It has slowly made its appearance. In 1986 Carlo Petrini and the other founding members met to inaugurate Arcigola, the forerunner organization of
Slow Food. It was an act of purposeful defiance; to defy the opening of a McDonald's at the historical Spanish Steps in Rome. The purpose? To set the example of the human right we have to the pleasures of the table through food heritage, tradition and culture. That food should be good, clean and fair. Three years later in 1989 the
Slow Food Manifesto was signed by delegates from 15 countries and the movement was born.
Now, 20 years later, Slow Food has reached hundreds of thousands in many different countries. And lately it seems even more in what you might call the "
Food Inc." or "
Michael Pollan" eras. I should be happy about that right? I am. I was. I am...
A few weeks ago it came to my attention that Slow Food was getting a bad rap. That we were standing out as elitists in the grassroots organizations and overshadowing those that might be trying to accomplish the same thing. I have always been someone to root for the underdog. I'll admit it right now; I hope that the Angels stand right alongside the Yankees and kick some New York butt! (Note that I'm not even from either CA or NY.) I had thought we were still an underdog. We might have reached a lot of people but we are not defined by our number of people. We are defined by our accomplishments. We are a cause defined by the preservation of our history. We are a cause defined by keeping the cultures of our world. We protect our earth. We are defined by being informed of everything from seed to table in order to accomplish good, clean and fair food. We are defined by the people who believe this whole-heartedly and make it happen.
In the weeks since, it began to be more apparent to me and it was concerning. Earlier I mentioned that Slow Food had been making a slow appearance and lately it has been more of a rapid one. That is definitely more evident. I always get excited when I hear someone say they've heard of it or I hear mention of it on TV. Except for recently.
I had heard of a chef, a Slow Food advocate, who prefers to not tell people about the movement. He views it more like a religion, wanting to keep his philosophies to himself and allow others to form their own. Then I was watching TV tonight. It was a sort-of goofy detective show that featured a one time character that was a "raging vegan" and decribed herself as a "Slow Food following...raw vegan".
I didn't and I still don't understand the chef's reasoning for not wanting to spread the word about a good cause. Nobody says you have to preach it. Maybe he just wants to be a living example of the Word. I don't know. Regardless, the show I was watching kind of confirmed that there is that mentality about Slow Food out there, right? They were obviously portraying the character as this obnoxious woman with obscene food eating habits. I may not be vegan but if I was, I'd be doubly offended (if I got offended easily). But there it was. Complete confirmation in its rawest form that Slow Food tops it all. In the minds of some, we are the Yankees in the non-profit food world.
So why am I doubting whether I am happy that we have more people? Why do I question to be or not to be Slow? I guess it's not really that I question these things. In fact, I know it's not. What I am questioning is the stature of the team I want to play for. Do I want to play for a team that is in it for the money? No. Do I want to play for the team that is in it for the fame? No. Do I want to play for the team that is in it for the glory? Well, kinda. If it's the right glory. If I know in the end that I am receiving that glory because I have helped even one person receive wholesome food, then yes. If I know that I helped to save a family farm from being shut down, then definitely. Slow Food is an organization where I can do this. Slow Food is an organization I have chosen to be a part of because they want to help other organizations who want to accomplish the same mission. If it means that I have to play for the widely perceived "top dawgs" then so be it. The people of Slow Food want to be defined
not by their stats, money or fame, but by their effects and I will help accomplish that by delving into the heart and soul that I know Slow Food is.
