I wouldn’t say I’m an angry person. But maybe people reading my blogs wouldn’t know this. Yea, sometimes when I write I may come off a certain way. But that doesn’t define me every moment of every day. I think there is a lot to be angry about in this word. But I know there’s also a lot to be happy, sad, excited, and every other emotion about too. When I write it’s a release. If I’m angry about something I write it so it’s out of me that’s it, I’m done with that anger. I don’t understand why anger has such a bad rap anyway? I think anger is a good thing, natural, and healthy even. Anger can be a motivator. Do you think all the good that’s been done in this world was done merely by people who are happy all the time? Don’t you realize if people like Martin Luther King weren’t angry about the way the world was it would still be that way? Anger, when not used maliciously, is most definitely a good thing. I’m not afraid to show or feel my anger. I refuse to be happy and bubbly all the time for the comfort of others. Anger is part of passion, and I am passionate about a lot of things in this world. Passion involves many feelings from anger to zealously, and I think happiness and joy would be meaningless without anger. I am a great many things and feel a great many things. I can be goofy and silly, annoyed and testy, happy and sad, and angry and passive. Think of it as a rainbow of expressions, I want to feel all the colors, not just the pretty ones. Just goes to show you we shouldn’t judge others when only seeing them through a peep whole into their lives.

Oh boy, I really don’t know where to start with this one. Plain and simple I just don’t get people. I don’t know if it’s commitment issues, lack of knowledge, or just plain laziness? I’ve said many times being vegan isn’t about being perfect. It’s about choosing the path that causes less harm. Our society doesn’t always give us a choice, so we may have to do something we are opposed to. For example medications. Some medications have herbal substitutes, but some do not. Some medications are the result of many animals being tortured, but we cant always control that. So of course I don’t consider myself or anyone else less vegan for having to consume something they would normally be against in order to be healthy. The difference lies where we do have choices.

I will apologize to my friends in advance if the things I am about to say offend you, but I must say them.

I have a friend, whose vegan, that I sometimes wonder where his/her ethics stand? There’s been times when he/she carelessly would purchase products to only find out while consuming them they contain an animal product. Ok, this is an honest mistake, we’ve all done it. But for them to say ‘I bought it I’m eating it’ makes me question where their motive is coming form? I just don’t understand how someone passionate about something can put money above their ethical values? I’m sure they don’t think about it that way, at least I hope not. Another example, and I’m sure some of you will think I’m on my high and mighty horse here, but I’m really not trying to judge or point fingers, just want to understand what motivates people. I’m afraid in to many cases it’s money. And I think its extremely sad for people to put money before their beliefs and values. I digress, another instance where I can’t figure out people’s mind set is when someone openly fights for a cause then turns around and supports the opposing side. Lets say for example, there’s an industry or company that openly is against something you stand for. Why would you support that company buy purchasing it’s goods? It would be like me protesting against leather then turning around and purchasing something, doesn’t have to be leather, but from a leather shop. Does that not seem a little hypocritical? I believe the saying ‘practice what you preach’, otherwise you have virtually no credibility.

Next, what about vegans/vegetarians that ‘cheat’ by tasting certain animal products they would normally be opposed to? I just for the life of me don’t get it. If you are vegan/vegetarian for ethical reasons aren’t you ‘cheating’ on your ethical beliefs? Its one thing if you don’t have a choice. I recently heard a story of a vegan traveling on a 20+ hour flight being so distraught by the fact she had to eat non-vegetarian because the airline lost her preordered vegan meal. this girl had no choice, we need to eat and if there’s no options we have to eat what’s given to us. But to have veg food in front of you and reach across the table to try non-veg food is beyond me. Why do people want to identify with vegan/vegetarians if they don’t really live their lives that way? I’ve had non-vegetarians say to me, ‘you can cheat, I cheat on my diet all the time.” I want to say, ‘yea that’s why your still a fat ass” but I don’t. I simply remind them I have no reason to cheat because I’m not missing out on anything by choosing living my life cruelty free.

I may be wrong, but wouldn’t it be fair to say people who don’t smoke, don’t because it may cause cancer or other horrendous diseases? So it stands to say if there were a label on any and all products that could have a negative effect people may be less likely to consume it. Such as ‘beef’ or cow products. There are numerous studies available that show eating meet may lead to certain types of cancers. Why is this not general public knowledge? Basic common sense should tell us this, but most of the time is fails us. So we need a warning label until it is generally known. Maybe it isn’t general knowledge that the animals we consume are pumped with all kinds of hormones and steroids, but I think it‘s becoming more so. It’s just easy to dismiss when we’re hungry and don’t realize the consequences and or alternatives. There are cultures around the world that don’t suffer the diseases and cancer rates we do in america. These very same cultures have a high percentage of vegan/vegetarian based diets. Coincidence? I think not. Americans consume the most ‘animal products’ across the globe, and Americans suffer the most from illnesses such as heart disease, high cholesterol, and colon cancer, and contribute the most waste. So why is it that we don’t require a warning label suggesting such products may cause cancer on meat/flesh? I’ve seen labels on certain cheeses containing casein, which is in every cow based cheese. Casein, in case you don’t know, is a protein found in cows milk that has been linked to causing cancer.

On the flip side we have products using this ‘may’ tag as an advertising ploy. We’ve all seen or heard the commercials for products making claim that by consuming that specific products “may lower cholesterol”, “may help you lose weight”. “may … fill in the blank.” So why is it more acceptable to use such ploys for advertising purposes? I guess that’s obvious, good ‘mays’ sell products, bad ones don’t. So why are we, as consumers, taking the advice of the party that has only profit to gain? We need to demand a high standard for the way our foods are labeled. Until that happens, its up to us as consumers to be conscious of the products we are buying and ingesting. Learn to read between the lines, if something sounds too good to be true, it is! There’s no miracle pill or cure for anything. Take responsibility for being over weight or eating foods that are making you ill, and stop the bad habits. If you’re not watching out for yourself who will, the industry trying to make a profit off your stupidity? (sorry, harsh, shall I say lack of knowledge instead)