I was born and raised in Northwestern Arkansas. A small town that is now growing economically, socially, and culturally. Thanks largely to Walmart and its founding family, Bentonville, AR is now on the map. In November of 2011, Alice Walton founded The Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art. Shortly thereafter the 21C Museum Hotel and a plethora of local businesses based on organic local produce, meats and cheeses, wine lounges, and beers on tap popped up throughout the region.

This quaint town is changing what growing up in The South could mean. Creating an environment where juicing is the norm, hunting for sport is considered taboo, people whom believe in animal rights aren’t limited to crazy relatives who have been kicked out of the house, and attending farmer’s markets more than once a year is a thing.

This is a rarity in the Midwestern and Southern cultures of America. This eclectic hodge-podge various cultures that has developed in this pocket of Arkansas forms a unique place to live. Let’s be clear this was not always the case. Just a decade ago, the only restaurants were mediocre chains, or ancient family establishments that were solely reserved for special occasions. The children all grew up with shotguns, catching fireflies, and splashing in the creek. There was nothing to do but gossip over sweet iced tea on the porch. We were still a small town, in the middle of the Bible Belt, sheltered from the shenanigans of the “real world".

Around the age of nine, the realization of where chicken nuggets, hamburgers, and pork chops came from hit me. The adorable piglets from the farm, or cows that roamed the fields near my home were slaughtered to make what I was putting into my mouth. This really bothered me. I didn’t understand how this didn’t bother the adults, particularly the smart ones. One day I simply refused to eat meat. I threw a fit. And from that point on, I was harassed by not only my family and my teachers, but also by my peers. Looking back now, the "logic" I was told to believe in is both humorous and absolutely ridiculous.

1."God gave us animals to eat. By not eating animals you are sinning and therefore will go to Hell, if you do not change your actions and repent for your wrongdoings"

First of all, WHAT? I was NINE YEARS OLD. Scaring children with the threat of going to Hell in order to push them to eat meat should never be considered acceptable. What kind of logic is this? God tells us to love all creatures, right? Choosing to love his creations and showing love by not eating them should be okay.

2. "As humans, we are superior to animals and can use them as we please. That includes using them as food"

I don’t know “God’s” thoughts, but I am fairly certain He didn’t intend for us to genetically modify animals to the point where they can't walk or carry out natural animal lifestyles. I also don't imagine He intended for us to produce so many animals, to the extent that the atmosphere is harmed by the byproduct of animal production that is Carbon Dioxide. It's unnecessary to have 70 billion animals produced for the 7 billion people on this planet.

3."You’re going to get sick and die. Humans are carnivores and have eaten meat for thousands of years; clearly, without it, you won’t get enough protein and you will die"

Yes, it is a fact that all life will inevitably die. I will give this argument a little more credit than the prior ones. At least when people state this as a reason against my “bizarre and weird” life choices, it seems to come from a place of genuine care and concern; instead of from a book where the commandments are selectively followed. Thank you, truly, for concern. People are constantly flooded with the misinformed notion we need loads of protein to have a healthy diet.However, the American Heart Association states that vegetarianism is a dietary way of reducing ones chances of, “obesity, coronary heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes mellitus, and some forms of cancer” due to the lower intake of saturated fats and cholesterol. Protein comes in many forms.

Although agreeing unanimously on any issue of significance is highly improbable, we should all slow down sometimes and reevaluate what we “know” to be true. So often, we form opinions based on tradition, our local cultures, or families’ values and do little to assess the validity of these opinions in the modern age. So, next time, please think before you speak. There’s nothing wrong in having an opinion, telling someone what you think, or caring about a friend’s well-being, but please do consider whether or not you have all the facts or if what you are pushing is beneficial. More often than not, people need a supportive, or at least understanding hand, not a lecture.

If Arkansas, albeit an insignificant slice of Arkansas, can embrace an influx of people whom believe in Bernie Sanders, homosexual marriage equality, smoothie bowls, and vegan cheesecake the possibilities for change are endless. And to all my fellow vegetarians, whether it is for empathy, dietary reasons, or both, keep doing you!

*Fun Fact: The United States killed 400 million less animals for food last year, according to The Humane Society