As the semester comes to a close, I have to wrap things up. All in all, blogging has been an interesting experience. I used to associate blogs with bookish cat ladies who like to post their thoughts for the world to see, but in fact never get read by anyone. I, myself, am a girl who likes books and has a cat, so I suppose I fall quite well into this category. Still, my esteem for blogs is something much higher than it was starting this. I've even become a follower of multiple blogs.
I started off with an aim to post about things relevant to France as well as vegetarianism-related things. I think I stayed in this realm pretty well, and I hope I've offered my readers a glimpse into an emerging cultural dynamic.
For one last fun vegetarian French trivia, I present you with this article: Let Them Eat Kale: Vegetarians and the French Revolution. Apparently, one of the ideas circulating during the revolution was that not only people, but also animals had to be liberated, and so being vegetarian was a way to protest the monarchy. The article quotes Jean-Jaques Rousseau in his treatise on education:
"The indifference of children towards meat is one proof that the taste
for meat is unnatural; their preference is for vegetable foods, such as
milk, pastry, fruit, etc. Beware of changing this natural taste and
making children flesh-eaters, if not for their health's sake, for the
sake of their character."
This is quite a change in tone from most French people today, although Jean-Jaques Rousseau is popularly quoted. To tourists visiting France, vegetarianism may seem hopeless what with eating meat being almost synonymous with patriotism. This information, however, provides an insight into the culture's philosophical awareness and malleability, and their potential to at least be a bit less hostile to vegetarians.
With this knowledge imparted, I leave you. If you wish to find me, I can be seen munching on baguette at French club or biking with a beret. Or perhaps something less cliché such as squinting at a physics worksheet in the lounge.
Au revoir!
