Hi, I am Kelebogile and I am a Burnt Veggie.
16th of August 2014. This is not
just another date on the calendar. It is the day I decided I will be a
vegetarian. No, I did not do it because I wanted to be special or I wanted to
seem weird. My family, friends and the society always ask me questions and here
is a list of those silly and weird ones:
1. Why are you a vegetarian?
Well, this question is not the best question
one can answer. I can't honestly say that I openly answer with a smile. I can't
explain why I went vegetarian without sounding rude. You can’t just ask me out
of the blue, anywhere why I am a Burnt Veggie.
I am not going to be all nice and sweet if you ask it with an undermining tone.
I promise you, you will hate me.
2. Are you sure meat is not for you?
WOW!!! Do you think I would just wake up and
decide to stop doing something because I just felt like that. Yes, meat is not
for me. I do not like how it tastes and smells.
3. How long has it been?
Unless I somehow say it to you then you do not
have a right to ask me. I will tell you if you and I have known each other or
it is a magazine interview. Do not come to me after I announce or say that I am
a Burnt Veggie and ask me how long it
has been. Please for the goodness of heaven don't.
4. So you just eat salad?
Well, salad is part of my diet but this doesn’t
mean it is the only thing I eat. I eat a selection of food and I am happy to
say that I eat pizza alone, unless I am with Cas, Hlompho or Lehlohonolo. They
eat my food.
5. Do you want a taste of my burger?
Is it vegetarian? No? Then leave me alone I don’t want your burger.
6. Don't you miss eating meat?
I did for the first week, not now. I will not
say I won’t cook it for someone I just won't eat or taste it.
7. Now I can't invite you to my party?
Shame man, unless you don’t want me there, then
don’t invite me bruh. The Burnt Veggie
will stay happy and healthy. But if you feel that I should be there, please
make sure that there is vegetarian food. I want to eat and not be the one eating
snacks to get full and all that.
The question every black person asks me...
8. Are you a rasta?
No. Nooit. Never Bruh!!!
And just for clarity,
9. Why the Burnt Veggie?
I am the Burnt
Veggie because I am black and very proud to be a vegetarian.
Now that we have established some ground rules
(yes, that was me telling you what not to ask me, or any other vegetarian unless stated otherwise in the Vegetarian constitution.) we
can now go forward and have fun together, maybe I will convert a few of you.
Onwards and Upwards.
#TheBurntVeggie
