"Tolerance, young man," I replied. "Everyone has the right to choose how and what they eat. Don't call someone names and don't make fun of them for not eating meat. Respect their opinions and practices. As they should respect yours."


If only more people, urban and rural, would practice these words.  

I feel that there is no reason to eat cows, there are a lot of alternatives than to kill, cut up and eat flesh. For folks who want to have that choice, they can eat them, hope some day they will grow out of it and learn to think beyond killing poor animals. They have a right to live and complete their life cycle as well, just like we do. A lot of people who know better, don't drool over when they see a fat cow. I believe it is more animalistic, like a tiger or a lion, who feast on meat. As humans, which we are evolved into higher level 'animal', when the change in diet occurs, physically and mentally a lot of transformation takes place.

It is the Bible which teaches that everything in the world is made for us, and I don't think it is true, we are just one of the millions of living beings in this world, and we need to live in harmony with them, respecting them. Yes of course we are evolved, and intelligent in a way that we take advantage of what we have in this world.

The way of vegetarianism is better for health, and it will not only healthier, but also makes one's mind better. You have to practice it to know it. Living no lower levels of living beings like rice,wheat and other food grains can equally keep all of us healthy and well. I used to eat meat before, and now I love the vegetarian life style, now looking back, I can't believe how I could eat those poor animal's flesh. Again, I feel I made a great choice, and we have meat eaters in our family, I don't stop them from eating meat, but I chose to stay away from it, and explain to folks what good it has done for me, if solicited by anyone to know why I chose that path.

No angry comments please, I did't intend to be abrasive with my reply.

This blog is not a place for the angry and abrasive.  We respect your opinion and hope that you respect ours.  Disagreement, however, is another matter.  I could not disagree with you any more.  I expect you'll hear from some folks that do disagree with you.

Gene

I too do not wish to be abrasive but I welcome the opportunity to agree that a plant based vegan diet is the best for health, sustainability and compassion.  It would be an entirely different matter if we had no other choice - But clearly everyone capable of reading this on the internet has access to thousands of alternative foods in their stores.  

As a woman about to turn 55 - and having been a vegetarian for the last 7 years... (vegan for the last 2) - With each step of eliminating animal products I have felt healthier in the process; both physically and spiritually.  My one regret is that I didn't realize the "meat myth" decades ago!  Not only don't we "need" to eat flesh and animal secretions - they just aren't good for us at all.

BTW that ideology that cows were made for humans to eat, reminds me of the way we used to think that women were "made" for men and that blacks were "made" for whites.  Recognizing that each being exists for their own purpose and that this right should be respected, can lead to the peaceful world we all desire.

Thank you for inviting comment.

Hi Mike... I think you misunderstand me.  I'm not advocating elevating animals to human level with "all rights".  Certainly not the right to vote, drive, marry, etc.  My belief is at a very fundamental level - It is simply the right of all living beings, to not be property.  It is  impossible to respect a being when you are profiting from their death.  

I have a few concerns about the nutritional aspects of flesh though... An increasing number of doctors are disagreeing with the benefits of meat.  T. Colin Campbell based The China Study on 30 years worth of data.  It's compelling and I highly recommend it.

The cholesterol is definately a problem as it is something the human body does not need and is found in all meat... none in plant matter.  The fact that our intestines are so long, our teeth are blunt, we have no claws, no night vision all lead me to believe we are physically designed to be herbervours.  And too there's the e-coli, listeria, salmonella, etc.  

So whatever "used to be" need not be in the future.  Animal agriculture meant to feed the expected 10 billion people within a few decades is hardly sustainable.  Given that a plant based diet requires a half an acre of land whereas a meat based diet needs 3.5.  Well, we will just run out of resources eventually.  Unfortunately we'll have billions of starving people continue to die along the way...

I don't think it's anything you or I will witness in our lifetime - but with the advent of vatmeat, droughts and more zootonic pathenogens I think it's inevitable that in due time we will as a species, all eventually evolve.  

Thanks.

Anthropomorphism - the assiging of human values and characteristics to animals and inanimate objects, and the animal rights movement absolutely MUST do this to sell their questionable views.  Mike didn't want to argue about a couple of things, but I'm in the mood.  Almost 100% of the animals we're arguing about here would not have lived at all if it were not in someone's financial interest to take care of them.  In the U.S. at least, we are required by law to treat them humanely when they become our food, including the harvesting or slaughter process.  These animals are not good pet material...excuse me...companion animals.

That we can choose something else to eat is not really the point.  The point is, why should we?  The human body is unquestionably designed as a meat eater.  The evidence - predator's eyes in front of the head, canine incisor teeth and the undeniable fact that most of the higer primates kill and eat meat.  The documentary "People of the Forest" documents a quite graphic hunt by chimpanzees of a lesser primate.  We do it much more humanely.

Finally - though we could eat something else, meat, in reasonable protions is VERY healthy.  Becuase of it's high nutrient density,it's much easier to get essential nutrients.  There is substantial evidence that humans would not have evolved the brain power necessary to be in charge of this planet is we had not figured out how to eat meat.

The U.S. is the model.  Humane husbandry and harvest of food animals is resposnible.  People should be free to eat meat, without the harassment of those that disagree.

Gene

We are at the top of the food chain and have the ability to make sound decisions for a reason.  We are very fortunate to have such a stable and productive food chain to work with and eat from daily here in America.  I agree to each his own and respect your decision to not eat meat but as stated a simple smart diet and routine will also create a healthy body and mind.

Hello Gene - There's no intention to "harass" anyone, but clearly the last decade shows a significant amount of valid questions regarding "meat".  

The idea that these animals would not exist if not for the profit motive would be enough reason not to worry should they eventually go "extinct".  And once when we were gatherers/hunters and literally "ate to live" is quite a different scenario now.  And as far as our anatomy for flesh eating goes I really encourage you to view the summary of mammal physiology here: The Comparative Anatomy of Eating", by Milton R. Mills, MD -  http://www.whale.to/a/comp.html

And I don't know... as far as being "in charge" of the planet - That would also depend on beliefs.  Whose "God"; Whose bible?  You are really attempting to base your world view in the limited scope of western theology.  After all, in other countries the cow is revered and killing them is definately not what "God" made them for.

Finally in regards to animals being slaughtered "humanely" - That does qualify as an oxymoron. Respecting that nonhumans feel pain, boredom, frustration and happiness is not "anthropomorphism".  Why even the meat industry's favored "expert" on animal behavior, Ms. T Grandin agrees to the concept of animal's emotional experiences being similar to that of man.  Whether or not one wishes to value those facts is another story centered in speciesism, and is beyond the scope of what a simple reply can cover.

In short, there is no logical reason to treat cows and pigs any differently than we treat cats and dogs except that we've been indoctrinated by tradition and economics to do such.  Everyone must choose whether those "reasons" justify their slaughter (or not).  But if they do, they leave themselves open to the accusation of having the same "moral dissonance" that existed regarding women, children, slaves and Indians.

Humans are in charge of the planet.  This is not really in question is it?  There are no hosptials, museums, universities or monuments built by dolphins, Great Danes or field mice.  This comes into question only in those rare moments when humans encounter predators and become part of the food chain themselves.  I guess, I should have been more clear.  I was not referring to theology, but the fact that humans developed the brain capacity necessary to master our environment when we began consuming the protein necessary to do so.  This probably occured, at first, as scavenging.

Comparing animals to humans' unfortunate tendency to mistreat other humans is in fact, anthropomorphism.  There is no fundamental difference between a leopard pulling down an animal and feeding on it's still living body and me eating a pork chop.  Expect of course, that we have rules, laws and common sense enough to do it humanely.

I've enjoyed the exchange.  Thanks for contributing.

Gene

Guess I ought to add another two cents worth.

Dogs provide companionship and cows provide food. That perspective must be maintained as livestock producers provide proper care for their livestock to meet consumer needs.

I like meat.  It tastes good.  We oughta eat less, that is fairly clear, but I'd be hard pressed to give it up.  

Good post, Mike, and good comments from all.

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