Recently, in response to one of my bulletins, or probably the slew of bulletins, a friend from high school wrote to me with his counter arguments and opinions. Here they are, along with my response. I welcomed this, by the way, so if it seems like I'm angry, I'm not! I only wish that he and I could have met and discussed things in person, because I know him and I know me, and that would have been one hell of a debate!
I also welcome any points from anyone else wishing to raise them, so bring it!
Here goes.....
What is up with veggie sausages??? If vegetarians are truly vegetarians then why would they want to eat something that resembles a meat product? It means that all you folks are at the very least thinking about eating meat.
First of all, I for one do not like the veggie sausages or faux-meat that is on the market. In my opinion, there are too many other good things to eat without pretending that something is dead flesh. However, many people DO miss eating meat. For instance, I made a faux-meat meal for my meat-eating boyfriend, and he said that the fake meat actually helped him to accept the meal more- it was the mental idea of the texture and taste. So if it helps people switch to vegetarian options, then why not?
The choice to become a vegetarian comes not from what feels nice on the taste buds, but from higher concerns. Every vegetarian that I have met is doing it for the animals, the environment, or the world population. Many, including myself, do agree that meat tastes good, but the implication behind that meat just isn't worth it. Its just food, after all. It's not worth the torture in my mind. If it is worth the torture in your mind, then that's your opinion.
Also, there are certain vitamins that meat provides that veggies don't have. Every vegan person I have ever seen says how healthy they are, but they look like they have just spent the last 10 years in a concentration camp.
And, agreed, there is ONE vitamin that you can't get from a vegan diet, and that is B12. Which is why there are such things as vitamins in the world today. Wow, technology! Other great technological inventions that have put an end to animal abuse are: the car and the tractor. Its absolutely crazy what we can do these days because our technology has brought us far beyond using animals as food sources, beasts of burden or entertainment.
By the way, where are those concentration-camp vegetarians? I've been a vegetarian for 12 years and I don't look like I am on my last legs of life. Neither do the vegans or vegetarians I know. Send me some photos of this proof, otherwise I'll just say that you're talking through your ass.
Humans are animals and have eaten meat for thousands of years and that won't change. If eating meat was bad, then the human race would not be where it is today. Humans would not have evolved out of Africa and humans would have become extinct long ago. How else would you propose Inuits in Alaska survive? Should they eat all those plants and vegatables that seem to thrive in Arctic conditions?
Another agreement: humans have eaten meat for thousands of years. You're on the ball today, Todd! Perhaps we would not be where we are today without meat, but why do we need it now? Are we not 'evolved out of Africa' already? And before the invention of ways to seperate and combine vitamins, the microwave, the oven, pots, pans, etc, then granted, we NEEDED meat, as that was our source of food. But today, with the options available to us, its not necessary. Again, as I said above, we have moved past the age where we need animals to survive. Today, it's not like you go out, hunt what you need, use it wisely with little waste, and feed your family. A disgustingly large amount of the meat slaughtered for human consumption goes to waste. Its awful.
If you think that humans should just do what they've been doing for thousands of years, then bring back slavery, public executions, and trial by torture.
And I hardly think that the Inuits are on my shit list. Not are the Africans or Latin American indians, before you pull that card. They hunt for their food, use what they hunt, and don't hunt more than they need. Their situation has not brought them out of the need for animals, and I can respect that. It's fast food culture in both the United States, UK, and other developed nations that is the problem, this is where a large portion of the waste comes from, and also the demand.
If we ate meat like the Inuits, or the Latin American indians, then I wouldn't have a problem, because the world wouldn't have the problems it does now. But we don't. We raise, slaughter, and eat far more than is necessary because we have live in a disposable society that doesn't think about where it comes from, where its going, or the impact, and that has to change.
And who says its not BAD? What about heart attacks, cholesterol, or increased risk for prostate cancer and breast cancer, just to name a few.
By the way, if "humans are animals", then should we eat eachother?
Animal torture is awful and they should find more humane ways to kill animals for consumption but I will say that I have no problem with people choosing not to eat meat. Why can't non-meat eaters reciprocate the feeling?
Yes, animal torture is awful, and yes, they should find more humane ways to kill animals for consumption. I respect that you supposedly respect my decision not to eat meat (although you come at me with this healthy debate), but why would you have a problem with me not eating meat? What would be the point in a campaign to get me to eat meat, exactly? How would that better the world?
By not eating meat, you can not only save animals, but cut down on carbon emissions from the livestock in the world which is accellerating global warming (that is a fact, the global warming point is not from deforestation- at least thats not the main problem). You can increase your own health, help to better feed the world's starving population (also fact), and better use whats left of our natural resources (water for people and raise grain rather than water to feed cattle).
So whats the 'Eat Meat' campaign for? Because it tastes good? Because we always have? Come on, Todd, thats weak.
So sorry if I think people should realise what they are eating and what impact it has on the world. I generally will not sit and watch you eat meat and cause a fuss, but in fairness- you clicked on my bulletins, read what I had to say, and watch the videos. I'm not forcing it here, I'm putting the information out there for you, and you can choose to listen or not.
Perhaps we should focus on the way that humans are mistreated in the world. Ask your fellow Amsterdamers how many humans die every day in Latin America as a result of the cocaine trade? I realize that pot is grown there so no one is hurt. However, cocaine and other drugs that are so widely used arrive in people's hands with human blood attached to it. Chickens, I am not passionate about because I have never had a moment of comfort with one unless eating the number 17 at the chinese restaurant counts. Humans on the other hand I do care about.
And yes, there are also people suffering in the world. I find it very important and great that there are organizations in the world that are fighting for human rights, as well as animal rights, as well as for earth conservation. I will not wear diamonds because of the blood diamond trade (and not since the Leonardo Dicaprio movie, either, since way before that), and if I hear of some other misabuse to humans, then I will do what I can to not take part in that industry.
Unfortunately, I have been given a brain that cannot get images of animal abuse and torture out of my mind. I go to bed with them, I wake up with them, and so I do something about it. This is my battle. But like I said, I appreciate that human rights is YOUR stance, so tell me what organisations you belong to to fight for human rights, and what you're doing about it?
.....right.
Speaking of Latin America, intensification in animal farming has displaced 1,000,000's of people from their traditional lands there. Yes, the search for timber and oil is also a part of the problem, but you can't deny that animal farming is too (actually, it's 25% of the problem in Central America).
Deforestation and climate change are not the result of meat eaters but rather a result of human beings endless need for timber and oil. They do not cut trees down to chase chickens or spider monkeys out of the forest. Sorry to disppoint and be a pain with this comment but we meat eaters have opinions to.
As for the environmental reasons, it would take too much time, but read some of these:
http://www.tiptheplanet.com/index.php?title=Become_a_Vegetarian
http://www.britishmeat.com/49.htm
http://www.flex.com/~jai/articles/101.htmlEfficiency
http://vegetarian.about.com/od/meatandtheenvironment/Meat_and_the_Environment.htm
Long live Colonel Sanders. I hope all is well and we can form some healthy debate on this topic and find a middle ground.
Counter arguments are welcome, but please don't come at me with 'But plants are living too!', because we both know you're smarter than that. Like I said, I do appreciate a healthy debate, and this was all written in good humor, so I hope it was taken that way as well. I just wish we could have had this discussion in person, because I could talk all night on this subject.
As for the common middle ground?
Mmmmmm, I doubt it.
PS- Let me know if you want my sources.
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