Why I am not a vegan

[Shemaya]

noun
1.
Law. the killing of another human being under conditions specifically covered in law. In the U.S., special statutory definitions include murder committed with malice aforethought, characterized by deliberation or premeditation or occurring during the commission of another serious crime, as robbery or arson (first-degree murder) and murder by intent but without deliberation or premeditation (second-degree murder)
2.
Slang. something extremely difficult or perilous:
That final exam was murder!
3.
a group or flock of crows.
verb (used with object)
4.
Law. to kill by an act constituting murder.
5.
to kill or slaughter inhumanly or barbarously.

#5 doesn't specify humans, but common usage implies that it refers to humans only. For this reason, I have avoided using that term. However, again I ask the question: Why does it apply to humans only? Not talking about legality here, but of spiritual principles.

You said below its a moot point since we are so far away from considering animal slaughter murder . And I said I did not need to discuss this point with you.

So do you want people to be imprisoned for eating meat? That is basically what this line of reasoning leads to, eventually , laws would be made that prohibited the killing of animals if the killing of an animal is considered murder.

We are so far away from that, that it's a completely moot point.

No it's not a moot point. You already said that animals are our equal other-selves, so by logic I can assume that you want to imprison/punish anyone who kills them in order to mete out justice.

So anyone who has any convictions or ideals is fundamentalist and rigid? If I think human slavery is wrong, does that make me fundamentalist and rigid?

No.

Do you have any convictions about anything?

Yes

How about rape? or human murder? Is someone opposed to those things also 'fundamentalist and rigid'? Are those working to save children from predators 'self-righteous'?

There is a difference between righteousness and self-righteousness. People who believe that their religion is the one true religion are self-righteous. Righteousness is what is right. Self-righteous is being moralistic and intolerant of the behavior of others.

So what's wrong with that? Would you feel the same way about someone who had 'strict, rigid adherence' to the idea that murder or rape was wrong?

Moot point, of course not. As I said, righteousness and self-righteousness are not the same thing. An example of self -righteousness in my opinion is when I discussed my chickens and you went on about people with backyard chickens "kill" them when they stop laying eggs. I couldn't even respond to that because it made me angry number one, and it was judgmental/self-righteous, imo, number two. Honestly, I was appalled then, but didn't say anything.

This a judgment from someone who is vegan who thinks raising chickens is bad/ wrong? Not sure what you think, but I got the impression you are not an advocate of backyard chickens.

However, from my point of view, it is a very righteous thing to do. It's a great way to get people to think about the issues. I tell them about my chickens and why I have them and then they are very quiet . Hopefully being thoughtful about the issues.

However, I would have to totally agree with the spirit of the discussion in that we have to change, as a society, to a food system that is sustainable, nourishing , holistic and based on love which includes nonviolence.

That is impossible to do without addressing the meat industry. It's the elephant in the room.

Besides these posts, what exactly are you doing to address the meat industry? I'd be interested to know of the activism you are doing.