While I'm sure there are medical conditions that do necessitate the consumption of animal products, it seems to me plenty get bandied about as barriers against difficult conversations when other mental gymnastics have failed.
I've not found a medical need for meat, dairy, eggs in ten years of searching, though would love to be presented with information to the contrary. There are points on availability of food when numerous allergies are factored in, there are mental health conditions which could make things more difficult, and there are lots of medicines without a vegan alternative. Essentially, with proper support, nobody seems to have a need which cannot be addressed. The problem is that proper support does not exist for many, but the more of us demand support and availability the more people can do.
Appreciate your insightful response. I certainly don't have any information to the contrary.
And, yes, that is the problem: proper support doesn't exist because it is not seen as an imperative. As always, the root issue is humanity's conditioned view of non-human animals as objects to be used and exploited. If respecting their autonomy became the prevailing attitude, there wouldn't be a single claimed or real necessity that couldn't be met or overcome.
Great article, as always.
While I'm sure there are medical conditions that do necessitate the consumption of animal products, it seems to me plenty get bandied about as barriers against difficult conversations when other mental gymnastics have failed.
I've not found a medical need for meat, dairy, eggs in ten years of searching, though would love to be presented with information to the contrary. There are points on availability of food when numerous allergies are factored in, there are mental health conditions which could make things more difficult, and there are lots of medicines without a vegan alternative. Essentially, with proper support, nobody seems to have a need which cannot be addressed. The problem is that proper support does not exist for many, but the more of us demand support and availability the more people can do.
Appreciate your insightful response. I certainly don't have any information to the contrary.
And, yes, that is the problem: proper support doesn't exist because it is not seen as an imperative. As always, the root issue is humanity's conditioned view of non-human animals as objects to be used and exploited. If respecting their autonomy became the prevailing attitude, there wouldn't be a single claimed or real necessity that couldn't be met or overcome.