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Calála's picture

Trust and vegetarianism

For the most part as I have been reading Pollan's book I have found myself trusting his argument. But that does not mean that I necessarily agree with all of it. While reading the chapter about vegetarians, the part of Pollan's argument that sturck me the most was that being a vegetarian "alienates [him] from other people and, odd as this might sound, from a whole dimension of human experience" (314). As a a vegetarian I will admit that there have been more than a few times when I have wished that I ate mean for the sake of it being convenient. This occurs most often when I am traveling and I am eating according to another culture's dietary norms. However, despite the fact that once in a while it would be easier if I could just eat some chicken or steak, I do not agree with Pollan that bein a vegetarian forces isolation from cultural traditions. Over the years my sister and I have both become vegetarian (she was vegan for a few years as well). These dietary choices have allowed my family to create our own traditions. I have never felt like I missed out on Thanksgiving because I wasn't eating Turkey or that skipping the fish at Passover seder meant I was skipping out on the entire holiday. Just because I trust that Pollan's arguments are well-supported and carefully researched, does not mean that I am entirely convinced that his views are right.

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