I wrote yesterday on the examiner site about Meatless Mondays in the Baltimore school system. Some email and twitter responses to that article suggested that serving up vegetarian meals in school cafeterias one day a week is not exactly progress for animal rights. For one thing, the non-meat choices are pretty cheese-laden. Some are more plant-based than others, but there is a grilled cheese option every day and lots of mozzarella sticks on the menu.
It’s true; from the standpoint of animal rights, there is no obvious gain. Baltimore kids simply trade in one animal product for another. And then, of course, they get up the next day and head to school to eat chicken nuggets.
Admittedly, I don’t embrace the Meatless Monday campaign as particularly exciting activism on behalf of animals. I wrote about it mostly because it segued nicely into some discussion about health effects of vegetarian and vegan diets for kids. And it did so within a story that has some media attention right now.
But if Meatless Mondays in the Baltimore schools don’t produce meaningful change, they are still one small step, one tiny factor in setting the stage for other new ideas. Children are learning that they can have enjoyable meals that don’t include meat. Believe it or not, this is pretty huge for many people. It can be a significant adjustment in the way they think about food even if it doesn’t exactly revolutionize the way they think about animals. And that does matter if it creates a tiny mind-opening shift that generates readiness for exploring further changes.
It’s hardly news that many perceive vegan diets as deprivation. If people can’t begin to imagine a vegan diet for themselves, they are less likely to be open to messages about animal rights or animal suffering. Anything that gives a tweak to their beliefs about what constitutes an enjoyable meal (or a nutritious diet) is a step toward a different attitude, and toward a new level of comfort with an animal rights ethic.
I don’t mean to overstate the value of Meatless Monday or to suggest that there is some predictable and guaranteed path from the Baltimore cafeterias to animal rights. The Meatless Monday campaign is not going to produce a vegan world. I know that. But it’s a little nudge in the right direction, toward a slighter newer way—for some—of thinking about food. Everything that moves us in that direction matters, even if it matters only a little bit.
Definitely a "vegan monday" would probably be more effective, but for some reason in our culture, people seem to think they NEED to eat meat every day, for every meal. I hope that meatless mondays do plant some small seed. If nothing else, look at all the vegans talking about it, saying "oh that's nothing, we're meatless/eggless/dairyless all the time and perfectly healthy!" ;)
ReplyDeleteYes, "Vegan Monday" would be nice! But yes, anything that lets us bring up the topic of veganism is good.
ReplyDeleteWhile I agree it's nice to see some signs that things are moving in the "right" direction, I also agree that Meatless Mondays are not animal rights because they make a moral distinction between flesh and other animal products.
ReplyDeleteI recognize Meatless Mondays as evidence that things are changing and something is getting through, but I think valid opposition and criticism is also important to make sure we keep them making even more incremental steps.
We need to be sure they don't stop with this small change and make them realize that they must keep making changes because switching from one animal product to another is not a means to and end.
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ReplyDeleteThanks for your comment, Ed. I agree with your points--although I don't think that the Meatless Monday campaign itself will evolve all that much.
ReplyDeleteFor one thing, it doesn't even recognize the issue of animal rights but is based strictly on environmental and health concerns. So, as I noted, it's real value is in changing (ever so little) mindsets about food in a way that we animal rights activists can take further. I think that those who take a 100% anti-Meatless Mondays stance fail to understand this. Which is too bad, since we need all the mind-changing and jumping off points we can get!
Also, never underestimate the blossoming curiosity of kids! Maybe just a few will ask "Why are we having a meatless Monday?" and a little seed will be planted in their minds. But yes, I agree with the points you've already made - whilst rather disappointing, it is, as Ginny said, a jumping -off point. I know from my own experience with friends/ family that change happens slowly. Any small sign of acceptance, for whatever reason, is a start!
ReplyDeleteI agree with Suzy. Any little change can grow if approached quietly. You never want to make big changes with little people, but just a little push may have some impact on their inquisitive minds. If they ask questions, this may make small changes in their own family's eating habits.
ReplyDeleteI know many children who decide very young to become vegetarians because they know that a harmless animal was killed to feed their families. Let us enlighten the younger generation with something we were never taught while growing up. Let them know that one day a week can help, even if ever so slightly.
People have trouble transitioning their diets even if they want to change. Meatless Mondays make it easy for this transition. I can attest to that with my own family.