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I have been vegan for over 25 years. I raised two totaly vegan kids who are now 22 and 19, who are really trying hard to deal with the questions and teasing that comes their way. I have been defending my position and trying hard to prove to anyone and everyone with whom I come into contact that veganism is neither weird nor unhealthy, that vegans are not weird or wacko or off the wall, and that as a lifestyle choice this vegan life is the best for the environment, for the animals and for health. I have to say Alicia that I am horrified by what you are doing with your son Bear. You are totally making a mockery of everything that I and many other vegan parents and vegans in general are doing. We are already seen as out on a limb - can you not imagine the damage you have just done to the vegan population by being seen on You Tube feeding your baby human as though he was a baby bird? What on earth do you think you are doing? You have discredited us. You have made us look completely wacky. I cannot believe that you thought this was a good idea - I don't care what you do at home with your family, and if you feel that chewing up food for a toddler is an OK thing to do, that is fine, but please please do not damage all the hard work that we have all been doing to try to be accepted by the general meat eating public out there. I am so saddened by this. People are laughing at you and therefore at all other vegans. I am so disappointed.
Don't be ridiculous .... I am a new vegan of 6 months and I think Alicia is amazing and wonderful and really encourages a KIND life and way of thinking, her book is also the reason I decided to become vegan. The people that get so upset by this sort of thing and put vegans in a box already had us all there and will probably only change their way of thinking when something happens in their own life to make them sit up and take notice. I am really impressed that Alicia isn't worried about what other people think and isn't forcing herself to act in a way to 'not upset' the non-vegans or be worried about what they might think. Being yourself is much more important, as is standing up for what you believe in. Her new 'kind way' is making vegan more popular and mainstream today than ever before and encouraging people to think outside their old ways of thinking.
I totaly agree that the kind way of thinking is an excellent way for people to see vegans - but come on, feeding your kid with chewed up food isn't exactly mainstream now is it, and anyone who wants to continue bashing a plant based way of life has even more ammunition now. Alicia is a very prominent figure - you may think that it doesn't matter what she posts on You Tube, but the majority of people will think she has gone crackers. And I already get told my diet is bird food - maybe I need to build a nest next!! And ou are right that most people who have even given a change of diet a moment of thought, will only actually make a change when the impact on them is so great they have no choice - same goes for Hummer drivers and throwaway styrofoam junk food addicts - but we could all do with showing that we are great ambasadors for a plant based and kind way of life - chewing food for our toddlers doesn't really help!!!
I think it's only odd because it's odd to you .... which is what the meat eating population says about veganism and yet we have read up on it, researched and realised that it's not so odd but a totally natural way of life ... the same could be said of this approach. It's just your opinion because it's unusal to you. I think Alicia has a very open approach to life and I find her inspiring, so if she's influenced so many of us to change to a kinder life, I think that's what we should focus on ... rather than what the close minded view of the population thinks ... they aren't easily swayed anyhow and I wouldn't want to be dictated by their reactions. I understand what you mean that it's frustrating having to deal with their comments (I really do understand that) and that this seems to give them fuel but I think if you just have a quiet confidence about it and an understanding of it all then their issues with it all are their issues and not ours.
Whatever! I am afraid a quiet confidence doesn't dispell the impression of vegan lunacy that masticating humans beak feeding babies leaves with the meat eating masses :-(
I agree mastication is odd. I probably wouldn't do it. But there's plenty of odd things vegans (and non-vegans) do that I wouldn't. For example, I couldn't be a raw vegan on a "mono-fruit diet" (i.e. eating only bananas)--but I am not going to hold it against someone who does and accuse them that they are hurting the vegan movement. There are different niches in everything. Overall, I think Alicia Silverstone has done a lot more good for the movement than harm. Afterall, she has probably transitioned more people to the diet than any of us ever have with her book and she has also created this forum to exchange veg info and for you to voice your opinions about her parenting practices. I have to admit that after 25 on a vegan diet, I am rather surprised how concerned you are about others opinions of your lifestyle. I am sure at 22 and 19, your kids are well-grounded enough in their views and beliefs to hold their own against people's ignorant comment. It is not going to become a veg-friendly world overnight whether or not Alicia feeds her son chewed up food or not.
I don't think what alicia did was about being vegan. I think it was about 'attachment parenting', which she supports and i do too. She takes a stand for alot of diff things other than veganism like recycleing, and buying used stuff. I think she was getting a message out there and it worked.
I am new to "the kind life" and have decided to change my lifestyle. I admire Alicia and this is why her blog is the first site I joined to help me on my new journey. Chewing up food and feeding it to your baby is nothing new. My mother did the same for my siblings and I when we were babies without a mouth full of teeth. We're still alive and well!
I have to agree with Melly Hew. I'm from the south and everyone from my grandparents to my aunts and uncles did this with us. It has NOTHING to do with being vegan or even living a "Kind Life." Different strokes for different folks. If you don't like it, don't do it!
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