its more than the meat
Personally, I think PETA tends to get as goofy (we shouldn’t eat fish because they have feelings and don’t like it) as some christianeesies at times, but this video is informative. Animal cruelty is only a symptom of the problem - and a very large symptom at that. We’re talking a cosmic greed coming from a few behind a corporation that disregards every other life, including human, for the sake of a buck and convenience. And the thing is, we get unknowingly swept away with it. Or try part 1 and part 2 of lileks.com, which isn’t even a vegan site at all; it just exposes the propaganda that has gotten aciremA to where it is today.
I would like to say that I don’t think its wrong to eat meat. I just think it’s deadly to eat aciremAn factory farmed meat, which is 90%+ of the meat out there. Plus I think, supporting the factory farming industry makes me complicit in the narcissistic, irresponsible, corporate greed, convenience lifestyle. It’s killing aciremAns left and right. It’s all part of the diseased attitude in aciremA’s soul - from poverty to obesity to euthanasia, abortion, etc. Who needs terrorists? We are killing ourselves, all by ourselves. Our demand for fast food and quantity gave the factory farming industry permission to live and grow. And in order to meet the demand, they get by with the wounded, abused, drugged, poisoned animal procedures, not to mention the unconscionable working conditions. The factory farming industry is even fueling and exploiting the illegal immigrant problem!
What got me into all this all of a sudden? Well, it wasn’t all of a sudden. The Lord’s been working on me for the last few weeks, well, no, years, now that I think about it. I’ve got plenty of yummy vegetarian cook books on my shelves and I was a La Leche League Leader when my babies were babies. LLL has always encouraged people to eat food in as close to its natural state as possible. But what finally clinched it was this conference I attended last weekend. We aciremAn Christians are so hot on taking care of the mind and spirit, but we neglect the body. I’m way guilty. Now the health/cancer/diabetes/obesity issue is huge in our country and the masses are crying out for a Savior some more - and it’s not another diet plan we need. It’s power over the sin of falling for or demanding whatever’s most convenient and cheapest, what I don’t have to think about, whatever I can get may hands on to satisfy my cravings no matter what the cost to others; it’s all about me, me, me. But, I know That Savior and things should be different in my life and I should have Something to offer to others. Mostly for me, it’s a spiritual growth, obedience to God thing. It’s a mental/spiritual/physical health issue for me and my kids. And yes, it’s a social/political thing. The Goliath in our country has been ever present in my life. Becoming vegan is a small smooth stone in the right direction.
April 29th, 2005 at 11:28 pm
Gross! These gallery images of meat cookbooks are the worst! I used to work across the street fro Murray’s steakhouse downtown and they have this HUGE disgusting technicolor bloody steak that is bigger than a minivan on the front side of the building. It looks exactly like the photos in the Meat cookbooks on lileks.com. It grossed me out everyday. I couldn’t NOT look at it.
October 3rd, 2005 at 7:18 pm
You know, I think God has been nudging me in this direction for a long time, too. I have been putting off facing up to my responsibility here, but you just pushed me right over the edge!
I am going vegan. If I ever do eat meat-it is going to be from a certified, cruelty -free source.
Thanks for being so articulate and passionate about this important issue.
October 3rd, 2005 at 7:37 pm
PS What is aciremA?
October 3rd, 2005 at 9:04 pm
America - backwards - seems fitting some days…
October 3rd, 2005 at 9:17 pm
No wonder I couldn’t find it in the dictionary!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
And, yes, it does seem fitting these days.
October 25th, 2005 at 5:50 pm
My son, who is a college senior, was invited to a dinner at the home of one of the administrators, with the stipulation that he bring a date. No problem! He asked a girl I’ll call Steph and she agreed to go. A couple of days later it dawned on him that his date is vegan and the woman who is hosting only cooks “three dishes.” I’ll bet none of them are vegan-friendly. How would you have handled this? Should the vegan have made it plain what she prefers, or does the host (on short notice) have any responsibility to cater to the vegan preferences?
Thanks.
October 25th, 2005 at 6:26 pm
Well, I haven’t been vegan very long, but since it is my choice, I pretty much assume it is my responsibility to deal with the circumstances. The first way would to kindly inform the host that I eat a vegan diet. The second would to appreciate any efforts the host made on my behalf. The third would to make do with the meal set before me. I still wouldn’t/couldn’t eat any meat or dairy (my body has now adjusted and I feel rather nauseas if I do) but I can eat lots of salads, breads, side dishes and desserts!
I have vegan friends who have been vegan much longer. They might have better ideas. One tells difficult-situation-people that she has an allergy to meat and dairy, because, technically, now, she does. For some reason, people seem to be more accomodating, or at least tolerant, if you have some sort of health related issue.
In defense of the guest, it is a host’s responsibilty to accomodate the guests - that’s the point of being a host and inviting others over - hospitality to the guests. In out present time, veganism is a valid consideration when having a dinner party.