I’m a long-time vegetarian, not vegan, though tend toward that viewpoint more and more as I learn the specifics of modern day animal husbandry. I view factory farms as being unecessarily cruel to animals, and so vote with my mouth. I eat small amounts of dairy, and eggs & honey occasionally, and buy them from small (local if possible) producers who treat the animals with some respect.
The slavery analogy is a good one, as the vegan perspective is that modern factory farming is an abuse of sentient beings, and abhorrent. This is a rather new idea in application of practice in human history, because it is easier to have that choice now, at least in the US. We ain’t a starving nation, and it’s pretty easy to find meat alternatives, with pre-packaged name brands even. It’s still a new idea, though, which many don’t understand.
Not too long ago, 130 years, human slavery of African-Americans was an accepted practice in this country, and those racial misperceptions are still felt. It took awhile for for people to see that was not appropriate behavior, it was cruelty. Perhaps the levels of cruelty perceived by a society are determined by the ability to survive and prosper beyond the basic need of that cruelty. I think that we are at a point that we can flourish without causing unecessary harm to animals, who I see as being sentient beings deserving of kind treatment.
As to the OP, kind treatment is my MO in relations with other folks. I was not raised as a vegetarian, but came to that after the same upbringing most Americans have had. Certainly had my fair share of pork chops, and remember that enjoyment. Don’t care for it much now, but do understand where it comes from. I reached a different conclusion about kind treatment to all creatures than is the norm, now, but by the same precepts of kindness, am not going to tear into another’s pholosophical jugular to satisfy my baser ego needs. I don’t need that kind of eating.
Comparing vthe vegan principles to religious principles is apt , perhaps, in enthusiasm, but not in terms of long held practice. There is not a prophet, nor canon, for vegan protocol. It’s new and weird. Most vegans don’t have a church to back them up, so don’t have the grace of long term authority, nor the glamour of established pageantry, so have to rely on their arguement and belief. The beliefs are in the formative stages, so less likely to be understood by a partner of differing belief. So, then the frustration beween a couple who differ in that regard, as opposed to a couple who differ in respects to established religions, would be more intense because of a floundering of established community support, to my mind. And then, there’s the basic issue of going to the store everyday.
For me, if I were to the point of discovering another through love, I’d hope they’d understand my heartfelt beliefs, and I’d abide by theirs as well: talk long into the night, and try best to understand that, whatever goes down the gullet. Hopes this helps your understanding erislover **erislover[/B
My mom converted to Catholicism when she was a teenager and married my father while he was still a Protestant :eek: 
. He converted soon after.