'Vegan Is Love': Children's Book By Ruby Roth Causes Controversy

[Jello Biafra]

A children's book that will be released next week is stirring up controversy among parents. It's called "Vegan is Love," and according to the publisher, is a young readers' introduction "to veganism as a lifestyle of compassion and action." The details, however, including images of animals behind bars in crowded cages and graphic passages about animal testing are being called unsuitable for children –- the book is intended for kids as young as 6-years-old.

The pro-vegan message of the book isn't in dispute. While there is debate about whether an animal-product-free diet from birth is appropriate, nutritionists (and activists including Alicia Silverstone) agree that a vegan regimen can be healthy for little kids as long as their meals include enough supplemental nutrients and proteins. That said, the tone and wording in "Vegan Is Love" has experts concerned.

<snip>

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/04/20/vegan-is-love-book_n_1441699.html

I don't agree with veganism, but this topic makes for a good debate....

[LeftyMom]

1. Before anybody says something stupid:

"It is the position of the American Dietetic Association that appropriately planned vegetarian diets, including total vegetarian or vegan diets, are healthful, nutritionally adequate, and may provide health benefits in the prevention and treatment of certain diseases. Well-planned vegetarian diets are appropriate for individuals during all stages of the life cycle, including pregnancy, lactation, infancy, childhood, and adolescence, and for athletes."

http://www.eatright.org/about/content.aspx?id=8357

[Marrah_G]

2. No problem with the premise of the book or the title

I think every person, every family has to make their own choices on what is right for them and Veganism is one of those choices. I hope this thread does not evolve into a flamefest between Omnivores and Vegetarians. here's to hoping everyone stays civil and respectful of others choices.

[Exultant Democracy]

3. There is no Santa and meat comes from slaughter

the truth is the truth and it should not be hidden from anyone including children.

[stuntcat]

9. yah

+1
People need to face a lot of stuff.

[SammyWinstonJack]

13. +1000!

[customerserviceguy]

20. Kids raised on farms already know that

and I don't know that there's a higher incidence of veganism/vegetarianism among them. I'd venture to guess that a smaller percentage of them go for that lifestyle.

[veganlush]

4. it's bad enough that the truth is hidden from adults

how are people supposed to make educated decisions when information is blacked out as it is in the case of factory "farming"?

[flvegan]

5. Oh, baby. Totally in early.

[gratuitous]

6. What gives me a :wtf: moment is . . .

The folks objecting to Ms. Roth's book are, by and large, completely and totally silent on children's welfare otherwise. The number of children who go hungry each day hardly causes a ripple amongst most of the people who are guaranteed to be bloviating about this book in the days to come. And they will not utter a peep about "food security" issues* in our country, but they will be in their highest of high dudgeon about this book.

*What we used to call "going hungry."

[Cali_Democrat]

7. I heard vegan diets were bad for men

Apparently vegan diets contain a lot of soy and soy contains too much estrogen for male bodies.

Has anyone heard of this?

[flvegan]

8. Actually

The phytoestrogen in soy deal is largely nonsense when it comes to men. I've heard of it many times as it's one of those old myths that keeps popping up.

[Cali_Democrat]

10. That's interesting

I actually prefer vegan food, at least my body does. It's a lot easier to digest and I just feel better...more energetic.

[Mendocino]

12. NTSA

I'm a male vegan and have no problems.

[undeterred]

23. Other than your menstrual period, of course.

[Mendocino]

28. ?

[flvegan]

31. Methinks undeterred has made a joke.

Just guessing.

[obamanut2012]

15. That's a well-trotted out myth

Including people claiming a friend of a friend grew "moobs" because of estrogen from tofu.


Also, you can be vegetarian or vegan and eat zero soy.

[undeterred]

11. I wonder if the "lifestyle of compassion and action" message could quite easily

be extended to not killing human beings.

[ZombieHorde]

14. Sounds less brutal then my own religious upbringing in the RCC.

Many major health groups in the US believe veganism is extremely healthy, such as the American Cancer Society, and the American Heart Association.

On a side note, I enjoyed your music when I was a teenager.

[Luminous Animal]

17. He's still playing (the real Jello - not the OP imposter)

I've seen him 4 or 5 times in as many years.

Jello Biafra & the Guantanamo School of Medicine in Dublin...

[Jello Biafra]

19. The real Jello still has it....n/t

[obamanut2012]

16. Why don't you "agree" with veganism?

[Jello Biafra]

18. It's a personal choice that I choose not to be a vegan....

and I'm not against those who espouse this type of diet.

And it's a long story why I'm not.....

[customerserviceguy]

21. If "Vegan is Love"

is carnivore hate? If you are looking for a reason for the counter-reaction to this book, it's that very implication.

[Luminous Animal]

25. If Christ is love, then is

Judaism hate?

[customerserviceguy]

34. Maybe

Is Judaism the opposite of Christianity? If so, then I see your point.

In any case, people who like to eat meat (myself included) do worry about veganism/vegetarianism becoming a political force, just as the so-called "pro life" movement seeks to establish its religious beliefs about what forms of life are worthy of government protection. Me, not so much, since I figure that for the rest of my life, I'll always find someplace I can move to in order to be able to legally buy a steak, but there are those who are far more paranoid about veganism/vegetarianism than I am.

[Archae]

22. Why are some vegans so intent on spreading propaganda?

That's exactly what this book is.

"Vegan Is Love."

And eating a burger is hatred?

It's pure bullshit.
Want to be a vegan, be my guest.
Just quit spreading this absolute horseshit.

[Luminous Animal]

24. Children's hunting books.

http://www.amazon.com/Childrens-Hunting-Books/lm/RELLAIX4RJODN

[Archae]

26. Too young.

Those are propaganda also.

"Daddy and I went out and saw Bambi, an' he shot him!"
(Bambi was a male, BTW.)

[Luminous Animal]

29. I grew up in a farming/hunting community...

I don't remember a time of not living it. The butcher room was just off the back. It was also the room in which we ate. In late winter to early spring, I don't think I had a meal without a dead carcass hanging from the ceiling.

Anyhoo.... we all buy propaganda for our children. Some people buy religious based propaganda, some progressive social propaganda, some hunting propaganda, some vegan propaganda. Certainly, a meat eating hunting family won't buy this book so why should they care? And why shouldn't a vegan family have a book that positively illustrates their family's choices?

[CBGLuthier]

32. you mean spreading THEIR beliefs? Yeah, why do people try to do that?

I am no vegan but if vegans want to encourage veganism that is AOK with me.

[whatchamacallit]

33. "And eating a burger is hatred?"

isn't it?

[flvegan]

35. Apocalyptical leap there, congrats.

Which part of it is "absolute horseshit" anyway?

I'm a vegan and I eat burgers all the time, btw.

[slackmaster]

27. Love is nice but the sub-text amounts to a blanket personal attack on non-vegans

[Luminous Animal]

30. Well, if your little critter ever gets her hands on this book and suffers the

Last edited Mon Apr 23, 2012, 11:17 PM - Edit history (1)

shame of meat eating, you can always take her to the nearest slaughterhouse to illustrate what real love for animals looks like.

[meaculpa2011]

36. Dry Aged Porterhouse is...

true love. And I love Dry Aged Porterhouse.

[cyberswede]

37. Jeez Louise...what a stupid controversy.

If anyone doesn't want their kid to read the book, they can tell them not to read it.

It's the same crap we recently dealt with at our school when a parent had kittens about the book "It's So Amazing" which *gasp* talks about puberty and reproduction and SPERM! Oh noes!

Books can inspire teachable moments, folks. If someone takes issue with the treatment of the subject, they can discuss it with their kid and explain their objections, and even ask for their kid's impression of the subject (shocking, I know), and have a dialog about it. I guarantee a kid will have more respect for an adult's opinion of something if the adult takes the time to explain their view rather than pretending other views don't exist.