Lent began last week, which means conversations are happening about what people who observe it are choosing to “give up” for the 40 days leading up to Easter Sunday. This is always a time for activists to push for meat, dairy, poultry and eggs to be given up; last year, a group called Million Dollar Vegan offered President Trump $1 million (donated to a charity) to go vegan for Lent. He did not take them up on the offer, nor did Pope Francis when they targeted him in 2019.

This year, it’s Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez who is making headlines for announcing on Twitter that she is going vegetarian for the season and encouraging her followers to join her. For the record, Ocasio-Cortez stated that her decision was in honor of the late son of a fellow Representative, not due to environmentalism, animal rights or another cause (though some media outlets have connected it to her previous statements about the environmental impact of meat consumption).

In some ways, we should take it as a compliment that meat tends to come up as something to be given up for Lent along with things like chocolate, alcohol and coffee. After all, it’s about making a sacrifice and most people give up “something they thoroughly enjoy or depend on”. However, activist groups are quick to try to twist that narrative and turn it into a trial run for going fully vegan. Animal rights activists wasted no time jumping in and encouraging Ocasio-Cortez to ditch all animal products as part of her pledge, for example.

As always, these conversations about “giving up” meat give us an opportunity to remind people why it is and should remain “something thoroughly enjoyed and depended on” for the vast majority.

Lent brings up conversations about “giving up” meat

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