn't expect a stranger talking your ear off! It was such an enjoyable post that I had to comment.
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I feel very, very differently about the politics of veganism... to me, it's extremely political to refrain from oppressing nonhumans. Things eat each other, sure, but we have big brains and it's not difficult, or it shouldn't be, to figure out "hey, this causes suffering, let's not do it". With power comes moral responsibility.
I've read some vegan-feminist critical theory (Carol Adams, Melanie Joy) and it's become apparent that there is no "greater than"... human and animal oppression intersect. The fruit picker or slaughterhouse worker exposed to dangerous working conditions is exploited for the same reason that animals are, because our culture has decided that some groups are fair game.
I agree about organic's importance -- it's an absolute must. I'd rather spend all my money on organic produce than be rich and eat crap (not that organic produce /shouldn't/ be cheap and available to everyone). Not a locavore, though. One, I feel good about sending my money southward, and two, I freaking love plantains. :p
Sorry, I'm sure you didn't expect a stranger talking your ear off! It was such an enjoyable post that I had to comment.