May 8th 2008
Hip-Hop Star Common No Longer A Vegetarian
Filed under: animals, food & drink, music — parrish @ 10:08 pm
Well guys it looks like we’ve lost another one. Supervegan.com just alerted me about some “fishy” news regarding hip-hop star Common.
Common recently told The University Daily Kansan, “Yeah, I eat fish, man. I needed some protein. I’ve been eating fish for like two years now, two and a half years. It’s great too. I’m glad to be eating it. It was tough being a vegan. I salute all vegans and vegetarians”
Red Rover, Red Rover bring Common back over. Ya’ll this is bad news on the veg front!! In case you’re a little late to the party, Common has done some really awesome things for the animal rights movement which makes his fall off the boat, so to speak, an even bigger downer. But wait — is Common still a vegetarian if he eats fish? I kinda say no, but what do you think? Chime in Ecorazzi readers and tell us if you think you can still call yourself a vegetarian if you nosh on that stuff from the sea.
Oh and check out this video that was filmed back when Common was still veggie. It brings tears to my little vegan eyes.
I really do not think you can call yourself a vegetarian if you eat fish.
Oh well. I eat bison, because my Plains Indian relatives send it to me.
Hey lovelies-
Something I don’t understand from a spiritual and an ethical perspective is how vegetarians have made themselves believe that abandoning the sentient beings we call “pigs”, “cattle”, “lamb”, etc. to the meat packing industry is supposed to be an act of compassion.
To my way of thinking - a way informed by 30 years of Buddhist and Taoist practice and study - if one felt sympathy or empathy for our fellow mammals then one would engage husbandry to encourage those who are practicing sustainable and dignified relationships. Deep spiritual practice brings me close to the death that my life causes. Vegetarianism is a big part of Buddhism and Taoism but so is acknowledging the paradox of shame and gratitude: that we kill in order to live.
I think a shift to a more engaged, moderate, and low flesh-consuming diet/lifestyle needs to be explained and articulated. Some folks will go raw vegan, only eating live organisms. Some folks will reduce their consumption of dead flesh.
Could those of you at ecorazzi articulate that message a little more?
this is very disappointing news for me as i used to deeply respect common for his diet and his music, but now….
and no, if he eats fish, i don’t think he can be called a vegetarian.
Archer- I hear what you’re saying. I’m definitely someone who doesn’t believe that one must be vegan or vegetarian to make a difference. With that said, it’s always disappointing to see a long-time veg go back to eating animal products, especially when it’s a celebrity who - whether you like it or not - serves as a paradigm to society. I still think Common is awesome and I respect that he lives a more sustainable life than say…Joe Schmo (no offense, Joe), but still I remain disappointed that his dietary choice will now contribute to the over-fishing problem we have in this world. So it’s a mixed bag, John, a mixed bag.
Le sigh. Le weep.
First of all, you can get bucketloads of protein as a vegan, you don’t need to eat fish (which if you eat, you are an omnivore).
Second, while I agree you can be an omni and make a difference in the world, I think you can make more of a difference as a vegan. As for the “paradox of shame and gratitude,” how is it spiritual to engage in cruelty and death that is completely unecessary? “We kill in order to live?” Well, we don’t have to kill animals to live. In fact, I’m much healthier and expect to live much longer now that I’m a vegan. I appreciate that you expressed yourself calmly and graciously, Archer, but I simply cannot accept your argument.
If pressed, I would have to say that I do think it’s positive for omnis to reduce thier exploitation of animals if they can’t yet face veganism, because it does make the world wee bit better, but it still doesn’t make what they do right. Doing less wrong is still doing wrong, and there is nothing spiritual about it. Paradoxes abound in life, and death and sacrifice is ubiquitous. We don’t have to engage in cruelty to have a spiritual awareness of these things.
In many ways vegetarian/vegan diets work against our modern society. You can do it but sustaining it is far more difficult than it would seem.
primusluta- I SOOOOOOOOO disagree with you….SOOOOOOOOOOO disagree
I don’t personally believe you have to be a vegan to make a difference or care about the world. There are millions of ways to make a difference. Case in point: I had a co-worker last year who was vegan, biked almost everywhere, but drove a hybrid when he did drive, had dreads because he didn’t want to put toxic hair products in his hair…I can go on and on. But…he smoked cigarettes. Fine way to kill yourself, I say. But did I think any less of him? No. We are all human and have our own vices.
That said, I respect those who can follow vegan and vegetarian diets and stick with them. However, I refuse to think any less of Common because he now eats fish. He still lives a more eco-friendly life than the average person, and the quote in the University Daily Kansan probably only shows one very small factor in why he decided to eat fish. Truth is, we don’t know the whole story.
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parrish, being a vegetarian/vegan is not always about making a difference. Sure, that would be nice if we could, but it’s not realistic. People are never going to give up animal products. I think vegetarians/vegans realize that. As a vegan, I just don’t want to participate in such cruelty. It makes me feel good knowing I do not contribute to such an unethical practice. Also, becoming a vegetarian/vegan can make a small difference. Yes, it is quite small, but it is SOMETHING. In my lifetime, I will have saved hundreds of animals. At least I make a difference to some of those innocent animals. If you have the attitude that you do, then you might as well not donate to charity because the little amount of money that you donate is nowhere near enough to make a difference. Every little bit counts.
Divisive topic, but great post. I don’t consider myself a vegetarian as I now eat fish. I went 10 years veggie, then added a little bit of fish in (influence from my wife). Well, as the saying goes: you can’t be just a little pregnant, so that is what it is.
That said, vegetarianism still calls me. I may switch teams again soon!
Fish are not swimming vegetables, they are living, feeling beings like cats, dogs, cows, pigs and humans. Eating fish is eating animals and does not make you a vegetarian. It isn’t even a question up for debate.
I am dissappointed by the people who try to make excuses for those who intentionally cause others to suffer needlessly. It doesn’t matter if other people do worse things, causing unnecessary pain and suffering is always wrong.
I think the Buddha had something to say about this… ah yes, it was…
“There may be in time to come when people make foolish remarks about meat-eating, saying, “Meat is proper to eat, unobjectionable, and permitted by the Buddha.” Meat-eating is forbidden by me everywhere and all the time for those who are abiding in compassion. From eating meat arrogance is born, from arrogance erroneous imaginations issue, and from erroneous imagination is born greed; and for this reason refrain from eating meat.” ~The Buddha
I was vegan for ten years, but because i was diagnosed with a food allergy autoimmune disease my diet became scarey limited. I began eating fish and eggs - only free range, wild, organic, etc… I totally agree with a few people here that it’s ok to eat a low flesh consuming diet and still be an eco powerhouse. What is cool is that COMMON promoted awareness and that is a great thing! If he felt he needed protien and wasn’t feeling well, then best that he change his diet and eat what he needs, then feel like sh*t and not be able to continue to promote eco awareness.
Matt, great comment! I completely agree with everything you said.