There has been a Tumblr thread circulating on social media criticizing the vegan lifestyle for caring about animals more than the rest of the human race:

Having been vegan for four years, I understand the backlash about my diet; "where do you get your protein?", "animals were put on this earth to be eaten", and various other arguments. However, I have never seen people complain that vegans aren't 'humanitarian enough.' With the present racial and societal tension in the world today, I understand the need for the underprivileged to fight for equality, but criticizing an entire community - who believe they are doing their part to make the world a less harmful place - is a bit extreme.

First of all, I'd like to apologize on behalf of all of us if you have ever met a 'vegan' (or someone who claims to be one) who demeaned you, chastised you, was a hypocrite, or had a 'holier-than-thou' mentality; they are the outliers in our community. I wish you would have met me or someone similar to me with similar ideas as your first experience with someone who shares my diet. Most vegans are not the type to flaunt it in your face or guilt-trip you for eating meat. I firmly believe these people are not fully educated and became vegan for the wrong reasons - because their friends did, or they thought it was 'cool' or 'the latest trend.'

The majority of vegans decided to go vegan for a multitude of reasons. Naturally, a big part of it is to reduce cruelty to animals, but amongst all the health benefits, one of the most important reasons people go vegan is to protect the earth and everyone/thing on it.

1. Veganism is not affordable

False. So, so, so absolutely false and as a college student, I can attest to this. I work a part time job after class, pay my rent and utilities, put gas in my car, and put my money towards many other expenses but I am still able to be vegan. Veganism is typically seen as an 'upper-middle-class, privileged white diet' - which, don't you think is inciting more racist or classist feelings and doing more harm than good? In fact, a good portion of the world is vegetarian or vegan. In third-world countries, the vegan diet is the most affordable to feed the population. India is the most vegan/vegetarian-friendly country with 40% of its population following those diets, Israel in second with 13% of the population, and in third Australia, Italy, and Sweden at 10-11%. Rice and beans are extremely inexpensive, a large portion of a well-balanced vegan diet. I have fed myself three times a day for an entire month, all completely vegan meals, for $30 because that was all I could afford. Rice, beans, and local/in season produce is the way to go for a healthful and inexpensive vegan diet; you just have to realize what you really need on your plate to feel full and get enough calories. Focus on macronutrients (protein, carbs, and fats) when making your meals and you will quickly find you don't need the extra bread, fatty foods, and refined sugar.

2. Veganism is not sustainable

If one of the largest reasons people go vegan is for human/environmental rights, let's do some math here. There are approximately 7 billion people on the planet, and we have the resources to produce food for 14 billion. Why is there such a deficit? More than 56 billion farm animals are slaughtered each year excluding seafood, which one could assume takes up a ridiculous amount of the earth's resources (water, grain, etc.) to raise all of these animals for slaughter. Around 1/3 of the earth's usable/farmable land is dedicated to animal agriculture; a 'staple' in the Western diet. Had a large portion of these resources been re-allocated to crops or simply used to feed third world communities, the world hunger issue would be far less serious.

3. Veganism is not cruelty-free

So we've already established that every human's life matters. While it is true that some companies, countries, etc. have poor working conditions or abuse their workers who tend fields/harvest crops, the same is true for slaughterhouse workers in factory farms. One can only imagine the psychological toll this type of work takes on a person, let alone the hazards and poor health standards. Needless to be said, the animals are at the brunt of this abuse as they are raised for humans to use, without a thought of them being sentient beings who want to enjoy their lives. So are we as the human race going to belittle a movement that doesn't support 2/3 of these kinds of abuse just because non-vegan diets support all 3? The 'quinoa argument' above that only 'white vegans' eat quinoa is absolutely ridiculous; plenty of people of color eat quinoa as it has become a large part of the American diet - gluten or grain free ingredients in food products are most likely quinoa. It is even found in some 'grain-free' dog foods and treats, so you can not solely blame vegans for this issue. Even though quinoa is becoming such a popular product in America, because of its selective growing location (the altiplano, a vast, cold, windswept, and barren 14,000-foot Andean plateau spanning parts of Peru and Bolivia), it is guaranteed a high price on the market. This high price allows Peru and Bolivia a degree of food sovereignty - having a say in the global market, which surpasses the level of food security; contrary to the argument above, this actually helps Peru and Bolivia's economies. There is no way to live 100% cruelty-free as much as we would love to. The computer I'm typing on has animal products in it; our phones have animal products in them; most of our clothes and household items were made in Haiti, Bangladesh, Peru, China, etc. that have poor working conditions for their workers; your wedding or engagement ring is probably a blood diamond, meaning it was mined by child labor in Africa. We live in a capitalist America and us as consumers have the power to put these cruel companies to an end. We need to do our research and buy from organizations and businesses that believe in an ethical way of production, in our homes, in our closets, and on our plates. Why are we fighting with each other when we supposedly have the same goal? Don't we all want to stop human and animal suffering?

4. Veganism is not for everyone

If done correctly, I do believe veganism can be for everyone. I understand I am in a fortunate position to have been able to take nutrition and wellness classes. I am fortunate to have a support group in UA Vegan Voices where I am constantly learning more about the vegan diet and lifestyle. Not everyone has these things, or even the money to buy their own groceries. I consider myself an understanding and compassionate person, and while I wish everyone could be vegan because of how many benefits I have experienced from the lifestyle, I realize it doesn't work for everyone. One of the arguments above was the nut allergy issue — while many vegan substitutes are tree nut products, I know plenty people who are vegan and have nut allergies. Before you completely blow off veganism, give the diet a real and honest try for yourself to see how it works for you. If you are not vegan and decide it will never work for you, all I ask is that you please refrain from spreading more negativity about how much you 'hate vegans.' At the end of the day, it is my body and my choices are my own on what I decide to eat and not eat.

We all want to do what's best for our bodies, our community, and our world. It's time we start acting like it.