I tend to disagree with criticism of the word "vegan" and the notion that we should abandon it in favour of something else. Whether it's "we should say plant-based because it sells more", or, on the other side of the spectrum, "vegan is too consumerist so we should say anti-speciesist". I think fixating on the term removes focus from the important and urgent issue at hand, and also...vegan is a perfectly fine term! It does the job, gets the message across, and we don't need to change it. If anything, more work is needed to get people to understand that veganism stands for more than just dietary or shopping choices.
I agree - vegan is a perfectly great word and any substitute would become subject to the same criticisms - we must stand our vegan ground. I believe it is an all encompassing word; it's understandable and straightforward. And as you say contemplating changing it would be a distraction, a diversion from the urgency of advocacy. I am proud to call myself vegan.
Thank you for writing this; the animals need our voices to stay strong, resilient and unwavering. I've come to realise that often when I am talking about veganism and animals to non-vegans that I am speaking about lives and beings, and they are thinking about resources, food, and distorted romantic notions of 'using nature' - and my words then seem unrealistic, unnecessary, unnatural. I realise that the knowledge of animals' suffering and the certainty of us all being Earthlings equal together is so deeply embedded in me that I need reminding that other people still see other animals as 'there to be used' so I work to change how people know animals. I often find myself in conversations about how veganism negatively impacts people - the farmers for example, but my certainty and so my advocacy never waver. I'm taking lots from this article - not least the summaries that 'veganism isn't shopping' and that we must advocate like our lives depend upon it. Thank you.
I tend to disagree with criticism of the word "vegan" and the notion that we should abandon it in favour of something else. Whether it's "we should say plant-based because it sells more", or, on the other side of the spectrum, "vegan is too consumerist so we should say anti-speciesist". I think fixating on the term removes focus from the important and urgent issue at hand, and also...vegan is a perfectly fine term! It does the job, gets the message across, and we don't need to change it. If anything, more work is needed to get people to understand that veganism stands for more than just dietary or shopping choices.
Completely agree
I agree - vegan is a perfectly great word and any substitute would become subject to the same criticisms - we must stand our vegan ground. I believe it is an all encompassing word; it's understandable and straightforward. And as you say contemplating changing it would be a distraction, a diversion from the urgency of advocacy. I am proud to call myself vegan.
Exactly - on all counts!!
Thank you for writing this; the animals need our voices to stay strong, resilient and unwavering. I've come to realise that often when I am talking about veganism and animals to non-vegans that I am speaking about lives and beings, and they are thinking about resources, food, and distorted romantic notions of 'using nature' - and my words then seem unrealistic, unnecessary, unnatural. I realise that the knowledge of animals' suffering and the certainty of us all being Earthlings equal together is so deeply embedded in me that I need reminding that other people still see other animals as 'there to be used' so I work to change how people know animals. I often find myself in conversations about how veganism negatively impacts people - the farmers for example, but my certainty and so my advocacy never waver. I'm taking lots from this article - not least the summaries that 'veganism isn't shopping' and that we must advocate like our lives depend upon it. Thank you.
Thank You for all you do!!! and I'm delighted I can help.