Another Holiday with Meat Eaters :(

[Chris Tinney]

Every Holiday I sit at the table while a giant hunk of flesh is placed on the table.

I know if I say how I feel it will drive more people away from my message of loving animals and not eating them so I sit and I watch as people eat and I recieve compliments like, "you're the nicest vegan I know". I get peppered with questions that no one really wants the answer too so I'm short in my answers and simply say I have a brochure if they really want to know ("Why Vegan" from Veganoutreach.com). I feel good because every year someone comes to me and says, "I think I'm gonna try that". That makes me feel good.

What doesn't make me feel good is because I am more laid back people assume I'm ok with the jokes about meat. I'm not. I sit amazed as people that are overweight and unhealthy don't see the irony in telling me they don't think my diet is healthy. LOOK IN A FUCKING MIRROR PEOPLE!

We had ten dogs at our family xmas. almost all rescues. So I have to appreciate these people. But how can you rescue one animal and eat another?

I think if they walked in a room and saw the family dog being served for dinner they'd understand how I feel.

I dont have to live with an animal in order to love it enough to not kill it and eat it.

For that matter the homeless boy on the street doesnt have to me my biological son in order for me to love him and want to help.

Listen up all my Veg*n friends.
We're not the crazy ones.

They are.

What happens at your holidays?
How do you handle it?

[B]

Adding insult to injury; I not only had to endure the gluttonous family dinner with the carved cow flesh on everyones plate but mine, but also the appalling flaunting of the latest christmas gift; the cashmere cape trimmed with mink....modeled for everyone new that came through the door. It made me sad and nauceous as each guest complimented the gift as if it was a great accomplishment. I felt like I was from another planet.

[B]

I meant the fur gift was someone elses, not mine. They at least know not to give me any animal products....no leather purses etc. In that way, they are respectful. They usually try to leave some potatoes or vegetables un buttered for me.

[Fallopia Tuba]

I haven't been home for Thanksgiving for several years; I like to stay home and cook a Tofurky with vegetables, and it makes great leftovers. My omnivore roommate says he never liked turkey anyway, and he likes the roasted vegetables.

My mom "gets it" but doesn't; she's 75, and says "Someday I might become a vegetarian." She grew up on a farm in the Depression and is very squeamish about killing anything, even an ant. Naturally it's okay if someone else does it for you; and she forgives herself as she's dressing and stuffing the turkey by apologizing to it. My sister is the vegetarian in the family anyway; she only eats chicken "if I have to."

It is true, I don't go home at Thanksgiving because of all the discomfort I'd face and that people wouldn't understand. A plus would be if I brought and cooked my own Tofurky, because people would naturally be curious and want to try a piece; there would be enough to go around. (If I go out to a restaurant with omnivores, everyone wants to try what I'm having and no one understands that I can't take any of their food; I usually have to order double or eat afterwards.)

[Lynda]

Exactly....it's always very challenging. My family is accepting of my choice but I still get the inevitable questions. It feels as if I am condoning the consumption of flesh, in a way, because I am present for the "event"....

[MaryAnne]

As you can imagine with both of us being vegan for almost 40 years we have encountered many of the same things that other here have written about.
We are not ones who push our choice on others because we certainly don't like them pushing their choices on us...and they try. We used to go to family dinners but the moment we sat down we would be assaulted with "why aren't you eating the turkey?" If we told them the truth it would spoil their gathering. We did not wish to do that. We had respect for them even though they had none for us. No matter what we said it would not change their decision.
They think it was very funny when they put the dead animal parts on our plate of salad while someone diverted our attention. They will never understand how traumatic that was because they will never "get it". That is just the way it goes.
So we celebrate Christmas by staying away. It is much more fun for us.. And I am sure they can relax and feel less guilty without us there. And we don't have to sit politely by a dead carcass in a room that smells nauseating just to visit our families. We can do that other times.
We were told by them that we would be dead in a year when we first became vegans. Unfortunately many of the ones who told us have died.
We are told how young and healthy we look by the ones who have aged much more quickly than us. We are told by the sick ones that we are healthy because we take care of our health. They recognize that it is possible but do nothing about themselves. That is their choice. We have made our choice.

[Kellie]

I don't feel traumatized by the meat on my family's holiday table. I spent most of my life eating meat, and yes, I do now feel enlightened and so thankful for vegetarian friends and websites that led me to live a more compassionate life.

Meat is a way of life for many people and is ingrained as culture from many generations. As vegetarians/vegans, we can set an example and share information when it is requested. Other than that, I refuse to be offended by the eating of meat in my family. I hold out the hope that they too will see things as I do eventually, but either way, I still love them and find our gatherings to be more about our love than what is on the table.

As for the logistics, my grandparents lovingly made the stuffing with vegetable broth and cooked up about five vegetarian dishes so that I would have enough to eat. And people happily piled their plates high with the delicious vegetables and potato dishes. :)

[Ralph W.]

It is the old story,,, And I guess that all these people eating meat are christians, aren't they? So what about "You shall not kill"? When it is about to do what people want to do, God is always second place, if present at all. Most people do not know that there is a "gospel of the holy 12" that is not encloserd in the bible because of having been found in the 19th century. In this gospel Jesus is very clear that eating, abusing and torturing animals is a sin and is prohibited. Animals have the same value like all creation of the creator. Humans are the worst that exists on earth

[Ellen Tietjen]

The commandment "Do not kill" never applied to animals. Jewish law required animal sacrifice. Jesus was a Jew and ate lamb at least yearly at the Passover sedar (not to mention that he ate fish as well).

Warping scripture doesn't help your cause.

[Ellen Tietjen]

Also, the "Gospel of the Holy 12" is not in the canon, not because it was found in the 19th century, but because it contradicts other Scripture, both Old and New Testament.

[duggi]

Well said Chris....!!! I had honeymoon salad....twas good ...All the very best for the coming year ;-)))

[Ellen Tietjen]

I'm just curious.

How many people on this site are pro-life (vs. pro-choice)?

[Fallopia Tuba]

I sure hope so; I personally am pro-choice—meaning an individual alone has the choice of whether to bring a life into this world—and would hate to be told this was a pro-life website and that pro-choicers had no place here.