on food, history and ethics

[adrienmundi]

This article (by Johathan Safran Foer) on family history, food, taste and eventually, vegetarianism, is really good. It helps me, at the very least, from feeling trendy, insufficiently dedicated or articulate about my own positions on food or like a meek follower. To me, it speaks in ways that echo with some of my own decisions, and my own failings. It makes me feel less weak and less alone at the same time, and that's never a bad thing.

Comments

[fairyhead.livejournal.com]

Honestly, I don't understand what the conflict is. You are taking an idea to it's logical conclusion. You view animals as living beings that have inherent value. You understand the sheer environmental cost of raising animals for food. Based on this, you're choosing to not eat animals. As you learn more, you are choosing to also not eat animal products. Whether or not you're 100% in your actions, your choices look completely sound to me and you 'do better' as time goes on. It takes some savvy to be able to eat and interact when you choose to not follow the norm. You're learning that savvy. I think you're totally doing the right thing and that your actions are worthy of respect. Period.

[adrienmundi]

I think I get what you're saying, and I appreciate it. It's hard, stumbling ground for me, and it's not like I don't have my own separate issues with food to deal with at the same time. The resentment I sometimes feel for not being able to eat "like everyone else" gets tripped by my move towards vegetarianism, too. And, I feel guilty, but I miss certain comfort foods, and don't know that I'll be able to easily replace them. The traditional holidays, for example, fill me with a sense of loss and longing, because of the food I won't eat any more.