Vegan Decision: Die kuh

I announced my vegetarianism at recess in the fourth grade after writing a love poem about cows in German class. It was the year 2000 on Valentine's Day and Frau Fuchs assigned us to write a poem about someone we love. The only thing I wished to declare my love for was the cow, or die Kuh.

My friend, Julia, joked that if I loved cows so much, I shouldn't eat them. I completely agreed. So Julia and I both decided to make the switch from steak to soy, bacon to beans, turf to tofu! After the first week or so, I was feeling great. Why I hadn't attempted this earlier is beyond me. It came so natural, so easy. I had never enjoyed eating meat and I was glad to never eat it again. It's been ten years since then and I haven't touched meat since. (Julia didn't last long. She was quickly eating meat again.)

My mom stocked up on Boca burgers and other effortless microwavables for my newfound eating habits. For a while, I was living on grilled cheese and sugary breakfast cereals. Admittedly, not the healthiest. But I was a 10 year-old novice, living with hardcore meat lovers. Eventually, I began eating fruits and salads. When I grew tall enough to reach the stove and old enough to handle fire, I added an occasional home-cooked tempeh or tofu dish, grilled vegetables, soups, stews, potatoes.

I decided to take it further and stop drinking milk. I have tried the milk alternatives and they are much tastier that cow's milk. Even further I found delicious soy yogurts that I mix with fruit and granola. Then I made my way to the butter, mayonnaise, ice cream, sour cream, egg and even honey alternatives.

But I was about to face a challenge that I still struggle with today: cheese. Oh, how could I ever give you up, Cheese?! Every now and then I indulge in some animal produced cheese. One day I'll have my own cows and goats so I can make my own cheese without guilt. Until then I've got to keep trying. Better to keep striving than give up.

When I got into high school, I started to research how animals were killed for meat. This lead to fur coats, leather boots and bags, down quilts and pillows, animal tested shampoos and soaps. In a few hours I saw all the graphic undercover PETA videos I could stomach and tearfully sat on my bed, wrapped in a what I thought was an innocent blanket. But, I had been deceived. And the boots in my closet, the anti-acne soap in my bathroom, the leather wallet in my leather purse. That night I ransacked the house for every bit of dead animal I could find and slept without a blanket or a pillow. The next morning I announced to my Mom that we had to replace all the blankets, get new soap and switch to pleather. In a couple months, I successfully saved up my money to buy a new blanket, new soap, a new wallet, a new bag, and a new pair of boots. All of which were vegan.

Luckily, I have been mostly met with support than resistance from my Mom and friends. Occasionally, my Mom will try to get me to eat a bite of meat or my friends will lightly jab at my apparent "crunchy-granola ways." But it's not so bad. Two of my friends and one of my cousins have even become vegetarians themselves. It's 2010 and it's officially been a decade since my last burger. I could never imagine eating a piece of meat again and if it weren't for Julia I might be chewing on beef jerky as I write this.

Die Kuh (A poem by 9 year old Alex)

Oh, die Kuh!

Wie ich lange fur Sie!

Die Kuh mit sienem Mantel geschimmen

und seinem harmonische Stimme.

In meinen Traumen singen Sie mich

Leider von Langer Zeit,

"Moooooo, moooooo, moooo!"

Oh, die Kuh,

Wie ich lange fur Sie!

Kuh, oh Kuh.

(Oh, the Cow!