Guest guest Posted March 19, 2008 Report Share Posted March 19, 2008 This is an expansion on what I sent our moderator to join . . . I think I've always been " vegetarian " but I stopped eating dead sliced animals about 25 years ago when I was in my early 20's. I put vegetarian in quotes above because I don't really care for the label. I tell people (especially " carnivores " ) that I'm just like everyone else - I eat what I like. I don't always add the following (because they're not ready for it): And what I like doesn't involve the abhorent abuse, death, and destruction of our fellow animals! I sometimes refer to myself as a militant vegetarian but I may switch to " feral " vegetarian - I like that! I especially like the definition for feral that involves returning to a wild or natural state after domestication. Because, for one thing, isn't vegetarianism like that . . . returning to a previous state? Consider this: If some poor lost carnivore asks " Why are you vegetarian? " I insist that it's axiomatic! That the questioners themselves are in fact, or once were, vegetarian. That gets their eyes crossed - especially here in the midwest; so, I continue with a scenario [please know that I do not advocate actually doing this to a child]. . . imagine taking a five year old child to a farm. Show them the pigs. Show them the cows. Show them some chicks. Let them hold a chicken. Then say, " Hey - Are you hungry? " When the child nods yes while petting his new friend, say, " Me too! Let's cut the head off that chicken, pull out all her feathers, and slice 'er, dice 'er, and cook 'er up! " Now imagine that childs reaction as he recoils in horror. Now imagine your reaction as a five year old. I look the questioners in the eye and say, " You already know why I'm a vegetarian. [pause] Because it's wrong to eat meat. . . it's brutal and disgusting and you know it! " I could go on but let me know if I'm too intense for this forum. I've got lot's more to say and discuss. For example, the story of how I became " vegetarian " is unique and I'm always interested in others' stories of what drove them " back " to avoiding dead sliced animals. (Have you gathered that I abhor the euphemism " meat? " ) And does anyone else feel a responsibility, like I do, to blaze a trail for our veggy bretheren yet to come? I can expound; let me know if I should. SeveralSpecies Never miss a thing. Make your homepage. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 20, 2008 Report Share Posted March 20, 2008 Great post David, and welcome! Sure I'd LOVE to hear about what lead you to the right path of not eating dead, tortured animals! My almost-immediate path started with reading about all the horrors of factory farms and slaughterhouses, and how animals are made to live and the way they are treated. Plus all the health risks associated with eating them as well, and the fact that we simply DON'T NEED animal flesh to survive. This is why I'm disturbed that some so-called " dieticians " still hang on to the outdated, junk-science claim that we need meat for protein--gobbledy-gook! They should be ASHAMED of themselves, and I hate to see meat-eaters being told what they want to hear by these people who are in a profession about which they are SUPPOSED to KNOW something! David Johnson <severalspecies01 wrote: This is an expansion on what I sent our moderator to join . . . I think I've always been " vegetarian " but I stopped eating dead sliced animals about 25 years ago when I was in my early 20's. I put vegetarian in quotes above because I don't really care for the label. I tell people (especially " carnivores " ) that I'm just like everyone else - I eat what I like. I don't always add the following (because they're not ready for it): And what I like doesn't involve the abhorent abuse, death, and destruction of our fellow animals! I sometimes refer to myself as a militant vegetarian but I may switch to " feral " vegetarian - I like that! I especially like the definition for feral that involves returning to a wild or natural state after domestication. Because, for one thing, isn't vegetarianism like that . . . returning to a previous state? Consider this: If some poor lost carnivore asks " Why are you vegetarian? " I insist that it's axiomatic! That the questioners themselves are in fact, or once were, vegetarian. That gets their eyes crossed - especially here in the midwest; so, I continue with a scenario [please know that I do not advocate actually doing this to a child]. . . imagine taking a five year old child to a farm. Show them the pigs. Show them the cows. Show them some chicks. Let them hold a chicken. Then say, " Hey - Are you hungry? " When the child nods yes while petting his new friend, say, " Me too! Let's cut the head off that chicken, pull out all her feathers, and slice 'er, dice 'er, and cook 'er up! " Now imagine that childs reaction as he recoils in horror. Now imagine your reaction as a five year old. I look the questioners in the eye and say, " You already know why I'm a vegetarian. [pause] Because it's wrong to eat meat. . . it's brutal and disgusting and you know it! " I could go on but let me know if I'm too intense for this forum. I've got lot's more to say and discuss. For example, the story of how I became " vegetarian " is unique and I'm always interested in others' stories of what drove them " back " to avoiding dead sliced animals. (Have you gathered that I abhor the euphemism " meat? " ) And does anyone else feel a responsibility, like I do, to blaze a trail for our veggy bretheren yet to come? I can expound; let me know if I should. SeveralSpecies Never miss a thing. Make your homepage. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 20, 2008 Report Share Posted March 20, 2008 I would be interested in hearing more, David. And here is a blog which might be useful to some here which I believe I found on another site: http://tinyurl.com/24jcjj (If found here, I apologize for the repetition). I rescue cats -- obligate carnivores that they are -- and I've been told that some passionate animal rights advocates think cats as a species should be bred into extinction, given that they pretty much need to kill other animals to survive, or we have to kill animals for them. So off with their whiskers and everything attached thereto. Now, having cats, I notice how cat brains are rather amazing. Who else can a catch bird or ground animal with such skill, cunning and even trickery (though I was told my my father he once saw a bird act injured to divert the family cat's attention from a nest of baby birds - so all animals are amazing)? Cats are not unlike trained, hired assassins. Then I reflect on rabbits -- some call them vegetarian cats -- who are every body's dinner out in the woods. Does the hunting skill of the cat have anything to do with eating animal flesh, and the way rabbits are have any correlation with the diet of a typical rabbit? I know some great minds (da Vinci ( http://tinyurl.com/3dgp2k*)* , Tolstoi and Ghandi (http://tinyurl.com/ewr8b)) eschewed eating animals, but they were descended from carnivores, and chances are a cat fed even a vegan diet would retain the cunning mind that makes a cat a good hunter. Just some things I think about sometimes. I am here because I am on the path to veganism. Joanna Harkin, Wash DC Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 24, 2008 Report Share Posted March 24, 2008 I'm not sure what to make of the " bred into extinction " phrase; but, the idea of exterminating cats, or any species, is wacky at best and satanic at worst. Animals (not humans), except for aberations, pretty much do what God programmed them to do. It would be audacious and disgusting to declare them expendable for any reason. SeveralSpecies Joanna Home <jharkinhome wrote: I rescue cats -- obligate carnivores that they are -- and I've been told that some passionate animal rights advocates think cats as a species should be bred into extinction, given that they pretty much need to kill other animals to survive, or we have to kill animals for them. Groups related to 339 common members (Cooking and Recipes/Vegetarian) vegetarians, vegetarian recipes, vegetarian recipe... 173 common members (Cooking and Recipes/Vegetarian) VEGETARIAN SPICE A tasty group for vegetarians, ve... gourmet-garden-of- spicy-vegetarian-e atin 88 common members (Cooking and Recipes/Vegetarian) Please come and join the gourmet garden of spicy v... 82 common members (Vegetarians/Vegans) This list is for posting vegan recipes with no add... FlyLadyMentors 76 common members (Home and Garden/Homemaking) Are YOU living in CHAOS (Can't Have Anyone Over Sy... Recent Activity 3 New Members Visit Your Group Biz Resources Y! Small Business Articles, tools, forms, and more. New business? Get new customers. List your web site in Search. Wellness Spot on A resource for living the Curves lifestyle. . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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