Chef Calls Vegetarians “Terrorist Scum”
Nov 29th, 2007 by Will Potter
You know, when I started GreenIsTheNewRed.com I was actually concerned about the site being too much of a “specialty” publication. All “eco-terrorism” and civil liberties, all the time. Fine by me, but niche markets can reach an extreme (not that I have anything against magazines like Coin Collector, Air Traffic Management or Crochet World, mind you).
Little did I know I’d actually get to write about film, sexuality and now…gourmet food?
Get this. Anthony Bourdain, a chef and TV personality, says vegetarians “are the worst kind of terrorists.” Joshua Valocchi at Philadelphia Weekly asked about what Bourdain calls a “plague of vegetarians”:
“These fucking people are not really all about us not eating duck liver,” snarls Bourdain. “No, no, no. They don’t want us eating any animal product whatsoever.
“When they win this tiny battle, they’ll move to the next one, like freeing the lobsters.
“These people,” says Bourdain, “are the worst kind of terrorists. And they must be stopped.”
Really? The “worst kind of terrorists”? The DHS threat level is clearly upside down. Green and red need to be inverted. Move over Al Qaeda, your bombs and guns and planes flying into buildings are no match for tofu terrorists.
“These fucking people are not really all about us not eating duck liver,” snarls Bourdain. “No, no, no. They don’t want us eating any animal product whatsoever.
Guilty as charged.
Steve
- a vegan
This chef doesn’t care what level of suffering he causes in beings who can suffer, when he can afford to eat anything he wants, when he has the skills to make incredible tasting food out of anything he can get, just so he can enjoy a particular taste and he calls my ilk “terrorists”?
I would call him selfish at the least and a monster at the most.
I love people who are against animal welfare and rights. I mean, I understand the people that don’t care. But, the people who act like we are terrorists just make me laugh.
“Oh, you people with your being kind to animals and your respect of life… you make me SICK! Savages! I just want to eat my cancerous duck liver and my tortured cow in peace you TERRORISTS. Why can’t I just torture animals for luxury? You people with you sick, twisted, compassionate ways… sickos.”
I just made that quote up… But it is a mash-up of all of these idiots saying stuff over time. It’s seriously funny.
Anyways, he’s right about what I want. I would free a lobster in a second
Great post. Bourdain has been saying these sorts of things against veganism for a while. E.g. http://www.salon.com/mwt/feature/2006/10/05/ruhlman_bourdain_foie/index_np.html
Not to defend Bourdain, but he is totally against hunting animals for sport, using animals for the testing of cosmetics and wearing fur. Bourdain’s issue with legislation being proposed in NJ to ban the sale of foie gras has more to do with his fear of the government being able to control what citizens can and cannot purchase to eat. Which does concern many of us in the green world who want the right to buy and consume things like whole unpasteurized milk. Liken the argument to the government suddenly telling us that we can no longer purchase clothing made out of hemp fibers. I think the quote above from Bourdain was given somewhat in jest. While we all want the world to be vegan and environmentally sound - we should respect the opinion of those who disagree for reasons that vegan living means a departure from long-standing cultural tradition and values that they are trying to protect, at least if we want them to respect our positions, too. If you’ve ever watched Bourdain’s show you know that he is someone who gets a kick out of going to Russia and eating traditional cuisine - NONE of which is vegetarian and there are presumably no laws in Russia about protecting the welfare of animals being raised for food consumption - but it’s a huge part of Russian culture. Russia would not be the same if all they served there were the same veggie burgers you get at home at Real Food Daily.
It happens to be my own perspective that if you’re a vegetarian and claim to care about animal rights but don’t adopt a pet in need even if you have the means to, and smoke and drink in excess effectively destroying your own health and potentially the health of those around you, that you’re full of shit!
Great find. Unfortunately the the right to live is still overwhelmed by the right to consume. I promoted your article in VegBang:
http://www.vegbang.com/Buzz/Anthony_Bourdain_a_chef_and_TV_personality_calls_vegetarians_ldquoTerrorist_Scumrdquo/
Perhaps you are right, Stephanie. But that all depends on what you mean by “respect” their opinions. There is an important distinction between eating animal products to uphold cultural traditions and abolishing the use of nonhuman animals - one results in the slaughter of billions of sentient beings. I don’t think many Americans at this point would argue that slavery shouldn’t have been abolished because this country was built on slave labor and it was longstanding tradition to own African Americans.
As a native American vegan, I couldn’t agree more with what my peer Jared said about the tradition of American settlers to own slaves. Stephanie said something about “vegan living means a departure from long-standing cultural tradition and values that they are trying to protect” and yet I would say it was pretty traditional of my community to hunt at one point or another. But we respect all creatures of this planet, and we live in a time where it is no longer needed to do so in the months where plants do not grow. Times change. The only reason to eat animals in this day in age is greed. Or laziness. Some cultures get a kick out of having sex with minors! So if I got aroused by that, and had a TV show where I could go to a country that didn’t have laws about such a thing, and engaged in intercourse with 13 year old children, would you support that too?
As an author and promoter of animal welfare, I don’t eat meat. I am a vegetararian. I don’t drink milk, buy eggs or wear leather. Having said that, I take great pride in not affiliating myself with people who use hate or controversy to further their cause. I believe in speaking with intelligence, acting with compassion, and setting an example for others to follow. I also encourage others to do the same. I find it offensive that someone would categorize someone like myself as a terrorist, when nothing that I do or say would make me look like one. I do not believe that animals are put on earth to eat, wear or provide amusement for others. I also maintain that if someone is going to make such accusations, they need to make sure they aren’t doing anything cruel or immoral themselves. Contrary to popular belief, although most vegeterians or vegans would like for others to stop eating meat, their main concern is HOW these poor animals are killed. We would simply like to see people provide the most humane treatments for animals as possible. In this day and age, this is not asking a lot. With 19,000+ people going veg every single day, it seems this individuals is sterotyping a lot of people who are changing for the better. All animals have a face, feelings and a family. What kind of person would overlook this fact for their own wallet? The same kind of person that posted this “article.” People like this tend to lash out when they don’t actually have much of a defense for their own actions. Let’s put our focus on the real terrorists, as in the ones who bomb countries and kill innocent people.
i think vegans and vegetarians hold up a good cause if they are doing it for the right reasons, ive been edge for 5 years now and i know people who in that time have been vegetarian or vegan 10 seperate times, people like that put a bad name on the culture. too many people slander good causes like veganism and straight edge, but as far as this whole terrorism thing, thats out of hand, i think that human rights should be over animal rights and that a personal belief not because i love meat and dairy but because im a human being and i think people should care about helping their own kind first and then another, there are soo many things wrong with the human race than i feel that putting animals above humans (and i apologize if this sounds like a humans are superior thing cause thats not what im trying to say) but i feel like sometimes people need to focus on the problems around themselves and their community before pouring their heart and soul into another cause. in not veg fr my own reasons, but i fully support it, hell i love a boca burger anyday, but over any claims i have if i had the choice i would make the attempt as foolish as it is to try to make a difference in the human race first because that would honestly benefit animalkind and is that not part of the goal?? and i agree 100% with stephanie if you claim to be such a proud veg and be so full of respect for animals but you are a lush or druggie than keep killing yourself and make a change open your eyes and become a decent human being so people will respect you. i hope in all of this i hit some sort of key point that people can agree with or at least maybe understand where im coming from and connect with that. and im all about having positive debate because understanding is the key element and i would like to hear what people have to say.
-blake-
I agree with anyone that cares for animals and fights for their lives. I also respect anyone who will stand up, against popular opinion for what they believe. No one can say popular opinion in any culture or country is pro-animal. America has hunting as a second past time. In some parts of Asia it is customary to consume dogs, and in Russia caviar is a delicacy that almost any person would consume regardless of cultural background.
The fact is, according to popular belief and cultural tradition, vegetarianism, veganism, and animal rights are out of the ordinary and in some cultures viewed as insane.
Knowing this, one can choose a side, either educate people and try to make them understand why what they’re doing and what they believe is cruel and unnecessary in modern culture, and show them how to make a positive change. Explain the cruelty associated with the animal industries and work with the government and grassroots orgianizations to try to make change, or the other option is turn guerilla and go underground. Knowing most people don’t WANT to change their mind and could care less, one has to turn away from these people and live the life of a revolutionary and bring change by any means necessary.
That’s the choice, there is no in between.
I hope this guy chokes on the next meal involving meat and i hope he suffers a painful death probably just as horrible as the animal that he is eatting
I am not a vegetarian. I do eat meat. But wow. That has got to be the stupidest analogy ever. My best friend is a vegetarian. And he isnt all for animal rights. he does it for his health. And it is stupid to suppose all vegetarians are animal activists, thats like saying ALL muslims are real terrorists. And first of all WHO THE HELL EATS DUCK LIVER.
And I would stand to protect my friends rights. so you would have to take me with them Anthony.
Haha this rules. Fuck veganism. Haha
enjoy your corpse, mike. juicy dead bodies mmmmmmm
There seems to be some sort of backlash against vegetarianism with chefs these days. I heard Chef Gordon Ramsey say vegetarians have no palette and are on the way out.
I think these “guys” (usually the macho men) are afraid that their narrow minded way of cooking is becoming obvious. They only know how to create dishes using dead rotting flesh and don’t want to learn and experiment with more humane & healthful proteins.
Regarding Stephanie’s comment about animal rights activists are full of it if they smoke or drink, you obviously don’t get it. Most Animal Rights people are vegetarians for “moral” reasons. Being a health nut has nothing to do with animal rights, most of them eat free-range animals because it’s healthier for them, not more humane for the animal.
Smoking or drinking anything without harming anyone else has nothing to do with animal rights.
Chefs often aren’t to fond of vegetarian diets. Makes sense, I would be hard pressed to make consistently creative dishes if my cooking would just revolve around plants. Meat is because humans are naturally omnivores, we are supposed to eat meat and vegetables. Our teeth are specifically made to allows us to eat both. While this bit I am still unsure of; I have heard that meat gives you certain nutrients you just can’t get out of plants.
MCR with post # 16.
But smoking does hurt others. Secondhand smoke, the cost of medical to prevent death, the cost of cigarettes both to buy in a market and to produce. If a smoker dies of lung cancer the family will often mourn his/her death. Emotional pain, economic pain, and physical damage is present.
JustAnotherFictionWriter:
>While this bit I am still unsure of; I have heard that meat gives >you certain nutrients you just can’t get out of plants.
which nutrients can you only get from meat?
JustAnotherFictionWriter, you’re unsure that there are certain nutrients you can only get from meat because the point you’re trying to advance is fallacious. There is no nutrient or mineral that cannot be found in a plant based source. DHA (a form of omega-3 usually found in fish) is the hardest and it can be obtained from microalgae. As for humans being omnivores I believe that this is evident but this point does not mean anything in modern society. A person simply being handed their meat through a window or seated at a restaurant does not resemble a natural process at least not to me. As for your comment that you “would be hard pressed to make consistently creative dishes if my cooking would just revolve around plants.” This again is a fallacious inference, have the chefs that make this claim ever had Indian food, or Thai food, or actually sat down at a restaurant that caters to vegans and vegetarians? Judging by the comment they have not. Additionally, have they ever taken a look at a vegetarian cookbook? I can confidently assure them that those cookbooks are full of a wide variety of recipes which are neither the same as the recipe which proceeded it nor are they bland. As for Anthony Bourdain, well he betrays his own virulent character with his comments. In addition he shows him self to be a complete idiot, the unique function of human beings is the refined capability to exercise reason and Mr. Bourdain shows how poorly his faculty for reason is developed with his asinine comment. Shame.
Anthony Bourdain is an ass, he has no deancey, and deserves to be nuttered
[...] the “number one domestic terrorism threat,” just remember folks like Anthony Bourdain who say vegetarians are “terrorist scum.” Just take a look at soft-core eco-terrorist propaganda like Hoot. And then perhaps you’ll become [...]
“Terrorists”?….. please! Couldn’t be further than the truth. For 5 years I was one of the meanist vegetarians on the planet - 6 months ago I went vegan - I have never embraced a more peaceful, non-violent path in my life. Vegan is all about NON-Violence to all beings. I think the “terrorism” might be in the truths that are told - killing is wrong, animals are not necessary as “food”, you will feel better and probably be healthier on a plant based diet, the planet will suffer less eliminating animal agriculture - and lastly, the pititful creatures…. their misery can come to an end. For health & heart - Go Vegan!
[...] the “number one domestic terrorism threat,” just remember folks like Anthony Bourdain who say vegetarians are “terrorist scum.” Just take a look at soft-core eco-terrorist propaganda like Hoot. And then perhaps you’ll become a [...]
I am a Native American Vegitarian and those people can go fuck themselves. I am not doing anything wrong.
Rita
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He’ll reincarnate as a goose, force-fed until he’s slaughtered and his liver made into pate.