I got called crazy by a kid in Sunday School yesterday
because I'm a vegetarian. I was subbing with the 3rd and 4th grade class and the discussion was about differences between people in your school. One of the questions was "Are there any vegetarians at your school?" They did not know what a vegetarian is. I explained that we don't eat anything with a face or a mother. This kid went through the whole list of animals and when I said no to eating each and everyone of them, he asked what I did eat and then called me crazy. I'm going to take them some Christian Vegetarian Association brochures (with a note on the back that I'm not trying to convert them, it's just for informational purposes.) I'd also like to bring a tofu-based snack that they can try but it'll be 9:30 in the morning and they're 8-10 year olds. I'm thinking of making "The Pigs are Safe in the Barn" recipe or the "Tofu fingers" . Any other ideas?
I may stir up a big sh*t storm with these kids' parents because the judgmental kid, in particular, has family who are ranchers. (I know his mother's twin sister's husband is a rancher but I'm not sure about his parents, but they probably are too.)
Some kid at school said I was nuts because we were making chicken wraps in Family Studies and I said I don't eat meat. (the teacher let me make a veggie wrap)
You should make something super delicious, like a tofu chocolate pie or whatever those are called... (just make sure none of the kids are allergic to soy!) I know that sounds "i told you so" and competitive, but... it's just to show them that tofu is awesome! and it can be used in anything, practically.
I don't see why the parents would care. You aren't trying to convert the kids, you're just teaching them to be open-minded about this sort of thing.
Maybe I'm just being defensive but I could see them taking it as a threat to their livelihood. I have a comeback prepared if they tell me that their livelihood depends on people like me eating beef. "An oncologist depends on people like me getting cancer for his livelihood but I don't want to do that either!"
"An oncologist depends on people like me getting cancer for his livelihood but I don't want to do that either!"
That is so great! What a line! I never heard that before.....is that a TinTexas original?! ;D
I also want to add that I know you want to do the "right thing" by giving the kids some "Christian Vegetarian Association brochures "....and that you plan on writing a "disclosure" on the back....I'm sure where you were teaching that the majority...if not ALL the kids are christian, but if I had a child in school, and my son or daughter brought something home like that...that was handed to them by a teacher....I would see nothing about the "vegetarian" part of it....I'd see the whole christian thing and I'd lose my mind!...though I have a feeling that in "your neck of the woods" the school body is probably 100% christian....maybe not. If there are any brochures you could find that just tell the facts of being veggie without a religious bias to them, that is what I would give out.....try www.farmsanctuary.org They have lots and lots of brochures that they will send you for free. Peta also has brochures directed towards a veggie diet for kids that are informative and "kid friendly" that they will also send you for free.
It's just my point of view on the matter...what do I know?.....I'm an Atheist, and my feelings for what i believe are probably not as strong as what you believe.....on the other hand the run pretty deep inside of me....it's just a touchy subject when I hear about any religious-based literature being handed out in a public school. TinTexas, maybe just like you...I don't push my beliefs on anyone...I don't. Just try to keep it "legal"...since there are laws about handing out religious literature in puplic schools.....i don't know what they are in your state.....
Dave..
She said it was in Sunday School, like a CCD class or something, so I'm assuming it is a christian school, or just a class by the church. ;)
I'm an atheist as well, in a really christian conservative and redneck school, meaning ''God made us to eat meat'' is thrown at me a lot. ;D I've mentioned it several times before but can't say it enough >> There are mounted deer heads in my class rooms! And not evenjust the science room! :o
Dave..
She said it was in Sunday School, like a CCD class or something, so I'm assuming it is a christian school, or just a class by the church. ;)
I'm an atheist as well, in a really christian conservative and redneck school, meaning ''God made us to eat meat'' is thrown at me a lot. ;D I've mentioned it several times before but can't say it enough >> There are mounted deer heads in my class rooms! And not evenjust the science room! :o
OOPS! I'm an IDIOT! I missed that in her heading (the Sunday School thing)! Sorry TinTexas!I'm also sorry you have to deal with that in your school Julia Vegan (you did post that once before...ugh)!...I am! Well on another note, they passed a law that will let them teach the bible as history in my great state of "Gawga".....I guess they are skipping the torah, the koran, and the other "text books" they want my tax dollars to pay for.....Julia....I'd be curious to find out if they "purchased" those deer heads in your class room and if local, state or federal tax dollars were used to purchase those "great works of art" from local hunters....maybe you should inquire into it......I too am an "Extreme Liberal" stuck in a redneck state...though I'm moving to Asheville, NC...still a "Red State", but at least that little section of NC will let me "mingle" with other liberals...I can SOOO not wait!
I'm going to take them some Christian Vegetarian Association brochures (with a note on the back that I'm not trying to convert them, it's just for informational purposes.) I'd also like to bring a tofu-based snack that they can try.... I may stir up a big sh*t storm with these kids' parents because the judgmental kid, in particular, has family who are ranchers.
Good luck with that. ;)
I see it turning into something that could get you disbarment from Sunday School teaching duties. Ranchers + Christianity = Trouble. I'd recommend adding brochures for a couple of other ways kids are different at their school (disabilities, etc.) and give them the packet without the disclaimer on the vegetarian brochure. I don't like tofu so I can't recommend a recipe - but as long as no one has soy allergies, kids (especially 10-year-old boys) like to eat as long as it's a variation on a familiar food.
Kids have called me crazy for nearly everything I've ever done - it's a word they use rather freely. Any time that I do something they perceive as not-fun, it's "crazy." They might not mean that they don't admire it, just that it doesn't sound like fun. Of course, you may have sensed some malice in the statement that a quote doesn't convey.
I think I would not bring it up directly to the kids. I tend to be of the opinion that as long as minors are minors, their parents have the right to raise them according to their own beliefs. I wouldn't want someone at Church trying to get my kids (if I had any) to eat meat, and likewise, I expect they might not want me to make their kids go veggie. Especially since they are ranchers. I disagree with them, but respect their rights.
I might gently bring it up with the parents, tho . . .
A lot of what Anna1111 said was my first reaction. Assuming you thought about that and decided to open Pandora's box anyway & you may move soon for your husband's teaching job... I think the point of vegan outreach (if there is such a thing) is that being vegan isn't a big deal. Why does it have to be tofu? "Tofu" is a fighting word. You could make something with omni ingredients, like legumes, and make sure that tasted really flavorful.
The Delicious Pakistani Dhal :P is very good and it's something that wouldn't scare the ranchers as long as you renamed the recipe. :(
Hang tough. I believe it was Mark Twain who said, if you live your life in such a way that no one could possibly take exception to anything you do, you will not do much... ;)
I can recommend Strawberry Jam's Chocolate Tofu Pudding, on this site, if you check on the soy allergy thing. Every kid loves chocolate pudding. Even my big balding 62 year old "kid." ;D If you made little individual servings somehow (paper cups?) mess would be minimal.
Dave..
She said it was in Sunday School, like a CCD class or something, so I'm assuming it is a christian school, or just a class by the church. ;)
I'm an atheist as well, in a really christian conservative and redneck school, meaning ''God made us to eat meat'' is thrown at me a lot. ;D I've mentioned it several times before but can't say it enough >> There are mounted deer heads in my class rooms! And not evenjust the science room! :o
OOPS! I'm an IDIOT! I missed that in her heading (the Sunday School thing)! Sorry TinTexas!I'm also sorry you have to deal with that in your school Julia Vegan (you did post that once before...ugh)!...I am! Well on another note, they passed a law that will let them teach the bible as history in my great state of "Gawga".....I guess they are skipping the torah, the koran, and the other "text books" they want my tax dollars to pay for.....Julia....I'd be curious to find out if they "purchased" those deer heads in your class room and if local, state or federal tax dollars were used to purchase those "great works of art" from local hunters....maybe you should inquire into it......I too am an "Extreme Liberal" stuck in a redneck state...though I'm moving to Asheville, NC...still a "Red State", but at least that little section of NC will let me "mingle" with other liberals...I can SOOO not wait!
"Our founding fathers were good Christian men, and that's what our ocuntry is based on. If you don't like it, leave, and that goes for keeping 'under God' in the Pledge too!" was this one girl's argument in my English class for her persuasive speech. Nice, eh?
It was directed at me too, and her older brother popped into the middle of the class and screamed "No one cares what you think Julia"
Off topic a little, but it just shows the basis of my school. It didn't bother me at all, and just made me giggle a bit at their ignorance if anything.
As for the deer, Dave, they were all shot by the teachers who use the rooms, taxidermed wtih their own money, I'm assuming. Nonetheless ridiculous. It kind of take their personal desk space to a new level.
Eh, who knows. Can't complain much in a school were there is still incest and pregnancy by cousins and 14 year olds driving to school. :P
All this and I can't even bring my coffee to school. Ugh. :D
TinTexas,
instead of sending something home that might get into their maybe-quick-to-judge parents' hands, why don't you throw a little Gen 1:29 into your next class to show them that there is a Biblical basis for veg*nism as well??
just a thought...
fiona
"Our founding fathers were good Christian men, and that's what our ocuntry is based on. If you don't like it, leave, and that goes for keeping 'under God' in the Pledge too!" was this one girl's argument in my English class for her persuasive speech. Nice, eh?
It was directed at me too, and her older brother popped into the middle of the class and screamed "No one cares what you think Julia"
Off topic a little, but it just shows the basis of my school. It didn't bother me at all, and just made me giggle a bit at their ignorance if anything.
Julia - I'm really sorry you have to go through that. It sounds like you are handling it as well as you can. The best news is that it gets better. In high school it seems that anyone who is smart or different in any way is singled out and disgraced. In college, being smart and "different" (i.e. vegan) is admired. Go figure.
kids... *shakes head*
anyway, not sure about the brochures, thats up to you, i think parents could get kinda miffed if they're uptight like some super-religious people i know
but i think the vegetarian snack idea would be good, you just have to be careful with allergies..
I'm still debating whether to make an issue of it. I just hate that someone so young is already so prejudiced against someone who lives differently from them. >:( I'll probably just put the brochures where anyone can take one if they want it. It's funny and sad at the same time that some of the older people in the church have remarked that so many people have cancer and something needs to be done about it. I wonder if they've even considered that the meat they eat could cause at least 60% of the cancers if not more.
As for the oncologist/cancer comment, as far as I know, it's original with me. But I have to say that I might have read something similar and forgotten about it until it bubbled up from the memory banks. I kinda don't think so.
One thing you can do is bring vegan dishes to the covered dish dinners at Church, and let people know that's what they are.
You could possibly invite the boy and his parents to your house for a veggie dinner, and just make a friendly evening of it - don't even discuss diet, just expose them to great veggie food (warn them in advance that you're vegetarian, so they're prepared).
You could have a Missions or poverty-awareness potluck in which dishes are served based on rice&beans - the foods eaten in impoverished countries - I went to a great potluck on that theme once - no "luxury" foods like meat and cheese!
You could have a health fair at the Church where blood pressures are taken and stuff like that and have a vegan-info booth. One Church in our town had a company come that did carotid&aorta sonograms and bone density tests for about $100 as a service to members - that is a great opportunity to discuss heart-health and calcium/protein/bone density issues.
You could have a cancer-awareness fair with a similar emphasis, since that is a concern.
You may even be able to have someone come from a speakers bureau (I suppose Howard Lyman is out of your budget :D)
I think there are lots of good options that could include the adults in a non-confrontational way and very effectively share the info you have.
"Our founding fathers were good Christian men, and that's what our ocuntry is based on. If you don't like it, leave, and that goes for keeping 'under God' in the Pledge too!" was this one girl's argument in my English class for her persuasive speech. Nice, eh?
It was directed at me too, and her older brother popped into the middle of the class and screamed "No one cares what you think Julia"
Off topic a little, but it just shows the basis of my school. It didn't bother me at all, and just made me giggle a bit at their ignorance if anything.
Julia - I'm really sorry you have to go through that. It sounds like you are handling it as well as you can. The best news is that it gets better. In high school it seems that anyone who is smart or different in any way is singled out and disgraced. In college, being smart and "different" (i.e. vegan) is admired. Go figure.
Oh no apologies, please ;) I'm just waiting for the day when they wake up and just go "Oh."
Or, well, the day they say something similar to someone not as passive and tolerable as myself ;D
I would pretty much leave the whole diet thing alone. Instead, since they are Christian, (or "Christian") I would emphasize Matthew 7:1-2. You know, those pesky verses about how one shouldn't judge others? How is it that so many "Christians" forget this simple commandment? Wait, that wasn't judgmental of me, was it? :-\
I would pretty much leave the whole diet thing alone. Instead, since they are Christian, (or "Christian") I would emphasize Matthew 7:1-2. You know, those pesky verses about how one shouldn't judge others? How is it that so many "Christians" forget this simple commandment? Wait, that wasn't judgmental of me, was it? :-\
A few minutes after that the lesson did include that verse from Matthew. I pointed out that calling someone crazy because of their dietary choices was being judgmental and he seemed to get that. I just feel the need to "prove" to the little punk (yeah, that's judging :D ) that there are other diets that are to be respected besides the SAD.
Glad to hear that he made the connection; many adults don't. I really like tofu salad sandwiches. But since we're talking about kids here, maybe brownies that rely on tofu as the binder?
The more I think about it, the more I probably won't go to the trouble to enlighten the kids. I'm having surgery to remove half my thyroid next Tuesday and I need to focus on taking care of myself over the weekend. I have no idea how long the recovery process will take or whether I'll even feel like eating much when I get home but I'm thinking of putting some stuff in the freezer for when it's my days to cook. DH and I alternate on cooking supper.
Pages