People have differing opinions over the ethics of the nation’s food choices.
Many of us grew up in the days of open pasture and calm barnyard scenes. Today, however, the billions of animals reared for food production lead short lives of deprivation, confinement, mutilation, and merciless slaughter.
As the details of factory farming become known, compassionate consumers are rejecting this style of farming and the exploitation of animals. They are organizing, documenting, and speaking out against it. Fowl Play is one of such documentaries currently available. It describes the connection between the consumer demand for meat, dairy and eggs and the perpetuation of animal abuse. Others include Food, Inc., as well as numerous online videos such as Gary Yourofsky’s, The Best Speech You Will Ever Hear, Paul McCartney’s Glass Walls, Farm to Fridge, or Earthlings. These types of stories are told by animal rescuers, undercover investigators, veterinarians, and animal behaviorists — stories motivated by kindness and courage from individuals fighting to save the lives of factory-raised animals. Take some time to educate yourself in these matters.
Change can be affected by anyone. It just takes a commitment to do so, sometimes just one meal at a time.
Please consider vegetarianism.
Kimberly Miller
Fountain Hills
sockratties posted at 2:57 pm on Thu, Nov 1, 2012.
I understand your commitment to vegetarianism, Kimberly. Problem is, it’s just not natural. We humans have evolved socially over a few millennia, so we grow our own instead of hunting it, but we are omnivores. We evolved from hunters (meat) and gatherers (eggs and veggies). If we were created, evolved from swamp alga, or are the result of intelligent design, we have a physical make-up required to consume meat and vegetables and with modern technology, by-products of plants and animals.
The treatment of animals in factory production is an entirely separate issue. There is no reason that animals should suffer, be the focus of violence, or have to endure excessive confinement. Those issues are the result of cost cutting and manufacturing efficiency. The time may come when a nice juicy steak will be grown in a manufacturing lab without an animal attached, but until that time you might do better addressing the issues that bother you rather than trying to change human nature.
Arizona Willie posted at 3:22 pm on Thu, Nov 1, 2012.
Consider vegetarianism?
I < did > consider it.
I considered it ridiculous.
Rich posted at 7:58 pm on Thu, Nov 1, 2012.
Kimberly, you are not totally off base. Once, years ago I discussed this with Siri Singh Sahib Harbhajan Singh Khalsa Yogiji, also known as Yogi Bhajan and Siri Singh Sahib, the man who brought Kundalini Yoga to the Western World and the head of the Sikh religion in the Western Hemisphere. I brought up the very point sockraties did, His answer was that the time has come for man to transcend that. He died far too young, quite possibly of his diet. I miss him, his birthday parties every year, and wonder if I had converted him to the occasional prime rib, if he'd still be here. Some of us need to go with the flow, and others have to swim against the tide. Is the way we treat animals wrong, ask your dog, look in his eyes and ask, you'll get the best answer available.
Arizona Willie posted at 7:47 am on Fri, Nov 2, 2012.
Yes, there is nothing wrong with eating meat.
What is wrong is the greed of companies that raise the animals.
I agree the conditions many animals are raised in are wrong wrong wrong wrong.
But the crime is not in eating the flesh of animals -- it is in their unethical and immoral treatment to increase yields and profits.
I propose that if a company is caught treating animals improperly --- their CEO should be subjected to the same treatment he is causing the animals to be raised under.
And then sent to prison for 20 years.
Accuracy posted at 8:15 am on Fri, Nov 2, 2012.
Kimberly Miller….
Do you know what the Indians use to call vegetarians?
“A lousy hunter.”
Leon Ceniceros posted at 10:30 am on Fri, Nov 2, 2012.
THE FIRST COMMENTER NAILED THE ARGUMENT DOWN PERFECTLY.....VEGANISM ISN'T NATURAL (ALONG WITH SO MANY THINGS IN OUR 2012 SOCIETY).........[sad]
mrconservative posted at 12:29 pm on Sat, Nov 3, 2012.
Eating meat is part of pour diet. If you want to be a vegan, Kimberly, that's fine with me. But NO ONE is going to stop me from eating meat. Or drinking milk. I thrive on both.
But hey, I like certain veggies as well. I don't eat carrots without peanut butter, and I love my corn, cabbage and potatoes.
I hate lettuce, salad, spinach, okra, and eggplant. I wouldn't eat eggplant if my life depended on it (Really, I wouldn't).
And I love fruit as well. I like apples, (navel) oranges, bananas, grapes and other fruits.
I'm not a fan of pineapple or pears, but I'll eat them on occasion.
"Rich", I am going to assume that you are the infamous David Rich. You may have the same first name as me, but we do NOT think alike. I love pork, beef and chicken (though technically chicken is poultry, not meat, but that's neither here nor there). My parents have several years' worth of food in storage. They purchased it themselves, and many of the canned goods contain meat.
Do you realize that if we banned the consumption of meat and dairy, about half of the jobs in this country would be lost? Perhaps more than half. But many of our jobs are in the food industry. We CANNOT live without food. Just ask Terry Schiavo.
Oh, wait. Terry Schiavo is DEAD, starved to death by her greedy, selfish, horrible ex-husband. My point exactly.
Masterrogue666 posted at 5:06 pm on Tue, Nov 6, 2012.
Dang, now I'm hungry for some STEAK AND EGGS!
Engaged Voter posted at 6:33 pm on Tue, Nov 6, 2012.
LOL@mrconservative.
What a two-faced little weasel.
Where's that scientific proof of spirits you keep claiming to have?
Putz
Engaged Voter posted at 6:34 pm on Tue, Nov 6, 2012.
"VEGANISM ISN'T NATURAL (ALONG WITH SO MANY THINGS IN OUR 2012 SOCIETY)."
Yeah, like religion! ;)