Guest guest Posted July 31, 2002 Report Share Posted July 31, 2002 >>the vast majority of people who define themselves as vegetarians >> >>actually eat animals such as chicken and fish. This is very interesting. It raises serious questions for self-analysis as to why we're vegetarian. Are we vegetarian because we're animal lovers ? Well, by just existing, we kill a lot animals. When we walk on the ground, hundreds of insects we don't see get destroyed. Ditto by driving cars and by using almost every modern convenience I can think of, we destroy some animal one way or the other, directly or indirectly. Are we vegetarian for purely religious or spiritual reasons ? well, if that's so, by living and participating in an economic system, directly or indirectly, which disparages poor vs rich, being vegetarian, though very good hardly makes a dent - at least not yet. Being a vegetarian for 27 years, the only reason I can think that makes sense to me is that being a vegetarian is drawing the line somewhere.It's a practical compromise between my ideals and my limits as a person living in the material world. My thoughts... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 31, 2002 Report Share Posted July 31, 2002 Im with you Gillian. My thoughts exactly! Myles , " Gillian Ashenfelter " <ashenfelter@h...> wrote: > Hi, > I have yet to introduce myself as I recently joined this list in hopes of > meeting like minded folks and I am compelled to write on this issue. > > I am one of those people who is a vegetarian for ecological and resource > issues. As this kind of veggie I feel that I can still stick strongly to my > beliefs while on occasion dining on sustainably harvested wild fish. I also > believe that there may be some good in purchasing organic free- range meats > in the hopes of supporting farmers who are trying their best, in a hard > market, to raise animals sustainably. I call myself a vegetarian because 99% > of what I eat is animal free, but more importantly I identify with the > issues that I think an ecological vegetarian believes in. I also call myself > a vegetarian because when eating out, or at friends, it would be rare to > encounter an organic meat product or alaska sustainable wild salmon (I have > a good friend who works for the AK state conservation department and the > Alaska fishery is the only in the world that is actually doing extremely > great things to maintain a healthy population- and I am glad to pay more > knowing that and help them keep up the good work) that I might partake of > and it is a lot easier to say that I am vegetarian. I have a friend who eats > mostly veggie- but also eats road kill. Is that not ok? I also know a vegan > who drives an SUV and doesn't try to buy organic. To me the former is a much > more informed and respectable person than the latter. > I am constantly tortured by the consumer and wasteful society that we live > in. I feel intense responsibility when someone I am with uses a plastic > spoon and throws it out. I buy almost all organic foods, I try to buy only > organic cotton clothing, I commute by train or bike, I strongly believe in > consumer consiousness- to the degree that I angered some of the parents at > the elemetary school where I teach. By signing up for this listserv I wanted > to find support not antagonism for those who are trying to make > conscientious consumer decisions. I need friends not people trying to > alienate those who are not making the exact same decisions as others. > I really just needed to get this off my chest. I hope I have not offended > anyone. > -g > > > > _______________ > Join the world's largest e-mail service with MSN Hotmail. > http://www.hotmail.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 1, 2002 Report Share Posted August 1, 2002 Methinks this group is getting a wee bit too touchy-feely, and straying from the harsh concept known as... reality. I haven't seen anyone point fingers in their posts. What several people have had the audacity to do is provide cogent, valid definitions of 'vegetarian.' If you or whoever make the choice to function in a manner inconsistent or contradictory to the simple definition of 'vegetarian,' that's your perogative, but please be a little less sensitive & a little more sensible about your reaction. If you want to join the vegan/vegetarian club, you know what to do -- it's not too difficult. If you chose not to, no one is 'alienating' you because of it, however you could & should be challenged regarding your wrongful claim that 'vegetarian' includes fish under any circumstances. You're probably kinder & more compassionate that I am, and that's wonderful for you. But you're not currently a vegetarian, and the way to change that (if you want to) isn't to tell us that you're feeling uncomfortable & alienated & expect us to dub you an honorary vegetarian (heck, why not go straight for vegan!). Tim, who'd like to be a vegan, but isn't one, despite being very polite to the milk & eggs I chose to consume. *************** Wed, 31 Jul 2002 20:47:10 -0700 Bridge Biker <smile Re: Vegetarians who eat fish Hi Gillian and all: your statement expressed exactly what I have been wanting to write to the group. I was feeling really uncomfortable and alienated with the continued discussions re: why folks who eat fish don't have the right to call themselves vegetarian. why do we have to point fingers at one another? Health - Feel better, live better http://health. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 1, 2002 Report Share Posted August 1, 2002 , Tim T <sfbayhooligan> wrote: > I haven't seen anyone point fingers in their posts. > What several people have had the audacity to do is > provide cogent, valid definitions of 'vegetarian.' > If you or whoever make the choice to function in a > manner inconsistent or contradictory to the simple > definition of 'vegetarian,' that's your perogative, > but please be a little less sensitive & a little more > sensible about your reaction. If you want to join the > vegan/vegetarian club, you know what to do -- it's not > too difficult. Tim, As per our intentions in starting this group, and as stated in the charter, " Membership is free and open to everyone, vegans, vegetarians, veg*n-inclined or veg*n-interested people. " If someone who eats cows is interested in veggie stuff, but still eating cows, they are welcome to join and ask questions. And I know most everyone would be helpful and encouraging to them, not mocking them or making them feel like a 2nd class member. The only guidelines we have are what is " on topic " for the list, and that is: veggie or animal rights discussion, news, events, etc. Or did I get on the wrong list?? Tammy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 1, 2002 Report Share Posted August 1, 2002 This is a good distinction. vegetarian FOOD should definitely be free of animal products. vegetarian PEOPLE can be a little more flexible. i suspect a vegetarian who occasionally eats fish is going to be just as dismayed as a vegan if they find fish where its not supposed to be. it would be false advertising. Myles , " Tammy " <govegan@g...> wrote: > One of the important reasons for having a standard definition is for clear > communication. > > For example, person #1 who eats fish goes to a restaurant and educates them > that vegetarians eat fish. Later that day, person #2 goes to the same > restaurant and asks if a certain dish (which contains fish) is " vegetarian " . > > The restaurant, having been educated by person #1 says " yes, it is > vegetarian " (even though it contains fish) > > Person #2, who wanted a vegetarian meal, now has a fish meal instead. > > It's because of situations like above that I think clear & consistent > definitions are important... > > Tammy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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