I was thinking about changing the title of this blog from ‘Why Vegetarian?’ to ‘Why Vegetarians Are So Smug.’ But the fact is I have no idea why vegetarians are so smug, therefore I’d have to rely on the self-important ramblings of selected guest herbivores for content.
I’m not referring to the excellent recent posts by my hand-picked contributors Gazzaisvegan and Miss Poundcake, but rather to a strand of veggie blog that runs along the lines of ‘I’m a vegetarian and I’m saving the planet.’ Well I for one am delighted that you are here saving the planet for us, I really don’t know where we’d be without you.
Here’s a question. Did you have an inflated idea of your own self-worth before you became a vegetarian or is there something in the vegetarian diet that triggered this chemical imbalance? If “being a vegetarian is one of those little things you do that helps the planet,” were you born high and mighty or has the elimination of meat from your diet elevated you to a position several heads above the rest of us? Maybe you could help out the planet by being less sanctimonious? Alternatively you could exist purely on your own hot air. That would help the planet even more.
I’m a reasonable man. I know the argument. If collectively, human beings reduced meat consumption and the ludicrous over-farming of livestock there would be less in the way of greenhouse gas production. But turning this into a pious crusade which you have personally fought and won is hijacking the debate for the sake of your own self-satisfaction.
Just because you gave up meat doesn’t make you a saint. Or Superman.
- George
