When will the hypocrisy ever end with the vegan crowd? More than a dietary change, many vegans have a political agenda behind their anti-meat habits. While these folks claim to be vegans for ethical, nutritional or environmental reasons, I'm sure that more often than not, there is a political or self-promotional platform behind their dietary choice.
Led by groups like People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) or the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), numerous celebrities donate big chunks of cash to help “save” the animals and participate in PETA’s sensational advertising campaigns in order to grab the public eye and advance their hopes for stardom. Think here of PETA’s “I would rather go naked than wear fur” campaign where folks like Khloe Kardashian, Bethenny Frankel or Pamela Anderson drop their duds for a little sensational publicity.
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Many of these celebrities like to take their political platforms of veganism even further by endorsing the dietary choice in every interview and public appearance. I mean, come on, how many steak-lovin’ celebrities feel the need to proclaim their love of beef to a magazine? I figure these vegan celebrities need a constant reminder that tofu tastes good, but that’s another conversation for another day.
I’ll always say I don’t mind what people eat. If you choose to be a vegan, vegetarian, fruitarian, pescatarian, raw foodist, etc., that’s your choice. After all, the freedom of choice is what makes America great. However, when your food choice becomes a political platform to put America’s farmers and ranchers out of business, which is exactly what they practice when they help advance PETA’s and HSUS’ agendas to abolish animal agriculture and promote a vegan agenda, that’s when I have a problem.
What’s even more frustrating is when these vocal vegan celebrities are hypocrites about it. If you stand for something, stand for it wholeheartedly, unless you’re a “practical vegan,” that is. I recently ran across an article about some celebrities who are “practical vegans,” meaning they eat meat when it suits them. Folks like Carrie Underwood, Al Gore, Bill Clinton, Natalie Portman, Usher and Justin Bieber sway back and forth from vegan to omnivore, depending on their mood. Read the entire article here and let me know what you think.
Another interesting thing to note on my radar is PETA’s most recent ridiculous stunt -- incorporating birth control and going vegetarian.
According to Salon.com, “Jumping on the news from last week that the emergency contraceptive Plan B One Step loses effectiveness on women over 165 lbs. – and doesn’t work at all on women over 175 lbs. – PETA recently sent out a press release about its ‘Plan V’ advice: ‘Lose some damn weight and then you won’t have to worry, now will you? Have a carrot!’
“In its announcement, PETA explains that it’s helpfully contacted the advocacy group Population Connection to ‘encourage women to lose weight (and regain access to Plan B as a family-planning tool) by choosing healthy vegan meals.’
I can’t think of a statement that is more sexist and degrading as this newest campaign by PETA, which recently held a protest in Ottawa with a naked woman lying on a large contraceptive pack covered in barbecue sauce. Their sensationalist tactics can’t be taken seriously by too many, and yet millions of dollars are donated to the activist organization each year.
What do you think about these part-time vegans and PETA’s newest campaign stunt? Leave your thoughts in the comments section below.
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