I’d previously posted little bits and pieces about what I thought regarding being a vegetarian and the political/ecological spin it takes. This week, I noticed a handful of articles about vegetarian proselytizing and how annoying it is. First, via Drudge and the Moderate Voice, we have this article:

Activists take Al Gore to task on his diet:
Citing United Nations research that the meat industry is worse for the environment than driving and flying, animal rights groups are directing a campaign at the former American vice-president’s diet.

When he delivers a lecture on global warming in Denver next month, protesters will display billboards bearing a cartoon image of Mr Gore eating a drumstick and the message: “Too chicken to go vegetarian? Meat is the No 1 cause of global warming”.

So what do we make of this? First of all, I think they’re probably right. I don’t know much about global warming, and really it bores me too much to find out more about it, but its pretty obvious that the meat industry is bad for the world, ecologically. It would never be my goal to have an entirely meat free world, but I certainly think there’s room for everyone to eat less of it, especially those for whom environmental issues are important. That said, I think the anti-Gore campaign is one of the most strategically stupid things you could do as a vegan activist. Your goal, I imagine, is to get the entire world to stop eating meat, and I can’t figure out how singling out Gore could help. Though he eats meat, he’s a tremendously powerful advocate for better stewardship of the planet. Those people who view Gore in positive light have probably already thought about the meat/environment thing. Those that don’t like Gore will just view this as proof that the vegans/vegetarians are radical crazies.

I guess, given that reaction, they’re just trying to convert the small number of people on the eco-left who are on the fence about meat. That’s fine, but I imagine the millions of people react to that message by thinking the animal activists are crazy and thus not worth listening to. There’s certainly not nearly enough moderate vegetarians to encourage people to make helpful baby steps. Ha. I love that I wrote “moderate vegetarians” without even realizing how ridiculous a phrase it is. Anyhow, on to the second article.

Via Chicagoist, an article about how an art-teacher/fishing guide saw the light, turned to veganism, and started preaching to his students.

An art teacher removed from the classroom for encouraging pupils not to eat meat vowed Monday not to return to Fox River Grove Middle School until it eliminates milk and all other animal products from the lunch menu.

Dave Warwak, 44, also said he plans to ask the McHenry County state’s attorney to file child-endangerment charges against the school district because the school continues to promote milk and other animal products as part of a healthy diet.

Long story short, he got into a bit of trouble and was asked to apologise. Did he? No, he instead threatened the school for child endangerment. Obviously, this is another example of a crazy person, but at least this is a really stupid vegan PR move from a lone-wolf (lone rabbit?) type, so you can’t fault him for poor strategy.

I think the preaching seldom works, it seems most people that see the light do it on their own terms, but these two examples are demonstrative of a common problem: extreme self-righteousness that gets in the way of good strategy and pragmatism. I guess all radicals are like that, but it seems that radicals seldom have lasting success, if any at all. Of course, I don’t know much about radicals nor about their lasting impacts. Actually, today being Sept. 11th, I guess I have to admit they do have lasting impacts, but they tend to be the exact opposite of what they were going for. I do know that every stupid stunt like that makes it a bit harder to defend my nutritionoecologicopolitical point of view without seeming like a crackpot.

Also, now that I’ve brought up Sept. 11th, is it callous of me to have such a trivial post on veganism when my thoughts should be elsewhere? I’d devote a whole post to it… but I’ve gt a feeling the rest of the ‘sphere is going to do a good enough job memorializing it.