People often ask me the reason why I don't eat meat. The simplest answer is that I respect all animal life. To me a dog does not deserve any more or less respect than a cow or a pig. They are all beautiful creatures. Some people think I'm crazy because I make the conscious effort to take bugs or bees back outside after they've lost their way into my home or office space. That finding humor in mice, laughing at crickets or taking pleasure in watching geese makes me lame and fruity. I don't see if that way.
Animals do not roam the earth to be exploited, however humans have decided that we are entitled to clone, mutilate, lock up and kill all species that are "weaker" than us. The problem I have is that to me manifest destiny is utter bullshit. If we went back to the hunter and gatherer days, I would not have a problem. People killed what was necessary to survive, they used the entire carcass and pelt. The amount of slaughter that occurs today so a fast food chain can offer a burger with 150 grams of fat and 2,000 calories is just disgusting and unnecessary. Those animals are slaughtered inhumanely so you can gorge and kill yourself. That cow lived its entire horrible life to put that food in your stomach. Remember the next time you eat meat that a creature died to feed your appetite for crap. I think people tend to forget that meat actually comes from a creature that was alive, and isn't just that stuff, "meat". I was recently on a business trip in the South Central, USA and was interesting to hear locals refer to cows as livestock. I guess that makes it easier to eat them since they aren't really a cow, they are livestock. Personally, I don't believe that chickens exist so man can eat a sandwich. Or that a pig is really just bacon with a tail. Haven't we evolved to the point where we can grow vegetables, grains, fruit, soy, and turn these products into food? Or has society become so pathetic and full of gluttony that we live to eat and not eat to live? I'm not saying that you shouldn't enjoy your food, but can't you enjoy something that didn't have to die to become your food?
I stopped eating meat in 1993. I had before then already sworn off beef, fish, pork and lamb starting in 1989; however I was so used to eating chicken that it was the last thing I gave up. I can't say that my stomach felt better or some of the things people experience when switching to a vegetarian diet, but it sure did clear my conscious and my skin! Against my family's wishes, my doctor's wishes, I did it for me, for my mind. Being an animal lover does not mean you love just domestic pets. It means all creatures big and small. People who say they love animals but eat meat are hypocritical in my mind. They may love domestic animals, but the last time I checked a chicken, pig or cow was still an animal.
Being a vegetarian, in my rules, includes not wearing animal skin. It is so sad how little consideration people and companies have for people who choose to live a cruelty-free lifestyle. The fashion industry is awful as I don't think some companies realize that maybe not everyone wants to have leather in their purse or suede trim on their shoes. Many shoe companies do not even bother to label the materials of the shoes, buying a half-decent pair of casual shoes becomes a lesson in patience. I'm at least glad that Payless stocks synthetics and I think some other companies are starting to come around (Hush Puppies). I just wish some other companies would get the clue that they need to either stop pushing leather on everything or at least label their shoes.
Hunting is another sore subject with me because I do not see sport in killing a creature when you have a gun and they have nothing but their legs to speed them out of your crazed sight. Especially these "people" who buy deer urine which then attracts other deer so they can blast them. If people hunted, ate the meat, used the skin, used the bones, fine. I heard the argument once from a boss that he supported Ducks Unlimited. When I asked him why, he said because he wanted to make sure duck environments were conserved. When I asked more, came down to him wanting this so he could continue to hunt them. Huh? I just don't get it. You want to conserve the habitat of a species so you can kill it? Am I supposed to understand this logic? I've known hunters who are very gentle people, and it is something they have always done since they were kids. But I also see those people standing next to a deer with a bullet in its head and I can't understand how the personalities are so different. You can't expect me to feel bad when you tell me someone got shot in a hunting accident. Maybe if they weren't out trying to kill something they'd still be alive.
It boils down to humans thinking they have the right to destroy everything. We destroy our environment, we kill, mutilate and lock up animals just because we can. Just because we can, doesn't mean we should. That is my motto, and I'm sticking to it. For more information on vegetarianism and animal outreach please contact:
a good site with all kinds of info on vegetarianism, animal rights, etc...
