Yip, you read it right, there is another person in the universe with the same eating and drinking bent as me, and it just so happens that it's Janeane Garofalo. I know, it's amazing. Is this a good thing? I'm not sure. Having seen her stand-up show yesterday at The Opera House, I can tell she's a clever girl. And she is funny. But she also seems a tiny bit... how do I put this, um... fucked up? Then again, who isn't and who cares? And also, just cos she said she starves herself all day then eats as much as she can physically fit in her stomach for dinner, doesn't mean she's fucked, right? Maybe just that she's a bit gross. Whatever. I liked her show, she can do what she wants. Strangely enough, Greg Behrendt, author of He's Just Not That Into You, and the other half of yesterday's stand-up double bill, said he also doesn't drink. What's going on with these people? I've heard it said before that in the states, if you turn up to work with a hangover someone will have slipped you an AA number before lunchtime. And both Janeane and Greg talked about their non-drinking as though it was because of alcoholism. It got me thinking. Is one person's alcoholic another person's social drinker? Does your alcoholic status depend on your environment? Janeane did point out that if she'd just moved to Glasgow, no one would have batted an eyelid at her drinking habits. Is it just that the USA has a lower threshold for boozing? Well I guess I'll find out when I visit. Maybe as a non-drinking vegan, in the states I'll fit right in.
P.S. Greg Behrendt was really fuckin funny. (Why am I swearing so much today? I have no fuckin idea...). Totally check him out if you can.
P.P.S. Sobriety and veganism are one thing (two things actually), but atheism is totally not my bag. I'm probably more Jedi in my approach. Use the force Luke, use the force...
Janeane Garofalo is absolutely NOT a vegan. Please correct this. Does this sound like what a vegan would say?
ReplyDelete"I’ve changed. I don’t eat meat as a rule; the amount of meat I eat is negligible. I never did growing up. But I have to admit, I am a sucker for very crisp bacon in a sandwich or on its own. I was a vegetarian from 1983 to 2001, when I quit drinking—I’m sober now—and smoking. I allowed myself bacon. I said, “You know what, if you’re giving up alcohol and cigarettes, you are allowed to have bacon.” The number of times I’ve had bacon since 2001 is about four, five maybe. I did eat it on the Jimmy Kimmel Live show and got bombarded by emails. Some of these people thought I was vegan; like I seemed like a person who’s vegan.
“Enlightened.”
An “enlightened” vegan.
So what would be the follow-up question to that? “You’re vegan, right?” And I say, “No, I eat bacon.”
No, I was going to ask if there are any ethical reasons why or why not?
I don’t want to eat animals. I don’t morally judge others who do. I just don’t like it for me. I don’t like the idea that we eat animals.
You know, I’ve talked with Ted Nugent about it—believe it or not. I actually like him very much. He is a true First Amendment rights guy, a real patriot. He does not agree with the anti-war protesters but will fight for their right to do it. We did a radio show together and the people who called in are painfully stupid and angry. Nugent’s whole thing was, “Don’t you understand? That’s what a patriot does, question their government.” He believes that once you make the commitment, you must see it through, you must support the troops.
(from an interview with her, http://www.animalliberationfront.com/ALFront/Interviews/Satya%20May%2003%20Interview%20with%20Janeane%20Garofalo.htm )