through a veil of righteousness

Lately I've been thinking about how people use morality and ethics as tools against other people, and how this applies to gardening and eating. Taking it as a given that we all want to live as morally and ethically as possible, and do the best we can most of the time, how do we manage to irritate each other so frequently about exactly these issues? My own failings in this line were brought home to me rather sharply this spring when a longtime friend asked me what we had eaten for Easter dinner. I replied enthusiastically and at some length about the ham I had been lucky enough to get: from a heritage breed pig, grown outdoors, naturally cured, and served with vegetables from our own garden. I asked in turn about her dinner, and she replied briefly 'Ham. From a sweatshop pig." Only then did I realize that,in my enthusiasm, I was creating a divide bewteen myself and someone I care about. I happen to care passionately about the issue of how meat animals are bred, treated, and killed, but it achieves nothing to go on too much about it, except to create a a barrier from other people. I've never thought of myself as an evangelical sort- on the contrary- but it pays to remember that we can all show the tendency when impassioned, and need to make some effort to restrain it. I find myself remembering a former professor who once said that the real test of your "liberalism" is whether you're able to keep some conservatives as friends. If not, he thought, you're not really a liberal, you're just a different sort of bigot. I'm reminded of a story I once read about the Dalai Lama, who was a strict vegetarian but would eat meat if it was served to him in someone's home because he felt that appreciating and responding to hospitality was a higher moral calling than vegetarianism. So I ask my vegetarian friends to tolerate me in a genuinely liberal spirit, and if someone invites me over to share a sweatshop ham, I'll share their meal with gratitude, although I might offer to bring the vegetables.

Tags: ethics, meat-eating, morality, vegetarianism

5 Comments

Comment by Penelope on May 11, 2008 at 3:21pm: Some really good points here. Thanks.

Comment by Roger on May 22, 2008 at 12:57pm: Nice post, Heather. It reminded me that the local or "delicious revolution" is still not as broad and inclusive as it needs to be. Hopefully, gardens and gardeners can help bridge the gap.

Comment by Greg on May 22, 2008 at 3:43pm: Wow, that made me stop and think. Working in a State Archives I see all sides of every issue. Usually the person coming in to do research assumes I share their opinion on any given topic. I am here to provide research materials and direction for finding resources. I never express a personal opinion to a member of the public and very rarely to a colleague. During election years there are plenty of opinions to go around. I have delt with neo-confederates (who tend to think I share their view because I am a white southern male) and pro-life/pro-choice groups. Gay rights, race issues, etc. It all walks in the door here.

One question I ask myself when dealing with a strongly opinionated person is this: If this person were to plant a garden what kind would it be and what would it look like?

About a third of my friends are liberal and a third are conservative. The rest I have no idea about. I keep to the golden rule as my grandparents taught me.

Comment by Ian on May 22, 2008 at 4:14pm: I missed this when you posted it Heather. An excellent post, one that maybe we should all read and consider.

Ian

Comment by Kate on May 30, 2008 at 2:04am: I read this when you first wrote it and have been ever so quiet but somehow I passed this way again and thought I would stir the pot a little. You see, I was very well-mannered and kept my mouth shut and myself to myself for almost 48 years! Underneath was a volcano that I didn't really even know about until I made the seedsavers blog! Now I am 49, nearly 50, and finally I am speaking my mind. Yes, I am passionate about what I want to say and sadly for some I am not going to stop saying it - sorry Heather, block your ears or close your eyes!

If I could not afford a heritage pig or whatever, I would refuse to eat any pig. This happens all the time - we all make choices. If someone cooks for me I will eat anything and not mention where it came from but, in a way, this is hypocritical itself. Friends are people who know where you stand and either put up with you for some reason even though you all disagree about some things, like your stance and admire you for it or agree fully with you.

We have all been wishy-washy for far too long and look where it has got us! I know I am always going against the grain and all that but right now that's where I want to be and for once I am doing it the way I want, not for my family or friends or anyone else! I hope you will tolerate me and even get to like me a little as time goes by, Heather!