Vegans are Preachy, Arrogant, Pushy, Self-righteous…
Vegans often tend to get misunderstood in several ways, and one of them is that vegans are preachy. To start with, let us take a quick look at the definition of the word, preachy in Webster’s dictionary.
Preachy: marked by obvious moralizing
In addition to “preachy,” vegans have earned the reputation of being self-righteous, judgmental, brainwashed, condescending, arrogant, pushy… in short, vegans come across as annoying for all their “preachiness.” In this article, we explore why vegans get criticized for the things they say and do.
Yes, many vegans are vocal… why are they so outspoken?
The atrocities (graphic video narrated by actor, R Madhavan) on non-human animals in the process of commodifying and commercializing their body parts, secretions, labor, etc. is extremely disturbing for vegans. It is worth mentioning that a majority of vegans were not born vegan, but they turned into one after becoming aware of animal sentience and after educating themselves about the happenings behind the walls of factory farms and slaughterhouses. Consider the dairy industry: cows having their tails broken during transportation, mother cows experiencing separation trauma from their calves, calves crying out for their mothers – these are just some of the disturbing realities behind the alluring dairy product ads. Vegans feel traumatized and depressed by these truths.
Naturally, vegans feel it their call of duty to let others in their circle know about the systemic cruelty on animals. So, veganism is much more than eating a plant-based diet. A vegan’s life and stance is grounded on the non-use and non-exploitation of animals. Hence, many vegans are outspoken in their own ways. Vegans expect that everybody who is made aware about the truth will be equally horrified and go vegan. However, that does not always happen because people tend to resist the truth.
Imagine if the activists in every other social justice movement thought, “I should not confront those with traditional views and beliefs.” These famous lines by Martin Niemöller written after the end of the Holocaust contain the essence of speaking up for injustice towards anyone, anywhere:
“First they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out—because I was not a socialist. Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out—because I was not a trade unionist. Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—because I was not a Jew. Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.” ~Martin Niemöller
The passion with which vegans deliver the message might make them appear biased and arrogant, leading to the perception that vegans are preachy, pushy, and so on. Psychologist Clare Mann, in an interview with BBC Radio 5, put a context to the “preachy” nature of vegans, she said:
Become informed about your choices, and then decide whether you think vegans are being preachy or not. You have actually got to go and see some of these documentaries like Forks Over Knives or Dominion, Earthlings, they are very challenging to watch, but until we have the full information, we are not really able to say that will never happen. All of this stuff is undercover stuff of course… But this is pretty standard practice….” ~Clare Mann
Yes, vegans have an agenda… of spreading compassion and kindness!
Vegans are aware about the judgements that surround them and they try to present information about rampant animal exploitation in ways the message can be better understood and assimilated. Most vegans hope that family, friends, and other listeners would: 1) hear them out without feeling attacked, 2) understand the plight of animals from the animals’ point of view, and 3) do their best at going vegan.
If hoping for compassion, kindness, empathy, and a non-speciesist mindset is an agenda, then yes, vegans have an agenda. They want to promote a lifestyle that is not simply a fashion trend or a way of eating that is not merely a diet. A lifestyle that honors the necessity for making compassionate, ethical choices is what vegans advocate.
When a vegan talks about veganism, it is not the same thing as a politician debating a topic or a lawyer arguing a case. Vegans stand to make no personal gain when someone they have influenced goes vegan, except for experiencing a happy moment that a few animals will have been saved from torture and imminent death.
Colleen Patrick-Goudreau, vegan author, speaker, cultural commentator, speaks up for many vegans when she says:
I’m vegan. I have an agenda. It’s called compassion.
Colleen Patrick-Goudreau
Patrick-Goudreau further elaborates:
I’m always struck by the accusation that vegans have an agenda. It’s remarkable to me that our minds have become so jaded by advertising and marketing that we trust McDonald’s or the National Cattleman’s Beef Association or the Pork Producers – those who have THE MOST TO GAIN, the most money to make off of the backs of animals and off of our ignorance. But when a vegan talks about the joys and benefits of a plant-based diet – we’re accused of “having an agenda.” ~Colleen Patrick-Goudreau
Yes, vegans are extreme too…
As mentioned before, videos of undercover investigations as well as films and documentaries easily accessible in todays’ times unveil the systematic brutalities animals are subjected to across the globe. Taking the example from the egg industry, it is no secret that newborn male chicks are crushed, boiled, or gassed alive because they are of no use in the commercial production of eggs. Similarly, male calves who are the unwanted by-products of the dairy industry are sent away to the leather factories to be skinned alive for “premium” leather.
Vegans argue their case on the basis of mountains of visual evidence; however they come across as “extreme” in their appeal. Is it because taking action on the truth means denouncing eggs, dairy, and other animal products that people have got habituated to? No doubt that habits are challenging to break but now we have many role models in society who have made the effort at breaking old habits and forming vegan ones.
One such role model with a large circle of influence is Ed Winters, who embraced veganism in his early twenties and is now a full time vegan educator. This quote by Ed will perhaps help put in perspective how allowing knowledge to flow instead of resisting knowledge can help create change for a better world:
No longer do I eat death, no longer does my food come from animals that screamed in pain as they were murdered. No longer am I eating foods that are the product of enslavement and torture. Those things sound extreme. Not fruits, vegetables, seeds, grains, legumes, nuts, potatoes, etc – foods that grow naturally and that don’t scream in agony. How can a vegan diet be extreme, when it consists of eating foods that prevent and cure disease, foods that increase the longevity of our lives, foods that give us more energy and help us to live more harmoniously with animals? ~Ed Winters
In some states in India, a majority of the people are in favor of cruel animal exploiting sports like Jallikattu and cockfighting. It is deemed “extreme” when animal activists appeal to people to consider other forms of entertainment that do not involve animal use. Would people consider it “extreme” when someone else speaks up for them when they are suffering?
Summary: Vegans are preachy
Vegans actively “pointing out” the cruel treatment of animals is much needed for the world to wake up to the systemic exploitation of animals. While vegans may sound aggressive, it does not mean that their message is not credible. Sometimes, all it takes is just a seed to sow in the mind for people to open up.
Doing a fact-check on credible websites and resources should clear any doubts whether vegans are right in what they “preach.” In the words of popular actor Johnny Depp:
“If you don’t like seeing pictures of violence towards animals being posted, you need to help stop the violence, not the pictures.”
Let’s understand Why Vegan.
Acknowledgements: We extend our heartfelt gratitude to artiste, Lynda Bell for contributing her stunning artwork to this article. Her depiction truly captures the essence of veganism.
About the author, Sowmya Lakshmi
“I have been vegan since 2013 and it originated from my love for animals as I could no longer make sense of the disconnect between my love for them on one hand and my actions that were contributing to their harm on the other hand. I eventually decided to take it upon myself to spread the message of veganism as widely as possible as I realized that veganism paves the way to animal liberation.”
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