I have really enjoyed reflecting on my commitment to vegetarianism during the course this semester. It has been interesting to look at the various perspectives surrounding meat consumption and vegetarianism through talking to other people and learning about some of the main factors and influencers to one’s choice to become a vegetarian. For me, my reason is that I do not feel that I have any right to eat another animal just because I want to or that it tastes good. This I feel is very pertinent to Nonviolence. In our modern world with the many options and choices that we have each day, we can imbue meaning and purpose in even the most mundane aspects of daily life such as pursuing a vegetarian diet. I feel that this experience has brought me closer to the food that I eat as I am more careful and aware of the types of food I am eating and where it has come from.
One major reason why I think vegetarianism has yet to really go mainstream in the United States is because of how disproportionally expensive fresh fruits and vegetables are in many areas. Furthermore, certain neighborhoods and towns have no access to produce without traveling far away by car to a neighboring town. This lack of access to inexpensive fruits and vegetables, I believe, is the major reason for unhealthy eating in America. As a direct result of immense government subsidies to Corn/ Grain and Dairy farmers, the price of less wholesome foods excluding fruits and vegetables is able to be marked down, making the price of produce artificially inflated in comparison.
In the end, I think that improving access to affordable fruits and vegetables to different communities is of most importance. It is a truly privileged ability of mine to pursue a vegetarian diet as I am not reliant on a limited quantity of food that I must survive on. Nevertheless, I have really come to appreciate the practice more than I did before.
Luc, your awareness in taking note of the reason behind the lack of vegetarianism in the United States in admirable. I think that if more people were more motivated to do something about this lack of access to inexpensive fruits and vegetables, that vegetarianism could definitely become more mainstream.
One thing that could have been done, or can be done in the future, is discussing the importance of vegetarianism to you with your friends in order to make vegetarianism a more mainstream part of our culture.