Wednesday, December 7, 2011

Veggies Coming Soon (To Your Mailbox)

http://articles.latimes.com/2011/nov/29/local/la-me-vegetarian-stamps-20111130

Just last week, the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) released a limited edition sheet of twenty 44-cent stamps featuring the images of famous vegetarians. The pictures to be featured on the stamps represent eight veggies and ranges from modern icons to ancient Greeks. The famous veggies include Pamela Anderson, Bob Barker, singer Joan Jett, Woody Harrelson, Gandhi, Leonardo da Vinci, Leo Tolstoy, and Pythagoras. I think this is a really good publicity move to promote vegetarianism because most of the people featured on the stamps are also known for something other than their dietary habits. For example, it is very good to show that the peaceful civil-disobedience that Gandhi exercised in his lifetime is connected to the practice of vegetarianism in that they both are conscientious and peaceful choices.

However, I do feel like Pamela Anderson is a really wishy-washy icon for both PETA and the vegetarian movement. A large part of vegetarianism is not only protecting animals, but also behaving morally and treating your body well. The very things that Pamela Anderson is famous for makes hers a very mixed message. Don’t have surgeries like me, but eat like me. It’s just too much for me to even take her seriously.

Now, Bob Barker is a gent that I can really consider to be a good representative for veggies everywhere. As a child, I always snickered at the end of The Price is Right when he said, “Help control the pet population, have your pet spayed or neutered.” Ha, neuter. However,  I can now clearly see that he was conveying a consistent message of responsible animal care throughout his career. He has also been a veggie for over thirty-five years, so he is definitely in my cool book for his long-lasting dedication. Plus, he doesn’t take himself too seriously (as we can tell from his cameo in Happy Gilmore).

I will say that this simple article did teach me a great deal. I’ve learned the Pythagorean Theorem is school, but I had no earthly idea that Pythagoras was a vegetarian. Awesome! I read more about him and found a really touching quote. He once said, "For as long as men massacre animals, they will kill each other. Indeed, he who sows the seed of murder and pain cannot reap joy and love."

I recently visited a great vegan restaurant in Kennesaw, GA called the Loving Hut and the man who runs the establishment believes in the same sentiment as Pythagoras. He told me that it is his contention that as long as men were meat eaters, world peace would be impossible to accomplish. Being an international affairs major, I love considering alternative ideas as to why peace is considered so unlikely and this man’s take on the subject was very refreshing. That, and the spaghetti and faux-meatball lunch was crazy good! Here’s a link to the Loving Hut’s menu if you are interested. http://lovinghut.us/kennesaw/menu.html

1 comment:

  1. You should consider yourself fortunate to live in Kennesaw. I asked one woman in Valdosta if she was a vegan and she said no, I'm a Christain.

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