|
a new way of looking at... life >> why i am a vegetarian |
- info -
|
this is perhaps the most often asked question i receive the minute i tell people that i am vegetarian. the answer i usually choose not to disclose too frequently because it usually leads to trying to be swayed back to the slaughter of meat eating by religion, nature, or lures of how good meat tastes. so, for all of you that wish to know, or are curious about why, here you go.
our tale begins with a heated discussion over a school project at uw-whitewater. my roommate andy and i were enthralled in another one of our arguments that leads to one side (almost always him) withdrawing from the argument because we choose no longer to discuss the topic. it was at a table in a computer lab when we were discussing hunting. i hate hunting. i couldn't even begin to imagine being out for a stroll in the woods (or my own home) and being blasted from the side by someone for sport. it's sickening. so, the question was raised - why do you hunt, andy? the answer was twofold - to be in nature and food. the first was commendable, the second sickening. why not go to the store, i asked. what's the difference between myself killing the animal and having someone kill it for me. i quit eating meat the minute that sentence came out. you see, i choose not to be a hypocrite in life, and i hold that higher than most things in my life. if i choose to take a position in life and someone is compromising that, i have to alter one of the conflicting beliefs. i need to stay consistent in some way, shape, or form. with that one statement, i realized that my entire attitude toward meat and hunting were out of line. and since my attitude toward hunting was never going to change, the other had to fall. it's more this than any other reason that i quit eating meat. what follows are natural byproducts of such a decision - no leather, no gelatin, and eventually complete veganism, though i admit i am lollygagging on this one. i need to learn more about it before i even attempt such a venture so i don't kill myself in the process. i also like cheese very much (eggs i could do without). however, let's not end the story there so i can discuss some other reasons i have kept this stance. first, the economics of eating meat is all wrong. in a world where ethanol and organic diesel are becoming necessities, too much grain is wasted on meat consumption in america. it takes roughly 12-18 pounds of grain to create one pound of beef.1 not to mention labor, time, space, etc... it's a useless industry. second, i believe humans are nothing more than more evolved animals, and as such, i see animals on par with us. since we are capable of feelings and ethical values, i must extend the same courtesy to them as i would expect in return. therefore, throw your nature and religious arguments out the door with that one statement. third, it's a healthier way to live. we should all know by know that the four basic food groups was a something put together by dairy and cattle farmers. the food pyramid was something to amend it. in all actuality, it comes down to vitamins, minerals, and carbohydrates, protein, and fats. put the five together from any sources, and you can live healthily. with all these reasons, i have found it hard not to do as such. 1 | 2 |