.14 why am I 'vegan'?

Why am I 'Vegan'?
Why do I reject the social normality of eating animal flesh and produce?
Why is it so important to me to be different and awkward?
Why even does this concept make me awkward to be with? and why is it so awkward for me too?

For us humans it's normal to indulge in animal flesh, 'meat' and animal produce, 'eggs and milk' because it's creates a nutritional balance. Humans are supposed to eat meat, it's been the same for thousands of years. For thousands of years, humans as an animal have captured, reared and murdered living sentient creatures just for food. Maybe thousands, hundreds or even decades it has been important to eat animals. Humans have needed animal flesh to live a healthy lifestyle. In the ice-age our ancestors didn't have anything to eat, like all of the other surrounding animals, so meat was important for survival. You can't grow vegetables and plants in the ice. The same goes for WW2 when supplies, especially food were very limited and the small amounts of meat or eggs and dairy were necessary for a healthy intake of fats and protein. "beggars can't be choosers"... this is something I've heard ever since being a child, we should be happy and grateful for what we have been given and with what little we have. It's not fair to complain when there are other people in the same or even worse conditions than us. Even in the modern world, it's an unthinkable reality that there are huge numbers of people who have nothing... nothing at all but starvation, dirty water and famine. So why do I, someone who lives surrounded by luxury, a wage, an abundance of safe food and water, electronics and freedom care so much about being awkward and complain about the meat that surrounds me and the meat people indulge in carefree.

It's because I have that luxury. Why do humans, who are so advanced intellectually have to enslave, torture and murder other living creatures who do not have this luxury, just because it's natural. I have opened my eyes. I have witnessed the vile behaviour and means provided so we, humans can indulge mindlessly with animal flesh. In my mind animals aren't beneath humans in any way. Animals are clever, beautiful and have as much or even more importance to the planet as humans.

Humans now live in a world where we can grow and make anything we want. If we want something we can research and find a way to gain it. We want to eat a certain vegetable all year despite its seasonal limitation, we can manipulate it in that way. If there are diseases that harm and endanger us as a species, we can kill it and we can actually prolong human life despite its natural limitations. If your wife can't have a baby because she doesn't produce enough eggs, we can provide a treatment. The human lifespan is increasing and as humans we can negate the impossible... we have become God in a way. We can control nature and how it affects us. So why do we have to affect the natural lives and life span, behaviour and everything that makes that animal special, just because we have fallen in love with a bacon sandwich or steak, poached eggs on toast and cheesecake.

This is why I don't eat animals. I'm a feminist, I belive in equal opportunities and equality regardless of background or physical limitations. Animals are the same as humans. Without eating animals I can get all the nutrition I need, regardless of whether I may have natural got it from flesh. We have created the way as humans, but still enslave and pay for this holocaust that animals must face. If we can prolong human life because we don't want to feel pain or see suffering, why must we inflict it on the animals that serve us so freely. It's disgusting.

I must be awkward and make you feel awkward for eating meat because animals as we know it do not have a voice. They cannot explain the suffering and inequality that they feel like women did, and the poor did decades ago. Along with the other 'vegans' in the world, I am their voice.

I want to share everything with the ones I love and enjoy everything with them... just not from the pain of our animal friends.

That's unfair. Not me.