Room at the Thanksgiving Table
I’m not vegan. Far from it. Have I thought about it? Sure. Did I research it? Yes. But I love meat. Simple as that. I completely respect and see the benefits of a plant-based diet and lifestyle. I also admire the dedication and commitment vegans have to this lifestyle. Whatever their motivation, vegans are disciplined! Some love animals too much to eat them, others want a healthier diet, and others seek to avoid a food source whose origins are unknown in place of plants whose origins come from their backyard.
There are tons of memes about vegans and their “holier than thou” stereotype. In the face of criticism and questioning, it’s no wonder vegans (and vegetarians) feel compelled to defend their choice. How do you get enough protein? How is that healthy? Do you eat anything besides salad?
Thanksgiving is probably the worst time of year for my vegan friends. Everyone is accusing them of ruining the sacred turkey tradition and asking how on earth they could possibly celebrate Thanksgiving. Fuck that. The meal is not about the damn turkey. And if you want to get political with me about turkey, I’ll remind you of how problematic it is to celebrate a holiday rooted in lies about Indigenous people. Gathering around the table, saying what we’re thankful for, and sharing a meal is how my family and many American families celebrate the day. Trust me, my favorite part is stuffing that has been shoved into and extracted from the body of a bird. While I desperately want to eat it, if I showed up at a vegan’s home and she didn’t have any, I would survive. My Thanksgiving would NOT be ruined.
Many people hold holidays and their associated traditions sacred. I get it. But I also see the trouble with traditions. They’re exclusionary. They don’t leave much room for reflection or the opportunity for new ideas or opinions. Hence why we continue to celebrate a holiday without learning more about its origins for fear it would undermine our warm and fuzzy feelings. The assumption that things must stay the same to keep a certain group of people happy while not considering the unhappiness of another group. It separates people, rather than bringing them together. Traditions can be modified and should be modified to be more inclusive. So let your sister bring her vegan stuffing, don’t make jokes about it, and for crying out loud just TRY IT. It will not compromise your meat-eating values. It will not ruin your Thanksgiving. In fact, I found there is room on the table for everyone’s dish.
