Belated World Vegan Day Post

Wok Man and I have been having some heated discussions about food ethics. The extent to which people disconnect themselves from their food choices, and the consequences of those food choices, disturbs us greatly.  Food ignorance is wreaking havoc on our health, our ass size, the environment and the millions of sentient beings it enslaves and destroys systematically. This is not opinion but truth, one that many choose to close their eyes and ears to.

The grey area here is that these people covering their ears are our family and our friends. They have passion, ideals and values. They care, often times a great deal, about their health; their weight; and, when it is brought to their attention, the well-being of animals.  Few things spur a greater public outcry of support then a wounded dog, maliciously abused by his owner. Just last month donations totalling $10,000 were received in less than 24 hours for a Yorkshire Terrier who was set afire by his “owner”. We advocate strongly for animals when they are the subject of cruel abuse. But this compassion is not extended to the animals abused and killed for our consumptive needs: our food, our wardrobe, our entertainment.  The connection is not made; the horrific abuse is hidden behind production and packaging. People’s relationship with their consumptions is simply the store in which they were purchased from. So the highly profitable business of food ignorance is perpetuated.

So how can this disconnect be so ingrained in people, particularly those of earlier generations? Theorising with Wok Man, I discuss the education system our parents were schooled under. Students of our parents’ generation were taught to memorize, conform and spew back. Critical thinking, a much higher level of thinking, was not encouraged in the classroom.  Being versed in education and child development, I can’t help but think of Bloom’s Taxonomy. It is not a judgment when I say that most adults don’t think beyond comprehension-level thinking, being able to summarize or paraphrase. It’s empirical; their actions and patterns of thought are aligned with these ways of thinking. As the level of cognition sharpens, however, we see thinkers who are able to apply, analyze, synthesize and evaluate knowledge. Ideals and values in action: deeply penetrating. Accomodation verses assimilation.

You might also want to check out:

• A Low Carbon Diet
• Food… Kind of a Big Deal
• Force Fed
• 25 Things I’ve Learned in Life So Far: Wisdumb For the Ages
• Your infection, please