I’ve been pretty sick lately (It happens after every major tournament, ask soon as I get a second to relax my body punishes me for like a week for pushing it too hard) so I’ve been drinking copious amounts of tea.
Then Marina told me today that honey is forbidden in a vegan diet… HONEY?! Are there really bees harmed in the making of honey? Come on. This is what I imagine commercial honey production is like
Bees: Buzzzzzzzzzzz
Bee Keeper: Hey, thats some nice hive you got there!
Bees: Buzzzz thank you!!
Bee Keeper: Hey you wanna make a new hive in this box?
Bees: Buzzzzzz sure, whatever.
next week
Bee Keeper: Hey guys, your magesty, what you doin?
Bees: Buzz ..Queen’s makin babies, the drones won’t shut up, we’re making honey
Bee Keeper: Well I’m gunna have to take that honey!
Bees: Huh? Hey!!! BUZZZZ!!!
5 minutes later
Bee 1: Buzz That jerk took our honey!
Bee 2: Dang…. what do we do now? Buzz
Bee 1: Buzz wanna make some honey?
Bee 2: Sure! Thats exactly what I was thinking! buzzz!!
if someone can really explain to me how harvesting bee honey is evil I’ll not only be impressed but consider giving that up too. Until then, i’m taking it in my tea
12 responses so far ↓
1 ezineaerticles » Blog Archive » Honey?? // Sep 6, 2008 at 9:44 pm
[…] Original ronda […]
2 Rick // Sep 6, 2008 at 10:08 pm
This has been a perennial debate amongst vegans for some time. I think the majority of vegans avoid honey, and that the reasoning goes along the same lines as that for milk (it’s an animal product). Some bees are always killed in the production of honey, although it’s debatable whether you’ll do more killing by eating a pound of honey or driving your car 100 miles on the interstate.
There’s an article that gives a decent overview here: http://www.slate.com/id/2196205/
Alternatively, google “vegan honey” for a lot more opinion.
3 Your mom // Sep 7, 2008 at 1:19 am
Ha! More bees are killed by coming near me at the LA Zoo on a Sunday.
I am sure vegans are against zoos, also. Actually, the LA Zoo could use a lot of improvement, so I can’t argue much there. However, if I come back as an animal, I hope it is at the San Diego Zoo or Wild Animal Park, especially if I am a zebra or capybara every-other-animals-dinner kind of animal.
Bees are not animals. They are insects.
4 Kurt // Sep 8, 2008 at 2:01 pm
See, this is why being vegan is too much work.
But, if you decide to ditch honey, you might take a look at Agave nectar. My wife has started using it, and it’s a great, all-vegetable sweetener. It’s also supposed to have a lower glycemic index (if you care).
5 Stephen M (Ethesis) // Sep 8, 2008 at 10:01 pm
The honey culture has resulted in bees flourishing all over the United States and makes modern agriculture possible.
Haven’t you passed semi-trailers loaded with hives on the interstate and ever wondered what was going on?
Ah well, I’m all for honey. I wish I had asked my wife’s aunt her position (she only ate things that had naturally detached themselves from living plants, though I think she may have eaten other things that did not require any death).
6 ronda // Sep 9, 2008 at 5:37 pm
yeah im not giving up honey i lookened into it, and it doesnt seem that bad to me
7 Dan // Sep 10, 2008 at 10:25 am
You are what you eat, cows & chickens are vegan!
8 Michele // Sep 10, 2008 at 4:39 pm
Bees naturally make honey, it’s not like milk where the cows are kept constantly pregnant just to give us milk.
9 Langston Montgomery, Laguna Niguel, CA // Sep 11, 2008 at 7:08 pm
Yeah, being vegan can be a bit too conservative. I understand and agree with being mindful of the “circle of life” and respecting those creatures that provide us with sustenance. Western society has certainly gone wayward in that regard.
But honey?
I disagree with the logic to cross the line at certain foods. Whether you’re eating the flesh of another animal, or the flesh of a carrot, you have to kill something before assimilating it. As long as it’s done in a humane, benevolent manner, I don’t see an issue.
10 Beeny!!! // Sep 12, 2008 at 9:39 pm
since many utilitarian vegans are mostly concerned with causing minimal pain to animals, and creatures such as bees have no central nervous system and therefore cannot associate any sensation as something that can be considered pain, i would say, honey is okay for vegans. in addition, bee farming is wayyyy different from factory farming. after all, they cant stuff bees into little stalls and forcefeed them hormones!!!
11 Erica // Sep 16, 2008 at 12:53 pm
Dont go vegan, I grew up around vegans. they are great and all but judo girls need stong bones and strong muscles, its really hard to get everything you need out of vegan food. some people who have done it wrong have actually messed up their bodies enough that it makes them sterile (unable to have kids) If you do go vegan, just make sure your getting the nutrients you need by other methods other thn milk nd meat. aw man, your going to miss cheese. Most people i know break the vegan vow for cheese
12 Nelson // Sep 16, 2008 at 10:03 pm
Bees usually produce more honey than they care to keep so I think we’re actually doing them a favor!
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