Some how, I am the only person in my entire family who seems to believe that the enviornment is important, and that what we as humans do can impact our earth.
I know better than to go into the conversation, but somehow i found myself trying to defend myself to my entire family who thinks that I am a greenie hippie nut case.

I can't take it. They think I'm an idiot, and its really important to me. I spend a good part of my time reseaching these issues, and they just laugh it off and atribute it to me being young and foolish.

Where did I come from.

I'm not a liberal nut, I just care about this planet and the people on it.

Try not to get discouraged. I know it must be hard if you are the only one in your family who cares about these issues. There are worse things to be than someone who cares about their environment. Good for you.

Your not alone with this problem. This is holiday as usual I was picked on for my views and eating habits. They laughed and made fun of me and stupidly I took the bait and tried to defend myself. This just made it worse. How come we are the ones who have to defend ourselves instead of them?

How come we are the ones who have to defend ourselves instead of them?

Because we've made a conscious choice to go "against the grain" and be different.

Regardless of whether our choices are good or not, if we're different than the vast majority, we'll have to defend our beliefs - or learn to bite our tongues...

In India, for example, vegetarianism is not made fun of or questioned because a large part of the population in many areas is vegetarian.

I was just amazed by my the behavior of my family. Usually they are very supportive of me and my choices. And I know they enjoy a good debate, but when it got on the topic of enviornment and vegetarian issues, they just started attacking. I was so upset.
I told them later how much they hurt my feelings, and after a while they thought about it, and saw how badly they acted. Almost everyone apologized to me. But still it kinda ruined my christmas.

I guess they are supportive of me as long as they don't have to think a bout WHY I make these choices, because maybe that would make them feel guilty about the way they live.

its just cause most people are incapable of thinking about consequences a month or more later... its all about NOW! ME! MEE!!!!! NOW! i guess they get shaken quite a bit when they see that humans ACTUALLY CAN care about more than themselves and about the world and the future... its ALL about our CULTure.

Some people get caught up in themselves for a moment and lose sight of the big picture. Some people have never even learned to look at it in the first place. If people get combative, give them a thought to linger on and end the conversation. Something like, "Since when did compassion become worthy of contempt?" Or perhaps, "Why is it that I am naïve for considering our future? All living things are interconnected."

No matter how powerful someone might feel as part of the majority, reason is always stronger. A well placed response can earn you some silence - and peace from the omnis.

;)