I Am a Vegetarian
A word about the "conversation" between vegetarians and meat eaters. This started off as a response to an earlier post, but since I kinda went off into left field, I figured I'd just make it my own thing instead of looking like I'm lecturing some poor user on here. Lol. So this is just me talking. Not to anyone specific.
A lot of times we talk about the treatment of really any kind of animal that's going to be used for food. I think if some people thought "oh but cats are cute so we shouldn't eat them" then go find to India where cows are sacred and not eaten because of Hinduism. If a certain people wouldn't eat a plate of spaghetti shaped like Jesus, then maybe cows should be off the menu too. Cows are cute too.
That said, I still don't go for the "all or nothing" approach when it comes to... Well, anything. I think that type of thinking is poisonous in our world today and it leaves no room for discussion. Some people are going to eat meat. That's just the end of it. If you say "either all meat is OK or none of it is", then you polarize the conversation and cause it to be "us vs them" and nobody ever wins in that situation.
I think the conversation should revolve more around the following:
1. ethical treatment of food animals, no matter what type they may be
2. The importance of art least reducing our meat consumption
3. The history of meat consumption in humankind (it's so recent that we've been eating meat on a large scale that it almost can't be looked upon as something we've always done)
4.health benefits of going "more vegetarian" even if you don't go fully vegetarian or vegan.
5. The fact that veggies are generally cheaper than meat so even if you replace a few meals a week with something vegetarian, you can save money and still basically live your normal life.
6. Corporate farms. They're bad for the farmer, bad for the soil, bad for the plants, BUT almost 100% necessary if we're going to feed everyone. Most of that food goes to feed "food animals" so one way to reduce the impact is to eat less meat, support local farmers markets, growing your own etc...
Just ANYTHING but the "us vs them" argument. You'll never gain an ounce of ground that way and serve pretty much nothing but to make yourself an enemy to half the planet.
A lot of times we talk about the treatment of really any kind of animal that's going to be used for food. I think if some people thought "oh but cats are cute so we shouldn't eat them" then go find to India where cows are sacred and not eaten because of Hinduism. If a certain people wouldn't eat a plate of spaghetti shaped like Jesus, then maybe cows should be off the menu too. Cows are cute too.
That said, I still don't go for the "all or nothing" approach when it comes to... Well, anything. I think that type of thinking is poisonous in our world today and it leaves no room for discussion. Some people are going to eat meat. That's just the end of it. If you say "either all meat is OK or none of it is", then you polarize the conversation and cause it to be "us vs them" and nobody ever wins in that situation.
I think the conversation should revolve more around the following:
1. ethical treatment of food animals, no matter what type they may be
2. The importance of art least reducing our meat consumption
3. The history of meat consumption in humankind (it's so recent that we've been eating meat on a large scale that it almost can't be looked upon as something we've always done)
4.health benefits of going "more vegetarian" even if you don't go fully vegetarian or vegan.
5. The fact that veggies are generally cheaper than meat so even if you replace a few meals a week with something vegetarian, you can save money and still basically live your normal life.
6. Corporate farms. They're bad for the farmer, bad for the soil, bad for the plants, BUT almost 100% necessary if we're going to feed everyone. Most of that food goes to feed "food animals" so one way to reduce the impact is to eat less meat, support local farmers markets, growing your own etc...
Just ANYTHING but the "us vs them" argument. You'll never gain an ounce of ground that way and serve pretty much nothing but to make yourself an enemy to half the planet.
41-45, C
