MovieChat Forums > Die Blechtrommel (1980) Discussion > Günther Grass and vegetarism

Günther Grass and vegetarism


I think, it´s really strange and unworthy for an intelligent man that he says for him vegetarism is just one view of many but no generaly valid truth (there is also said something like that in the book and he wrote a poem about vegetarians in which it says, they should leave him alone), but on the other hand it seems to be an objective truth to him that nazis are evil. Isn´t there a contradiction and isn´t it childish to think the own opinions are objectively right?
To be crass: People who say it´s immoral to kill animals should leave him alone, because for him it´s okay to do so but on the other hand he thinks he has the right or even the duty to critisize people who kill other people because that´s an objective crime.
I am not a vegetarian, but when I see animals brought to the slaughter house it touches me. And, of course, I also feel pitty when I see people brought to a concentration camp, soldiers dieing in the field or people getting bombed. But why should violence against humans be an objective crime, but violence against animals not?
I am convinced, that there can´t be objectively right or wrong things, just opinions, and I would have suspected by an intelligent man like Grass to see that, too.

P.S.: Please excuse my not so good English. I know it isn´t perfect. I hope you understand what I mean, anyway.


"Hooters, hooters, yum yum yum,
Hooters, hooters, on a girl that´s dumb!"
The Bundy credo

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Well, I'm a vegetarian and I grappled with that issue myself once upon a time...and my choice is now clear. There's no distinctions to be had. Perhaps a better way to judge would not be through the human/animal divide but one closer to home. If one can form a strong emotional bond with an animal such as a pet, then one is also liable to form such a bond with any other animal on the planet (a cow, a chicken, a horse, a seal, a platypus, a shark, etc.), and if one is to ignore those feelings, then it would invalidate any of the emotional responses one has to any creature.

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Thank you very much for your answer. Good points.


"Hooters, hooters, yum yum yum,
Hooters, hooters, on a girl that´s dumb!"
The Bundy credo

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First, I think Grass objects to the Messianic / superior attitude vegetarians can have. Not to people being vegetarian per se.

Secondly, I think killing animals for food should not be equated with killing humans, for whatever idealistic / aggressive reason. Get real.

Thirdly, Hitler was a vegetarian. How does that fit into your perception of animal versus human killing?

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The first thing that came to mind when watching the film was this last fact.

I agree with Turver about the superior attitude, and actually think that this could easily have been another another dig by Grass at the hypocrisy of the Nazis. It's quite possible that Hitler had more than a few followers who tried to emulate his "humanitarian" posturing by becoming vegetarians themselves.

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