Presidential Distraction....
Yony Mazal
Sorry I haven't posted anything recently.....Haven't forgotten
about you guys, just been totally immersed in this presidential race.
I mean who isn't? It's pretty entertaining. That and the outcome of
this race will determine how life as we know it on earth will play-out
over the next 4, possibly 8 years.
Anyways...as I start to zone out to the TV and I begin to
contemplate about how I feel about each issue after issue that comes-
up, I can't help but wonder which president would be the "Vegan
President". Not that I think any of them are even remotely
vegetarian, but they say Hillary had the woman vote, Obama the black
vote, Guliani no votes (just joshin')....but seriously, who has
the"Vegan Vote"? I've always assumed all veg-heads were democratic,
but seems a bit of an ignorant blanket statement to me. There has to
be a few vegetarian GOP's right? Somewhere? Anywhere?
And assuming there is such a thing as a Republican
Vegetarian.....how do you think these "Vegicans" (vegetarian
republicans...get it?) feel about Palin and her pride in moose-
hunting? Or the ones that aren't vegan for animal rights reasons, but
maybe health reasons instead. Would they really turn down the
possibility of universal health care under Barack? And don't forget
the environmental vegicans....Would they opt for the choice of more
drilling for oil verse the choice for a 10yr commitment to reach a
society fully dependent on alternative energy? I question whether
the vegetarian republican would be fiscally conservative enough to
realize the price difference between a steak dinner and a tofu stir-
fry?
Anyways, enough rambling from me. What do you all think?
A) Is there such a thing as a vegan republican and have you actually
ever met one?
B) Which presedential candidate currently has the "vegan vote" and
why?
-Yony Mazal
Veggie Political Think-Tank
Rebecca Bowles
when the candidates aren't even remotely close to what you'd like to see
and this year is so frightening because of the lack of experience in both
parties! I've been through enough elections to learn that you are hearing
speeches written by professionals...some are good, some not so good. But
they are all just words and promises yet to be validated with action. My
motto is "don't tell me, show me." And again, there is very little
experience to be shown in some of these folks.
As far as seeking a vegan, I think more deeply it is to seek form someone
ethical and spiritual (not religious,mind you). On rare ocassions,
kindness accompanies the ethical and spiritual person. When I here someone
telling me to pray or speeking of God, I instantly lose hope in their
ability to lead diversely. There are too many different cultures in the US
for those of us who are not Christian to have to be offended by our
possible "leaders" telling us to pray, or who to pray to, or what to pray
for or what we should accept as some fairtale God's will. I voted for
Nader last time....this time I'm not voting at all. Food for thought
from.....
Rebecca Bowles
740-246-5058
susen...@earthlink.net
> [Original Message]
> From: Yony Mazal <jrm...@gmail.com>
> To: OrganicAthlete Columbus <oacol...@googlegroups.com>
> Date: 9/12/2008 6:25:14 PM
> Subject: [OrganicAthlete Columbus] Presidential Distraction....
Priya Shanker
I do know of one prominent vegan Republican, although he's not a politician and I haven't met him personally. Matthew Scully, former speechwriter for both presidents Bush. Hard to believe, but he wrote Sarah Palin's speech! Scully is the author of "Dominion: The Power of Man, the Suffering of Animals, and the Call to Mercy". This has a number of animal advocates in an uproar, but a few have a different take on it. They believe that Scully can be a positive influence on Palin and her policies. See the following article:
http://www.time.com/time/politics/article/0,8599,1838808,00.html
Personally, I know a couple of vegetarians who told me that they're voting for McCain/Palin. They agree with the GOP stance on most of the hot-button issues, and the vegetarian/animal rights issue just isn't that important to them (they view it more as "personal choice"). :(
As for the candidate with the "vegan vote", I'd say Obama is our best chance, though he's not a vegetarian. In fact, I saw a news clip where he made a joke about vegetarians. Of course, Kucinich is my first choice.
Priya