I have big narly opinions on many things in life. This isn’t a secret to anyone who has ever met me. I’m not afraid to speak my mind, most of the time. I will say what occurs to me without worrying about people’s feelings or holding their hand through some simple discussion we may have opposing philosophies. The misconception is that I want to impose my point of view on everyone. That couldn’t be farther from the truth.

I really enjoy and get a lot of satisfaction from a conversation with someone who is as set in their ways as I am. It’s the head against the brick wall, sure, but it’s stimulating and much more educational than having a boring luke warm tit for tat with someone who has no passion for their own ideals.

What is this leading to? I’ve been listening to a vegan podcast lately. I’m in the process of trying to purge some constant bodily pains and I don’t want to soak up every chemical available on my health plan. Don’t get me wrong, I like the occasional steroid run, but that’s apparently not healthy in the long run. Fine.

I randomly chose Food For Thought from Compassionate Cooks one day when I was looking through podcasts to listen to at work (mundane tasks require some mind busy work to avoid insanity). I like the podcast. The woman who takes the time and effort to put her true passion out there for us to learn from and be inspired by took a couple of episodes for me to get acquainted with. That sounds odd, but when you have someone in your ear intimately for an hour or so at a time it’s easy to find fault. I liked her more and more as I listened. Her philosophy and mission is to educate people about veganism, animal rights, and shining light on the true cruelties that come with our meat eating cultures.

No, I’m not a vegetarian or vegan. I don’t plan on becoming either. The thing is, I like her commitment to what she believes. She calls it “her truth” which after several episodes starts to smack of those religious evangelists, but I can handle that since I appreciate and learn a lot from what she has to say.

Then I tried another vegan podcast called Go Vegan Radio with a guy who seems like a radical, and again is totally committed to his truth. (Let’s face it, it is the truth about eating and using animals. I can accept that.)

In case  you don’t know vegan’s are not just vegetable eaters, they do not eat anything animal related, eggs, milk, cheese, etc. due to the cruel inhumane treatment of all animals who go through the corporate tit we all indulge ourselves on, and always will. So, for hours and hours tonight I have listened to and thought a lot about the reality of what chickens, turkeys, cows, sheep, and other animals who go to slaughter go through. Not to mention the unpleasant truth that we drink animal secretions, eat the reproductive rejects from chickens (eggs), etc.

I had that thing in the back of my mind saying, “Yea, this is all truth. It sucks and it’s true and what will you do with this information?” I listened carefully, with interest, trust me. It started to wiggle its way into my consciousness. “Why do I need to use eggs when there are good substitutes? Why use cow’s milk when it’s forced from them in such an obtuse and obnoxious way? Why not just eat vegetables for a while? I can live with that. Cream and butter aren’t necessary. They just add calories, fat, heart clogging goodness, not to mention they are bodily fluids extracted by cruel companies just to make money.

Right.

My mind was grinding, thinking, wondering if I would change some old habits. I might incorporate some of those vegan bits into my life. Sounds good. I will try the vegan milks, the veggie burgers, no butter, no cream. What harm can it do?

I ran out of vegan podcasts. Next on the list, How to Eat Supper and The Splendid Table from NPR. The very first words I hear “This podcast is brought to you by BlahBlah Creamery, Making Devon Cream and Butter..etc. etc…” I was no longer in the world of compassion and awareness. I was in the world of “If we can catch it, harvest it, cut it up, we can cook it and have the right to eat it.” The podcast isn’t like that, of course, but when you go from one extreme to another conflicting philosophies can bring your brain to a screeching halt. Me, you, anyone can be reprogrammed, brainwashed, enlightened, educated, call it what you will. All it takes is a consistent, reasonable, collection of facts, , interpretations of facts, figures, and the fervent delivery by someone who cares deeply for their cause or lifestyle choices. It melts into your mind, those new ideas. I suppose, depending on what kind of person you are, you could be skeptical and reject anything new or different from what you already know, or you could be swept away, seduced.

As I listened, the first mentions of searing chicken thighs in a hot wok kind of made me wrinkle my nose. After all I just had statistics and tellings of cruelty of those chickens, as it was explained, for my own selfish gluttenous pleasure. I don’t NEED chicken. I can have vegetables, grains, fruits. The problem is, I know what a chicken thigh tastes like, and my old programming was clearn not quite ready for an upgrade.

After listening to recipes and food talk that includes every meat, every animal secretion, eggs, bones, meat broth, etc. It still sounds appealing, but guess what??? I have an itch in the back of my mind for more vegan information. I’m curious. I’m open to let some old habits go away, IF that means getting rid of certain things in my food intake will help get rid of my aches and pains.

One thing that does come through from any and all of these podcasts and the people who speak so smoothlyl and lushishly into my ear is that they are ALL selling things. Vegan products, donatations to keep the cause alive, Devon Cream, brand name pots and pans, vegan clothes and personal products, Tofurky products, the list goes on. I always feel like a pawn in this money shuffle anyway, so this does come to my attention. I trust that they are all sincere, but there is no cause without a pricetag.

This makes me a big shallow. I have no political or personal cause to save anyone from slaughter. I have no serious conviction that meat and animal products MUST be part of my life. I won’t buy products from any of their sponsors and I won’t donate to their continued efforts to share their thoughts with the world. All I want is some information that might lead me to what will make me feel better in body and maybe even in spirit.

Now I need to check that turkey thawing in the fridge for a late Thanksgiving dinner…and then peel some potatoes, sweet potatoes, and squash for a vegetable curry.