Raskin’s Revolution
By Kailey Harless
Maryland State Senator tells VN about his life-changing pledge to go veg.
On a cold December afternoon in 2008, Maryland State Senator Jamie Raskin lay down for a nap. Raskin was plucked from his slumber by a call from a reporter who asked: “What can everyone in our community do to be green in 2009?” The senator didn’t think twice before saying, “Everyone should go vegetarian for one week.” Though still a meat-eater at the time, Raskin had considered the potential benefits of adopting a veg diet, but lacked a starting point for changing his habits. Thanks to Takoma Park’s first-ever Try Veg Week—organized by Compassion Over Killing—Raskin got the needed push, and from April 24th through the 30th, Senator Raskin and Takoma Park City Council pledged to go veg. Now, months later, he’s sticking with a meat-free diet, obsessed with Whole Foods’ vegan General Tso’s chicken, and focusing on the environment.
VegNews: Why did you decide to stick with vegetarianism?
Jamie Raskin: Because it made me feel a lot better physically, not so full and engorged after meals. It also made me feel better politically because I finally lined up my menu with my morals. I’ve seen what the poultry industry has done to the Chesapeake Bay and I’m glad not to be implicated personally in the continuing contamination of our most precious estuary by virtue of eating chicken nuggets every day.
VN: How has your daily life changed since going veg?
JR: One thing that surprised me is how vegetarians are everywhere. The week after I launched my bold experiment, two of the people I work with closely at American University Washington College of Law came into my office and said, “Well, it’s about time!” I had no idea they didn’t eat meat. I’ve been overwhelmed by the encouragement and dinner invitations.
VN: Do you feel that it’s important for everyone to try a vegetarian diet?
JR: Any time you eat a salad or lentil soup, you’re trying a vegetarian diet. Trying the diet isn’t the hard part. The hard part is trying to assimilate vegetarianism into your self-image. I really had to face the uncomfortable fact that eating meat is not only easy and ubiquitously reinforced in our culture, but also integrated with our ideas about masculinity. I mean, you feel you’re compromising your manhood when you surrender steak and hamburgers. I recently went to a high-school reunion and some of the old jocks were making fun of me, and I just said, “Hey, going vegetarian is hard; it’s the macho thing to do. You’re not tough enough to go veg.”
VN: Should the US partake in a national meat-free day?
JR: Absolutely. The great thing about pledges, proclamations, and vegetarian days is that they counteract the basic social presumption in favor of meat. They validate changing your mind about it. When I signed my week-long pledge, I said, “If I can eat meat 51 weeks a year, I can go meatless for one week.” That was three months ago and I have found that there is a real community out there.
VN: What other efforts are you making to be eco-friendly?
JR: When I first ran for the Senate in Maryland, I said that I would never talk about the environment as an “issue” because it’s not an issue anymore, if it ever was, but the entire context in which we have to make every decision, whether about stormwater or greenhouse gas emissions or housing or education. I have a 100 percent Environment Maryland rating and am doing whatever I can to green our government and our politics. We are pushing recycling for our highway restaurant complexes, green roofs on schools and universities, innovative storm-water protection, locally grown food in our public schools. We’re going through a real environmental transformation.
Photo by Julie Wiatt
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Posted: Jul 06 2009 19:28PM By Emily
Props to Senator Raskin! This is an inspiring interview. If only all elected officials could display such ethical leadership. I wish I lived in his district so I could vote for him!
Posted: Jul 07 2009 05:16AM By Paul
I live in Sen. Raskin's district and can attest to his progressive leadership. It's an honor to have him as my state senator, and an even bigger honor knowing he's a vegetarian.
Posted: Jul 07 2009 06:20AM By Josh
I voted for Senator Raskin and he has made me, along with his constituents, proud supporters of his tremendous work. Senator Raskin's leadership on promoting the connection between our diet and sustainability is inspiring. Maryland and the rest of the country is lucky to have him fighting to make this planet more humane and healthy.
Posted: Jul 07 2009 06:26AM By Matt
Way to go Senator Raskin! Reading this article made my day. I live in Raskin's district and am thrilled to see that he's vegetarian AND encouraging other people to follow suit.
Posted: Jul 07 2009 06:31AM By Erin
This is fantastic--yet another reason to vote for Senator Raskin! It's also great to see that he's adding his voice to the growing discussion regarding the connection between our food choices and the environment.
Posted: Jul 07 2009 06:38AM By Karla
Sen. Raskin is a thoughtful leader--cheers to him for not resting with preconceived notions of what it is to be vegetarian and prioritizing his health and ethics.
Posted: Jul 07 2009 07:47AM By Drew
Wonderful! Senator Raskin has clearly become an articulate advocate for vegetarianism. Great work Erica, Paul, Josh and everyone else in Takoma Park! I'm glad you turned him on to the idea.
Posted: Jul 07 2009 08:59AM By Ariela
Wow what a great cheer leader for living a totally veg life! I wish I lived in his district too! Our food choices and the environment really do go hand in hand! Totally inspiring...here's another inspirational story I found about body, mind, and environment connection on GirlieGirl Army! http://girliegirlarmy.com/blog/20090705/what-does-your-body-have-to-do-with-leadership/
Posted: Jul 07 2009 10:40AM By Laura
Great interview! I'm hoping our Senators here in California will take a cue from Senator Raskin's progressive leadership and go veg! Also, is it just me or is he kinda dreamy? I'll stop. But really.
Posted: Jul 07 2009 13:01PM By Mike
We saw him at a book signing a few days after he took the pledge in DC (I was wondering if we'd catch him cheating), and he was totally psyched about going veg for the week. Very cool that he's fully on board with it. There are many reasons to go veg, and I'm glad he's pushing it for environmental reasons. A person can't seriously be an environmentalist and a meat eater. Senator/Professor Raskin is one of the nicest people I've met. This makes him all the more cool.
Posted: Jul 08 2009 10:41AM By Sue Mulholland
Love the comment about the poultry industry as we were in Maryland last summer in Ocean City and the chicken industry is huge.It is the largest employer in that neck of the woods. I have been a vegetarian for a month now and oh my gosh I have made some incredible meals. Last night we had lentil burgers with mushrooms and walnuts, cumin and a cilantro pesto holding it all together. It's nice to see the Senator from the Chicken State become a vegetarian. Great interview Kailey Harless. Love to see some more.
Posted: Jul 08 2009 11:57AM By Maggie
I agree that this is a really inspiring interview -- and KUDOS to Compassion Over Killing for empowering Sen. Raskin to make the switch to a vegetarian diet!
Posted: Jul 08 2009 21:25PM By lisa shapiro
wow! congratualtions COK for such wonderful work on "Try Veg Week". and thank you to Senator Raskin for his humane and enironmental leadership. May other cities and politicans! follow this great lead.
Posted: Jul 09 2009 09:19AM By Loren
Way awesome! Caring about the health of the enviornment and of animals is so cool!
Posted: Jul 09 2009 12:49PM By shannon
Maryland represent! I don't live in his district, but I'm encouraged by his openness and willingness to break free from the political herd. Come to Anne Arundel County, Senator!
Posted: Jul 15 2009 14:48PM By Liz
I'm jealous! I want a Senator Raskin instead of Inhofe!
Posted: Jul 20 2009 13:43PM By Tara Romanow
It is so refreshing to hear about a politician that actually has an open mind! Rock on Raskin!
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