Taking on an Institution

The Backstory
I was invited (read: invited to pay $95) to a luncheon on Wednesday about TNR by an organization on Palm Beach that's not exactly friendly to outsiders. (I used to live there, and few people and fewer organizations there are friendly to outsiders.) Going in with a bang, I have RSVP'd that I assume lunch will be vegan (can you say No chance?). I look forward to the response I get, if any, in addition to the welcoming I get.

At mere weeks from turning 42, I will be the youngest person in attendance, probably by two decades. The organizer, who is a man, will likely be the only man in the room. There will be at least one other outsider, Dr. Julie Levy of the University of Florida.

Dr. Levy's clinical interests center on feline infectious diseases, neonatal kitten health, humane alternatives for cat population control, and immunocontraceptive vaccines for cats. She is the founder of two university-based feral cat spay/neuter programs which have sterilized more than 40,000 cats since 1994 (Operation Catnip). Dr. Levy’s accomplishments include publication of more than 100 journal articles and textbook chapters.

Fabulous.

I plan to find a way to discuss veganism (again, I'm making assumptions, such as my fellow attendees, with the exception of Dr. Levy, don't even know what a vegan is), such as by comparing the cats we share an affinity for with the cows and chickens who are like them in at least one very important way (sentience, but I might not use the word).

Intergenerational communication can be dicey, but in this case the group probably needs some kind of succession plan (which wouldn't include me because I don't live there, but I might know someone . . . ), so it would behoove them to lend me an ear. I haven't had much luck getting my own parents to go vegan (my mother was promising and did stop eating meat for a while, but alas, not killing animals--even her beloved cows--is simply not that important to her).

And the question (finally): Has anyone had success with 60+ year olds whom you do not live with (heck, or even the ones you do live with)? If I were to wager, I'd put my money on the health reasons for going vegan as most likely to succeed with this population. I do know a handful of vegans who are a couple of decades older than I, some of whom are recent converts, and health is the argument that made the difference for them.

If anyone is 60+, I'd of course like to hear from you, too!

Comments

[Bea Elliott]

Many of my neighbors are seniors... yes, more are focused on personal health issues than animal well being. But it's not totally beyond their list of concerns either. We've discussed today's factory farm conditions and they tell me of the "good old days" when they knew someone with a farm... and the chickens, cows and pigs got to have at least a certain type of "acceptable" life. Most are uncomfortable with the idea that animals today are killed so very young. An elderly woman just yesterday told me that in her day the cows were at least 8 to 10 years old before (the deed was done)...this to her was more in line with her view of what is "decent" or "humane".

I've found more seniors to be sympathetic than 20-40 year olds... perhaps it's a learned compassion that a 35 year old is just too "busy" to acknowledge?

The seniors I know tell me their meals consist of 4 or 5 vegetables with an occassional small side of "meat" - and that is the way they've eaten all their lives. Before the "affluence", the "wealth" and conveniences... And they don't like drugged animals in cages...

I'm certain they would not eliminate eggs from their diet - but they favor the ones that come from the "Elliott hens" - I think seniors are particularly disgusted at the way chickens are treated as many had "backyard birds" in their day - and today's conditions are so miserably cruel...

Mary, I wouldn't totally rule out connecting with seniors - they empathize a lot more than you'd think... And for what it's worth - a PP brochure made it's way from my neighbor's to their great grandson's hands... he's trying "vegan" now :)

"I have RSVP'd that I assume lunch will be vegan" - LOL! you're a (loveable) hoot!

[adam]

Seniors are actually the #1 demographic to be reducing meat consumption (because of health), however, they don't really go vegetarian. They are already set in habit so there probably a very limited chance that they will abstain from any particular animal food other than red meats. Fish and eggs will probably be the least like they will give up--and maybe milk too because of the whole osteoporosis thing.

I'd say bring some information about why milk can harm bones as well as stuff on factory farming--which they'll most likely oppose. I think because they will all be rich and white they will also be less likely to give up their habits (because they'll think they are the best)--at least I've found (rich) white men the least receptive, and I've heard people of color and young women are the most.

If you'd like, you can email me and I can email you a pamphlet I made to target more conservative audiences from a "family values" perspective.