Chill, vegetarians

We have two very good, very devoted vegan and vegetarian friend sand I've never heard them say anything unfriendly or judging about non-vegetarians. And that's just one of the many reasons why we love you Sarah and Tanya!

But over the past year I've encountered a couple of people and some comments by some vegetarians/vegans aimed at us meat-eaters that reeked of self-righteousness. Stinks really. Soy-bean farts actually.

Yes I'm in a bad mood. Homo's in Africa is being imprisoned and threatened with execution and Bangkok is burning down and vegetarians are being all judge-y like. I'm allowed.

Here's the thing. If you're going all vegetarian and you don't eat and live 100% responsibly then you have no right to point any fingers. Do you eat canned products? Do you eat imported plant produce? Do you drive a car rather than take the bus? Do you recycle everything in your home? Is the wine you're drinking organic? Or the beer? Or the vodka? Do you drink organic fair-trade coffee? Are the soy milk you enjoy in your coffee from a small-scale local organic farm? What kind of laundry detergent do you use? Where are your clothes from? Do you have solar panels on your roof? If you have a garden do you compost? Do you buy local? If you are in a position to have children are you considering adoption or are you adopting? Are you living 100% responsibly?

I'm trying to live responsibly and, unlike someone suggested, it's not because of a move towards a vegetarian diet. Eating and living responsibly has become a lifestyle choice for us over the past few years just because it seems like a smarter, healthier and friendlier way of living. It was a conscious decision and we try to stick to it as much as possible.

We eat less meat, we go through weeks without eating meat without thinking about it. It just happens. When we buy meat and eggs we try to get free-range meat. We try to buy organic and fair trade products. We tend to make our own tomato sauces rather than buying canned products. We look forward to someday living in a city where we can rely on public transport instead of having to get a car. I know that living organic in Taiwan is harder than in the US, but we are already seeking out better options. And thinking of rather supporting wet markets than big stores.

We are lucky too that we can afford this lifestyle and I am aware of the fact that too many people in the world are not able to do so. And for that I blame huge corporations who just do not care about the health of people and the world but only about profit.

If you're a vegetarian then well-done to you and I respect your lifestyle. If you're doing it responsibly even more power to you. But don't run around trying to guilt non-vegetarians. Few things are more annoying than self-righteousness.