Well, I'm a big believer that we all do what we feel we must, and even taking one step is better than taking none. That being said, it's a lot more common for someone to be anti-fur, but not yet vegetarian. The reverse is rather stunning.

It can't be denied, as I mused about at my vegan blog, some people have, as Russell Simmons does: "A vegan diet, not a vegan lifestyle."

I, on the other hand, was vegan outside my body (eschewing wool, silk and leather, including leather car interiors) long before I went vegan inside my body. Was it hypocritical? Absolutely. I did what I could, until i could do better.

But for a green vegetarian to model fur for money? Yea, I feel like Gwynyth could do better than that right now.

Elisa Camahort Page
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The steps to being a vegan are difficult to implement in the U.S. There are animal products and by-products lurking in so many objects and hobbies. Gardeners can choose whether or not to use blood or bone meal to enrich the soil. Should vegans use compost that contains manure, which may be a by-product of the meat and dairy industries?

I try to cut anything out of my diet for which an animal had to die. But that's tough. There's often rennet in my beloved Parmesan cheese, and refined sugar is often made using bone char. Fish oil and anchovies hide in a lot of stuff. And then there was the pretty pasta at Trader Joe's that contained squid ink. Ewww.

Then there's urea in some hand lotion, mare urine in menopause meds, and a whole range of products tested on animals. I recently switched to a vegan, cruelty-free moisturizer, shampoo, and conditioner, and soap is my next target. But really, it's all too much.

Because as this site points out, even steel and vulcanized rubber use animal fats in their production. So it would be next to impossible to be vegan if you're going to refuse to use anything that has at some point in its creation harmed an animal. And then there's the whole insect question. Can you use ant killer or roach spray if you have an infestation? Could you wage war on bed bugs? (My personal rule: if ants or roaches or mosquitoes come in the house, they're fair game. Spiders get to stay, though my home is more of a spider hospice than a home--not much to sustain them except dust mites.)

Me, I'm having a hard time weaning myself from leather shoes and dress slacks that contain wool. But I like to think of myself less as a hypocrite and more as someone who is a work in progress. Every step I take to eliminate animal suffering from my lifeways contributes to ecological healing and reduces pain and waste.

It's such a complicated topic.

You really found some fabulous quotes to illustrate this post, BTW. Good work!

Leslie

BlogHer Contributing Editor, Research and Academia
My blogs: The Clutter Museum, Museum Blogging, and The Multicultural Toybox

I think, in terms of any sort of belief (whether it be what we eat, who we pray to, what we consider to be ethical behaviour, etc), one is considered a hypocrite when one judges others harshly and then acts in contrast to his/her own judgments.  I'm not sure if Gwyneth Paltrow has been publicly denouncing the killing of animals or if she just prefers to eat a vegetable-based diet so I don't really have an opinion on whether she's a hypocrite.  Pamela Anderson... well, she's a very public advocate for PETA and she knows that animal testing is done on breast implants... that doesn't make sense to me.   The act of hypocrisy is rooted in judgment of others.  From personal experience, I have to say that it's pretty irritating when someone makes a comment about what I eat while harbouring numerous leather goods in her wardrobe.  Yes, that's happened.

I eat a near vegetarian diet but it has nothing to do with animal issues - its about eating more healthy.  I imagine there are a lot of people like me who eat very little if any meat but aren't animal rights people.

from my blog: 12 Things You Can Do To Set a Healthy Example for Your Kids - can you think of any others to add to the list?

Trisha,

Hey - I loved the list on your blog! I think you have included all the major points but the only one I would add is: "Be Polite." I know that watching my parents treat people with respect - especially waitresses, service people, any stranger - made a big impression on me and tried to emulate that policy. So far, so good!

~ClizBiz 

BlogHer Contributing Editor, Photography & Animal Concerns, Proprietor, ClizBiz

 Thanks ClizBiz!  I think a lot of people underestimate how important it is for kids to see their parents interact with other adults in various situations.

from my blog: 12 Things You Can Do To Set a Healthy Example for Your Kids - can you think of any others to add to the list?

>>Would I order a bowl of Simone Soup? Or a Bob Burger? A side of Millie Wings? <<

 I TOTALLY relate to this!  It wasn't until my poor kitty Arya broke her leg and required $2,000 in medical expenses that it ocurred to me how weird it is that I'd spend that kind of money to save one animal while thinking nothing of cutting up and eating another.

I have not reached complete vegetarianism, not to mention veganism, but this question does go through my head a lot more these days and helps me to be more aware of and conscious of the actual suffering I am helping to cause by eating or using animals.

Thanks for this post. 

Beth Terry http://www.fakeplasticfish.com

 As a crazy meat-eater, can I point out that at least the vegans I come across are endeavouring to draw lines that make some sense! unlike my crazy notions which have evolved in a completely wilful and poorly developed fashion.

 Just for starters, I finally swore off lamb yesterday. My children are growing up and leaving, and it was almost a possibility to casserole some healthy looking lamb for a treat - and I said to myself, NO, it's a baby animal! DON'T. I thank my kids for that, they always protested that eating lambs was sad.

I buy free-range eggs and chicken, which will sound bizarre to vegans, but this is even weirder. Over here in Oz, if you are a vegan and you become anaemic, the doctor often suggests eating kangaroo for a while because it is so high in iron (about three times higher than any other meat.)

Kangaroos do not require as much energy from the planet to produce very high quality protein indeed. They are a problem in this country and are sometimes culled. But do you think I could ever bring myself to eat one? Or an emu? NOOOOO, and simply for sentimental reasons. They are simply too beautiful, to my mind, to eat. I would never, for the same reason, buy something made of kangaroo fur for a souvenir for anyone. (Though I did recently admire a magnificent modern sculpture made of emu feathers.)

So don't worry, I think you're all doing a super job! Miles ahead of me. ANd I love that quote from Alexei Sayle, by the way.

Genevieve blogs at
reeling and writhing
and
library sputnik

Vegetarians can seem or be hypocritical, but people should know we have animal's best interests at heart. I reason that leather is a by-product of the fast food and meat industry. You may as well use all parts of the animal. You don't really support that industry when you buy leather.....or do you?

Needless to say, I don't buy leather anymore although I do have those old leather shoes, jackets and purses that are going to get seen by people that know I am a vegetarian. I usually just say, I got this before I became a vegetarian.

As for fur? To me, that is just inexcusable. I would guess for the most part that the meat from fur is not usually eaten and most likely the animal was not treated humanely. I would not wear it for any money.

With Paltrow being such an animal rights activist, it is suprising she allowed herself to be photographed in fur. I am guessing when it came time for the photo shoot, she was probably suprised to see fur in the wardrobe, but may have felt obligated to wear it. Or maybe he had a moment (as we all do at times) where she did not feel comfortable speaking out about it. Well, she is paying for it now. I guess we all make our mistakes.

GreenMoms, Melinda

www.GreenMomsCoastside.com

Green On! Your Children Will Thank You For It.

I don't know if all vegetarians have animals' best interests at heart considering some just do it for the diet. 

But yes, I agree with you that we are all works in progress and we all make mistakes - meat eaters and vegetarians.  It's not a meat-eater thing, it's not a vegetarian thing, it's a human thing.  

You're right, different reasoning for different vegetarians. However, most vegans I talk to, have made their choice based on animal welfare. 

Either way, this decision is much like religion - a very personal one. I guess the first step - again, in both cases - is awareness. 

~ClizBiz  

BlogHer Contributing Editor, Photography & Animal Concerns, Proprietor, ClizBiz

I use that A. Whitney Brown line, ""I'm not a vegetarian because I love animals; I'm a vegetarian because I hate plants.", all the time, but had by now forgotten where I got it.

Thanks for reminding me!

Elisa Camahort Page
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My BlogHer profile truly shows you everything I do online...Check it out!!

First let me say that it is whack about Pam finding out KFC is a major supporter of her TV show. Yikes, she like totally hates KFC. Not good news to hear.

As for Paltrow and FUR, i was truly surprised to read about the ad. She doesn/ didnt appear as that type. I hope she renegs and changes her mind. Because it isnt just the fact that she is wearing fur, but the fact that she is PROMOTING FUR. Not good.

I wonder if she got a boatload of money she just couldnt refuse, or what was it that made her become their spokesmodel?

Im not a vegan, but a vegetarian. But i do live my life as animal cruelty free as possible. At the very least i give it thought and my consideration. It is a heated topic, and a volatile issue. Those who have been eating meat since birth, are very scared of the mere thought of vegetarianism. I was born and raised on meat, so if i can do it, anyone can. It is very doable and very possible.

Let me finish by saying that it is nearly impossible to be 100% animal free, as unfortunately manufacturers use animal parts on just about everything. But it is my hope that in time, this practice will lessen.

There are some great insights here, particulary around the positive view of being a work in progress vs. the negative view of being a hypocrite. Militant attitudes don't foster growth. I'm vegetarian and wouldn't allow leather seats in my car, because, really, does one really need leather seats? I still eat cheese though I buy from local organic dairies, I wear leather shoes because, hey, I have a lot of them. I blog about natural beauty products, but still have a bit of a Bobbi Brown "problem".

There are a lot of things that appear to be contradictions in my life, but I'm infinitely more aware than I was even a couple of years ago. I'm doing what I can and trying to evolve all the time. I don't pat myself on the back but sure don't beat myself up.

That said, Gwyneth didn't need the money and having been so vocal about her choices, she surely should have known better. And yah - I have leather shoes but fur really sucks. : )

peace,

greenergirl

greenergirl.typepad.com

When it comes to Celebrity I have no problem with hypocrisy.. that is the nature of the business. I think the real issue is when you look to them to espouse and advocate any lifestyle choice that you embrace with the same passion and consistency.  Role models are not celebrities nor should they be expected to be... and I wonder about her Estee Lauder job as well.. are they free of animal testing, etc?  I can't expect a celebrity to make decisions that will affect my decisions nor do I want them to.  

My decision to call myself "hypocritical" above.

I don't actually think hypocrisy only comes when one judges others by different standards than oneself. I do think it's also when one behaves differently than one would have oneself behave.

That being said...I don't feel it is contradictory, nor particularly negative, to believe BOTH that I am a work in progress who is doing what I can do until I can do better, and that it's a little hypocritical for me to feel strongly about what is the right path without being 100% on it myself.

I prefer to think of it as both realistic (aren't we all a little bit hypocritical, at least about something in our lives?) and, more importantly, motivating.

Elisa Camahort Page
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Agreed. I think we should squirrel up some t-shirts: "Work in Progress" for everyone who is working on this self-issue. 

~ClizBiz 

BlogHer Contributing Editor, Photography & Animal Concerns, Proprietor, ClizBiz

I think we all have to draw our own lines. And of course, high-profile celebrities are going to get taken to task far before the rest of us. But at least we're getting some food for thought out of this one.

I've been a vegetarian now for 8 years. I grew up on a ranch where I learned from an early age that my pet cow Dandelion was turned into Dandelion Burgers. And my main reason for my vegetarism is that I'm much more comfortable eating Dandelion Burgers than Cow #145 Burgers from my local supermarket. At least, I knew and helped Dandelion have a better life. I think a lot of people assume that all vegetarians/vegans are that way because they think eating animals is super wrong and perhaps that assumption is where we get such staunch criticisms like that of Paltrow's ad. 

Erica

http://design.sliverofice.com

Look, of course, everyone is a hypocrite to some extent and everyone is a work in progress.  What I'm saying is that if you are in my face making rude gestures and comments about something, I will absolutely call you on it and think you are a judgmental hypocrite because if you don't say things with the context that ALL are works in progress and you are arrogant, you will be judged in return.   I was speaking in regards to Paltrow - people assume she is an animal rights activist because she is a vegetarian.  I don't think wearing fur is right either but I don't think people should assume B equals A.  As Erica stated, this is not always the case.   

I am not calling all vegetarians hypocrites, I am talking about people who act without humility and self-awareness, look at yourself first, we are all works in progress.  

http://watermelonmama.wordpress.com/

To greenergirl, I think you misunderstood what I was saying because I too think that militant attitudes don't foster growth, especially when accompanied by personal attacks and judgements.  It's easy to be in our own groups (whether they be religious, ethical, political, etc.) and talk about being works in progress, but there's no real growth or peace until we learn to do that with other groups of people.  I'm sorry if you misunderstood me.  Like I said, I'm talking about personal relations.