Forced Vegetable Assault, Carnivores Say No!

Manly Youth Council’s Greenfest sparks controversy, possibly unravels fabric of Australian Society. So goes sausage, so goes the community, say elders. Phoebe Vidler finds quibbles over kibbles laughable, but enters food fight anyway, succumbing to the impulses of her own inner senior citizen.

By Phoebe Vidler, a Youth_full Manly Resident

I am a Generation Y grandmother. I don’t mean that in the literal sense, of course (I know a few Gen Y grannies and can tell you I have no problem waiting). What I mean to say is, I seem to have adopted the habits and mannerisms of a concerned citizen. Or more specifically, an old lady.

This used to be amusing. From about the age of twelve jokes began to be made about me having the brain of an 80 year old man, though I should have waited longer to hop on that bandwagon, as it’s been made quite popular by certain vampire novels.

Given all this, it can sometimes be very surprising to me when the aged feel the need to make sure I understand they view me as a feeble minded second class citizen, and should be treated as such.

I realised my transformation into an arthritic, liver spotted old coot was complete (internally, of course) when I recently felt the need to write my first angry letter after a story in the Manly Daily and a string of on-line comments appeared about GreenFest, a music, activities and environmental event recently held in Keirle Park, going vegetarian captured my attention. Manly Daily, 29 March 2010 http://manly-daily.whereilive.com.au/news/story/snags-out-as-event-goes-green-and-vegetarian/.

Greenfest was one of Manly Youth Council’s first events where food was served, in keeping with, you know, the whole green thing.

But this onslaught on traditional Australian protein values was too much for some precious snowflakes in the community, apparently unable to digest that any food served at an Australian event might not be the traditional sausage sizzle.

So offended that vegetarianism was the course du jour, rather opinionated butchers and citizens from different postcodes started making their own sausage, so to speak.

I think the whole thing is ridiculous, personally, especially when local carnivores attack the ideals of an organised group of under 18’s.

Citizens of the Northern Beaches and elsewhere had especially amped up the rhetoric in the comments section, serving up many meaty quotes. But the general argument was that Australian youth don’t have the sense to make up their own minds on what to eat.

Well, you know how it is. When it comes to brainwashing young people, you really have to shove it down their throats. The veggie sausage that, is.

Shouldn’t people, especially youth, maybe be a little more conscientious about their food? Ready to get my grumpy old man on, I hitched my pants up to my armpits, cracked my knuckles, opened a fresh browser and added a few stern comments of my own…

If folks are concerned about our dietary habits, they should get involved. Having worked with the youth council for a couple of years, I know that among our few sponsors none were butchers, from here or anywhere else and no meat vendors ever offered to serve food at events.

Here are some things about me: I am certifiably sane, know many vegetarians, none of whom are “extremists” and who kindly respect and tolerate my eating meat.

I am also an Australian, and I’ve never been at a concert and thought, “You know what would top this uniquely Australian experience off for me? More lamb.”

While many Northern Beaches commentators apparently believe that the fabric of our society is so delicate that an event choosing to serve vegetables to young people could threaten it, fear not. Manly Daily, semi-local butchers, beef industry apologists: next time someone tries to give me free vegetables, I’ll know what their sinister plan is.

Phoebe Vidler Bio

Named after Holden Caulfield’s younger sister in Catcher in the Rye, she's a mix between Daryl Hannah in Splash and Madison Square Garden.
1) Collects comics, $9.95 Penguin books, notes and Kinder surprise toys.
2) Comes from a family in show business but not in a Suri Cruise way.
3) Has lived in the Northern Beaches for 13 years.
4) Aspires to leave college, paint walls, live in a commune, move to Uganda, teach, and return to Australia like none of that ever happened.


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