It’s a sad day for vegans.

First, Prince, an immensely talented vegan dies (did you know he was the recipient of a Genesis Award for his commitment to animal rights? You should check out his lyrics in the song Animal Kingdom too). And now we hear that the founders of prominent vegan restaurants have decided to slaughter – and eat – the animals on their farm.

I like to look at the bright side of things. I truly do. When Taco Bell announced their American Vegetarian Association “approved” list of vegan options, that made me happy.  When McDonald’s announced it was transitioning to cage-free eggs, that made me smile too.

Any step forward, no matter how small, is a good one, and I’m happy to commend someone for it. But going backwards? Making your circle of compassion smaller? Despite knowing the consequential pain and suffering to others? Sorry. That’s a deal breaker.

Sadly, it seems that Matthew and Terces Engelhart, founders of Cafe Gratitude and Gracias Madre, have decided to do just that.  After being vegetarian for over 40 years, they’ve now decided to kill the animals on their farm, package them up, and eat their bits and pieces. On the very same land that grows produce for their vegan restaurants, and their daughter’s restaurant, Sage Vegan Bistro.

Terces snapped a photo of the frozen, packaged carcass chunks, along with jars filled with diluted, browning blood, proudly noting, ”Here Matthew is straining off beef broth and our freezer full of pastured beef, our pastured beef.”

Of course, Terces, the wife, quickly disconnected herself by placing a photo of two happy cows directly below, emphasizing that they’re sitting on “spring clover” enjoying the “spring breeze.” I assume these two “girls” as she calls them, escaped the kill that day.

 

Well, did she dupe her audience?

Not me. And not vegan race car driver, Leilani Münter who posted the ugly news on twitter. Nor did she fool vegan advocate Pamela Whistley who shared the sad news with the masses on Facebook.

Regarding her husband eating his first hamburger in over 40 years, she says “we are ever so thankful for the sacrifice that our cows made” and explains it’s A-OK, because, you know, it’s all in God’s plan.

“Cows make an extreme sacrifice for humanity but that is their position in God’s plan as food for the predators. Cows maintain the grass, predators maintain the herd by culling the weak and sick. We can be part of that sacrament. Sacrifice is part of life. As in the passion of Christ, we all have to spill our blood for humanity to know the Father. The cow’s sacrifice was been ordained, ours we must choose.”  ~ Terces Engelhart

Oh boy.

Am I still glad these vegan restaurants exist? Sure!

Will the food likely still be delicious? Probably.

But am I happy that folks are making the big bucks off of all the wonderful things that vegans enjoy, as we strive to live compassionately, and then they turn around and use that money to buy animals to kill? No.

I can’t be happy about that.

Do the best you can, until you know better. Then when you know better, do better.”

~ Maya Angelou.

 Jackie Day

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