Some food for thought (or thoughts on food) Ive noticed a lot of people posting statuses // memes talking about how many problems would be solved if the whole world went vegan or vegetarian. And while I agree that the factory farmed big business meat industry is a monster that needs to be destroyed before we pay the price with our very planet... I simply can not agree with the sentiment that everyone should go veg. Why? How about telling someone who lives in the plains of Africa that they should give up meat. Try telling a Tibetan person living atop the world in one of the harshest climates on earth that they should give up all meat. Or say the same thing to an Inuit living in the arctic... Im sorry, but the idea that the entire world could give up meat and live healthfully is simply not based in reality at all. Yes, its easy to eat vegan or vegetarian in a place where those options are available to you. Its much harder when your body requires the fat and protein from animals to survive a deadly arctic winter or life in the bush. In fact, its impossible. Unless you also believe everyone should live in a 1st world country with access to whole foods and farm to table dietary exclusive restaurants, than the argument is invalid. Also, by lumping all meat eaters and the people who raise the meat into the same category as those that raise frankenbeef for fast food companies and eat it, you do a great disservice to the honest decent small farmer who raises and treats their livestock with love and kindness as a way to provide for others as well as for themselves and their families. Ive known excellent people who care deeply about the quality of life their animals enjoy and therefore in turn automatically care just as much about the quality of food they are selling. These people live in a true symbiotic relationship with nature. There is still an ancient and awesome understanding that this animals sacrifice is not to be in vain, but rather to ensure the continuity of our life and species. It is the ultimate sacrifice deserving of acknowledgement of its value. Lastly, I say this, with as much bluntness as I can muster: this world - It is cruel. Nature is cruel. Watch any carnivore hunt and kill its prey in nature and what you will witness is a gruesomely cruel scene. More often than not animals are eaten by other animals in the wild while they are still alive and aware of the fact that their limbs are being torn off, and their guts are being ripped out and devoured. In many species, such as bears, the male will actually kill and eat its own offspring, simply to have less competition for food. A mother bear will only breed with a male. She will spend the rest of her days avoiding them at all costs and even fighting them if need be to save the lives of her offspring. There are creatures that infiltrate, infect, and destroy the bodies of their hosts. Species of all kinds that scavenge and steal the eggs and young of others for food. If you think the whole world should chose your dietary choice, not because of environmental and health reasons, but because animals are cute I strongly encourage you to spend some more time in nature studying the relentless cruelty of those you wish to protect. I hope no one takes this as a personal attack. It isnt that at all. I respect all of my friends and their choices. And I certainly respect anyone who takes in healthy food and is conscious about their decisions be you vegan, vegetarian, or meat eater. I just think there needs to be less judgment on both ends. I think people who ridicule vegans or vegetarians simply because its a different choice than yours are idiots. I think vegans and vegetarians who push their ideas and ideals on others hurt their argument far more than help it. Educate yourself. Then make the decisions you feel are right.
Posted on: Tue, 05 Nov 2013 02:54:54 +0000
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