Guest guest Posted September 21, 2004 Report Share Posted September 21, 2004 Hello, this is my first time posting although I was invited close to a month ago. I'm really enjoying reading the postings! I am vegan, and my family definitely isn't, so I of course, get questions like, " Aren't we omnivores? If not why do we have canine teeth? " Does anyone have anything to say about that? Facts, etc? Thanks! Valerie F. vote. - Register online to vote today! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 21, 2004 Report Share Posted September 21, 2004 Hi Valerie! I am also the only vegetarian let alone vegan in my family and have delt with the same questions. I researched it a bit and found a few things that might help you. Although some biased vegetarian sources will claim that humans are actually herbivores, the scientific community in general doesn't agree with this and since there aren't any unbiased sources for that opinion, I think it is a difficult position to take. On the other hand, assuming humans are biologically able to intake meat as well as vegetables and grains, this is not to say that we must. If we observe omnivorous animals we will note that the omnivore diet consists of mostly veggies etc and very very little meat whereas if we take the typical American diet, it is often mostly meat with very little vegetables. Omnivore doesn't mean you need to have all of the things possible at one meal. I forget the actual statistics but I believe meat is eaten by most omnivores much less than once per day ...something like once per month or twice a month? I'm not sure but I remember being very surprised by the statistic. You might want to try googling it yourself to see what you come up with. This is not to say of course that I support eating meat, but our bodies are able to handle meat...this is obvious. Meat is, however, one of the more difficult foods for our bodies to digest as is dairy (note the statistics of lactose intolerant people). On a side note, when people ask me why i'm vegan, my answer is always, because i love animals and because i can be. What I mean by this is that I have something like 5+ grocery stores in my town...it is not difficult for me to go to the store and get all kinds of different foods that fulfill all of my nutritional needs. I realize that this is not the case in every square inch of the world. The follow up question to this is, what if you were stuck on an island and you could either starve to death or eat the animal that was on the island. For me this question is tricky. What I personally would do is not what I necessarily consider " correct " or the " right thing to do " . I think the logical and moral choice is to kill and eat the animal. However, I think that if I were in that position I would truly be unable to kill. I would like to think, however, that I could, I just don't think I could. The point is...previous vegetarians and animal rights activists have made being vegetarian almost a walk in the park in places like the US and England for example. Come on, BK veg burger? We even have a vegetarian option when on long trips! I have a hard time imagining what it must have been like for the first few vegetarians in places like the US with no vegetarian restaurants and no vegetarian options (or few) in restaurants etc. Now, however, there's just no excuse. I hope this helps a little...and sorry for my ramblings! Jenae , Valerie Fjallstrom <vfjallstrom> wrote: > Hello, this is my first time posting although I was invited close to a month ago. I'm really enjoying reading the postings! > I am vegan, and my family definitely isn't, so I of course, get questions like, " Aren't we omnivores? If not why do we have canine teeth? " Does anyone have anything to say about that? Facts, etc? Thanks! Valerie F. > > > > > vote. - Register online to vote today! > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 21, 2004 Report Share Posted September 21, 2004 Hello Jenae, thank you very much for the info and your input. I feel quite inlightened and ready to face more of the countless questions I get from co-workers and family. It's hard sometimes not to lose my temper when I get pushed hard on the issue by 2 or more people, but I just breathe deeply and think about how many animals my husband and I keep from being tortured and/or killed. I like your answer to the question, " because I love animals and I can; " I think I'll borrow it! Once again thank you! Valerie veganbuddhist8383 <completecompassion wrote: Hi Valerie! I am also the only vegetarian let alone vegan in my family and have delt with the same questions. I researched it a bit and found a few things that might help you. <message trimmed by moderator> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 21, 2004 Report Share Posted September 21, 2004 Hi Valerie When I go out to eat and see dishes on the menue that contain veal I am almost sickened, as I remember how those newborn calves are treated prior to ther slaughter. Nothing could be torchered more just so some fat ass can feast on that torchered calf. Ralph - Valerie Fjallstrom Tuesday, September 21, 2004 3:40 PM Re: Re: Canine teeth Hello Jenae, thank you very much for the info and your input. I feel quite inlightened and ready to face more of the countless questions I get from co-workers and family. It's hard sometimes not to lose my temper when I get pushed hard on the issue by 2 or more people, but I just breathe deeply and think about how many animals my husband and I keep from being tortured and/or killed. I like your answer to the question, " because I love animals and I can; " I think I'll borrow it! Once again thank you! Valerie veganbuddhist8383 <completecompassion wrote: Hi Valerie! I am also the only vegetarian let alone vegan in my family and have delt with the same questions. I researched it a bit and found a few things that might help you. <message trimmed by moderator> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 22, 2004 Report Share Posted September 22, 2004 Valerie, we don't have canine teeth, we have vestigial canine teeth, that is we have a few short pointy teeth that evolved away from being the flesh tearing teeth of carnivores. A predator’s teeth are LONG, sharp and pointed. These are tools that are useful for the task of piercing into flesh. Man’s, as well as other plant eater's teeth are not pointed, but flat edged. These are useful tools for biting and sectioning. There are two companion animals (cats) in our household and they have very intimidating canine teeth. Ours are nothing like that. My best use for my little canine teeth is to bite off a piece of thread when I am mending clothes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 23, 2004 Report Share Posted September 23, 2004 Maida, thank you for the info, I didn't know that! Valerie Maida Genser <maidawg wrote:Valerie, we don't have canine teeth, we have vestigial canine teeth, that is we have a few short pointy teeth that evolved away from being the flesh tearing teeth of carnivores. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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