Julia Child was not exactly known for her love of vegetarian food or vegetarians.
So it’s a funny and refreshing coincidence to learn Child’s old home is now occupied by a vegetarian and animal rights activist.
As funny as the irony is, this story in Vegetarian Star made me sad, mainly because the tenor of the article is sanctimonious -- a trait that irks me to the core and is all too common among animal rights activists, especially of the PETA variety.
The article writer says it's "creepy" that fans of Julia Child leave sticks of butter on the porch of her former home, but I think it's a touching gesture. Child doggedly embraced butter and all it represents -- the pleasures of the palate, a zest for life and good eating. Her fans recognize her amazing, trailblazing accomplishments -- she's as responsible for the U.S. culinary revolution as anyone.
And speaking in feminist terms, Child is a real role model. She professionalized what had been seen as solely women's domestic realm and persevered against the mores of both French and U.S. cultures.
It's disrespectful, not to mention a real turn-off, when vegetarians strike such a judgmental tone. As someone who's been a vegetarian for most of her adult life, and rarely eats meat even now, I have to say we do a disservice by failing to acknowledge the centrality of meat eating to much of human culture. You're never going to win converts this way.
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