I am a Truth-etarian

By Published On: 22 March 2010Last Updated: 17 January 2017

Have you noticed how many -tarian's there are these days? Lacto-ovo vegetarian, Lacto vegetarian, Ovo vegetarian, Su Vegetarian, Flexitarian, Pescetarian, Pollotarianism, or my favorite- the Semi-Vegetarian. Me? I'm a truth-etarian.

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Have you noticed how many -tarian’s there are these days?  Lacto-ovo vegetarian, Lacto vegetarian, Ovo vegetarian, Su Vegetarian, Flexitarian, Pescetarian, Pollotarianism, or my favorite- the Semi-Vegetarian.  And there’s more, so many more that I didn’t even list.

I, myself, am a truth-etarian.  I believe in speaking about animals in a respectful, unapologetic manner that sheds light (aka, the truth) on consuming animal products.

Truth: If you consume animals in any way, you are an omnivore.  Period.  I know it pisses people off to hear that, I know.  But whether you are consuming a hamburger from a fast food joint, or cheese from the gourmet health food stores, you are still consuming animals.  Similarly, exclaiming that you don’t eat food with faces while wearing your leather boots and carrying your leather purse, still means that you are consuming animals.

One doesn’t necessarily have to eat the animal to support the industry that raises, slaughters, and profits from its death.

Listen, before you get all worked up, I acknowledge that there is some good that comes from being one of those -tarian’s.  Anytime you can promote the reduction of consuming animals (and animal by-products) is good, right?  Only insofar as that one individual act helps, but advocating for the reduction of killing is not what I’m about.  I believe that if you consume animals, in any way, you are an omnivore- choosing which animals to kill for what reasons- plain and simple.

Maybe labels don’t matter this much.  But it gets under my skin when people put animals into ethical categories for deciding their fate of life or death.

It’s Ok to eat fish, they can’t feel, can they?

My Easter eggs were from free-range chickens, the carton said so.

I only eat organic cheese from happy cows.

My leather jacket is cool, and besides, the cow was already dead.

Under.  My.  Skin.

10 Comments

  1. Yudhae December 30, 2012 at 5:08 am - Reply

    Its a shame that vegan athletes seem to be vieewd as an exception to the rule that its amazing he can be vegan AND healthy. Healthy without meat? Who would have thought!Every day I watch the fit’ person in my office mixing his Whey Protein shakes and microwazing his steamed chicken breast and wondering if I should say anything or if he will one day learn animal protein, especially in abundance, is no good for your body.

  2. StaceyG May 25, 2011 at 1:43 pm - Reply

    Wendy, I have a feeling we could write essays back and forth on some of these issues. Unfortunately I don’t like writing quite that much (and I am at work, so I’m sure there are other things I should be doing).

    I guess I was a bit overly passionate in my initial reaction to your statement I referenced. I’m sure you’re not nuts (or a troll. Do you live under a bridge?), but that statement–standing on it’s own–would make most vegans say “wha?…”, hence my reaction. You’re right, hairs need not be split, and we can all work together in this.

    Have a happy, cruelty-free day.

  3. Wendy May 25, 2011 at 3:35 am - Reply

    There’s no need to be personally insulting.
    We both care about animals and want cruelty towards them to end. We should be joining forces to have cruel practices outlawed, not splitting hairs.

    Just as you believe that you are doing the best for animals which can survive in the wild in America, many people in Australia believe that by refusing to buy eggs from caged hens and insisting on free-range eggs, they are reinforcing their political fight against the cruel practice of caging hens.
    So far, consumer demands such as this, has led to the biggest chain of supermarkets changing what it stocks.

    I can see that we have a different experience of farming because our two countries are different.

    Unfortunately, we have feral foxes in Australia. They are causing even native animals to become extinct at the fastest rate in the world. Chickens wouldn’t stand a chance against foxes in Australia.

    During the recent 9 year drought, many Australian farmers who could not afford to buy fodder, had to leave their homes and take their cows along “the long paddock”. Every day the herds moved from place to place to feed on the last remaining grass along the edge of country roads. Without the stockmen, they would have starved.

    Sadly, white men introduced rabbits and foxes into Australia without thought for the havoc these non-native creatures would wreak on the harsh environment.
    The rabbits multiplied more prolifically and can move to new pastures when they have eaten all the grass much faster than small Australian fauna. They eat the vegetation needed by native animals. These are becoming extinct at an alarming rate. If our Australian sheep aren’t protected by fences along the road, they wander onto roads and die from thirst. New-born lambs need protection from birds of prey, foxes and the extremes of temperature in Australia. Many a farm I have stayed on has “poddy lambs” being cared for like pets because their mother has died.

    I am sorry, no matter how many times I read your assertion that “the dairy cow still dies” it doesn’t seem a logical argument. No animal lives forever. We can’t prevent animals from dying, even if they live all their life in the total freedom of the jungle.

    Animal lovers must join forces if they are to get the numbers to fight successfully against other humans getting away with using cruel practices; if we are to have legislation passed by the politicians we voted for against inhumane treatment or confinement of animals.

  4. StaceyG May 23, 2011 at 12:20 pm - Reply

    “Cows and sheep need fenced land”

    Are you nuts or just a troll? Do the American Bison need fenced land? How about all those mountain goats? Animals have survived and thrived since the beginning of time before we came along and decided to fence them in. Let a cow run free, and she’ll know that when she’s hungry, she needs to eat the grass that’s readily available. When she’s thirsty, she’ll easily find a creek, river, pond. She has hooves to protect her from predators. Same with sheep, goats, pigs… you get the point. Sure, adjusting to a life of complete freedom would take some adjusting, but give the animals some credit; they adapt amazingly well and have the natural instincts to survive.

    And to your first statement, it is the same. The dairy cow still dies, albeit a few years after you’ve drank her milk. Her existence is only continued until she’s making less money for the farmer. And let’s not forget the calves she gave birth to. Looking at it from that perspective, one glass of milk actually takes two lives, not just one. Being a vegetarian, buying cheese and eggs, still results in those animals dying, therefore being consumed.

    I agree with Ricky. You’re either vegan or you’re not, and I’m proud to say I am! And a truth-etarian to the end!

  5. Wendy May 23, 2011 at 3:02 am - Reply

    No. It’s not the same.
    Eating meat or fish involves the slaughter of an animal or fish.

    Eating milk, yoghurt, cheese or eggs and wearing wool ensures the continued existence of cows, sheep and chickens.

    If no one eats those products, the cows and chickens would have to be destroyed. They can’t exist in the wild the way fish do. (Cows and sheep need fenced land and have to be provided with food during long droughts. Chickens have to be protected from foxes.)

    If a farmer can’t sell milk, wool or eggs; then he would have no choice but to destroy his herds and flocks.

  6. Ricky Ferdon January 10, 2011 at 1:03 am - Reply

    Thanks for the piece. One is either a vegan or is not a vegan. Pretty straightforward. As I told my wife at my recent “coming out”: “Joyce, I’m now a vegan, without compromise.”

  7. LouisL December 28, 2010 at 3:20 am - Reply

    Fuck you, hippie commie asshole.

  8. SelahWrites April 14, 2010 at 6:21 am - Reply

    Thank you for putting my thoughts in writing. I’ve tweeted it. I couldn’t agree more on any point.

  9. busyhappyvegan March 23, 2010 at 9:55 pm - Reply

    Completely completely agreed. Great post.

  10. uberVU - social comments March 22, 2010 at 7:59 pm - Reply

    Social comments and analytics for this post…

    This post was mentioned on Twitter by YourDailyVegan: I am a truth-etarian http://ow.ly/1pxih #vegan…

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HELLO! I'm KD Angle-Traegner.

Writer, activist, and founder of Four Urban Paws Sanctuary. I’m on a mission to help people live a vegan life. Read more about KD…

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