I’ve heard many Jewish anti-Zionists express discomfort with the idea that opposing Zionism is inherently antisemitic because it implies that being Jewish requires supporting genocide. To them, that’s the truly antisemitic notion.
As a Black vegan, I feel the same discomfort when people claim that respecting animals is a “white” thing. That framing indirectly suggests that POC are more supportive of animal oppression than white people, which is, frankly, racist.
The truth is, every culture, white or otherwise, has been shaped by human supremacy. But if we’re talking more specifically about plant-based dieting, the cultures that have adhered to it as tradition the most are not white, e.g., religious tendencies like Jainism and Rastafarianism.
And let’s not forget who industrialized and globalized animal agriculture for maximum profit: colonizers. If anything, Western imperialism is what has exacerbated animal exploitation.
Yeah, it’s the same thing when they accuse vegans of having self-righteousness or a “superiority complex.”
On that note, I find that such a take is really just projection to the highest degree.
Vegans don’t typically say they’re “morally superior” unironically; that’s shit that non-vegans just bring up with no rational foundation for it because, in their mind, they’re saying “You don’t oppress animals? Damn, that must make you think you’re superior to me because not oppressing animals is far better than oppressing animals,” so they respond accordingly.
Additionally, non-vegans obviously exert a sense of superiority over non-human animals. They also can’t imagine veganism being for totally non-selfish reasons, so they assume that the opposition to animal exploitation is an unauthentic “mask” for why someone is vegan over their “true” reason (which they are assuming is smugness and “moral superiority”).
Like you said, it helps them cope by attacking character rather than giving actual consideration to opposing animal exploitation.
It’s always them asking, incredulously, why you are vegan, and if you say it’s for ethical reasons then they get mad at you as if you were preaching unprompted. Just seeking validation to not do anything about their nagging doubts.