Please excuse me for a moment and humor me as I have a short rant. This has been building for years.
I’m a vegetarian for a variety of reasons. I’m not an evangelizing vegetarian that tells people about why vegetarianism is positive (unless asked), and I’m not a militant vegetarian that is going to show you pictures of factory farms and animal cruelty.
My choice is my business, and your choice is your business.
I’ve even gotten to the point that I am loath to discuss my lifestyle choice with others. Usually, it is because someone isn’t really interested in my views, but simply wants an easy target for a pointless argument.
I’m elated to talk to someone who is legitimately interested, but it’s a waste of my time, effort, and patience to make the vegetarian case to a close-minded carnivore.
I have no problem if you choose to eat meat–but don’t force it on me, and don’t make fun of me because of my choice, or of my choice itself. My decision is multifaceted, and a lot of thought has gone into it. Today, though, I’m going to talk solely morality and ethics, because I see a huge problem. Not health, not convenience, not global environment.
I believe strongly the phrase, “Above all, to thine own self be true.” With that in mind, I don’t see how people can “care about the fuzzy and furry animals” then turn right around and eat them. I guess it’s the whole out of sight, out of mind thing. Since we don’t have to go kill and chop up our own chicken/pig/cow/etc., it somehow doesn’t happen and is okay.
This, in a nutshell, is self-deception.
People who cry about stepping on (and killing) an insect, then go get s burger amaze me. If the idea of killing anything doesn’t appeal to someone, how can he or she continue to be responsible for the death of animals and subsequently eat them?
Advertisers and media are responsible in part, but the human mind is an amazing thing to be able to create and sustain that false perception.
If you don’t agree, that’s fine. It’s your privilege. Just nod, smile, and say, “Okay, Branson.
