Why I am not a vegan

[Diana]

I said it was the epitome of arrogance to judge my family and consider myself more spiritually evolved than them because they were eating flesh and I was not. If you are taking that personally, well that is your catalyst (and Monica's apparently, blah blah blah) not mine.

I misunderstood you there. But I did not take it personally. I don't take any of this personally.

As far as murder, look it up in the dictionary. It is clearly defined there. 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. If animals are equally our other-selves, in order to have a just society, we would have laws for murder apply to animals. I really am just saying that as food for thought, because I don't need to discuss it. In our current society, which is a huge mess of violence and injustice, that is a ridiculous pursuit, I personally feel, because there are so many many injustices that need to be dealt with for our society, and I feel the expenditure of energy would be better directed elsewhere, that is my opinion.

No, I don't want people imprisoned for eating meat. I think that might fall under hyperbole. It's taking the idea too far and making assumptions. I think the question of "murder" sounds dramatic, but it's also just academic and logical (from my view point). I don't, personally, see any difference in regards to life (not legalities), between needlessly taking the life of an animal or a human. I don't believe humans need to eat meat, therefore, it is not necessary. It must be considered, as I have pointed out before, that all sentient beings have instinctual ties to their tribe; so there is more gut reaction in general to harm being done to one's own species, which probably accounts for some of the disconnect going on in regards to using animals.

But I really don't want to get so dramatic about it. It boils down to respect for all life to me. Not just humans.

If you think my perception of fundamentalist thinking/ self-righteousness regarding Monica's posts is wrong; it's just my opinion based on how she responded to me and especially Unbound in this thread. Why does my opinion matter? It's not an insult, it's my perception of the strict, rigid adherence to veganism that I perceive from mostly Monica's responses in this thread. I felt that strict ,rigid adherence to a vegan viewpoint earlier in the thread when I brought up something new to discuss.

To me, "fundamentalist thinking/self-righteousness" is an insult.

You say "why does my opinion matter," so then, why does Monica's? I say let her have her opinion.

I am very familiar with fundamentalist thinking, many of the people I know are religious fundamentalists and I have always had a problem with that kind of thinking.

Me too. It's not just religions, the media is telling everyone what to think and anesthetizing them into doing it.

But I don't think standing up for animal rights is like witnessing for a fundamentalist religion. First of all, religion is mostly fiction (in my opinion) and seems to be nothing but horrifically stupid dogma and control (I freely admit to an abhorrence of organized religion). Animal rights activists are more like the activists for slavery, or women's rights, or racial rights. Animal rights activists are just trying to bring awareness and protection to a victimized group.

When there are great changes that need to happen, such as the abolition of slavery, unfortunately it has to get in people's faces. Historically, there seems to be the need for a huge initial thrust to get things noticed and moving.

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.

Absolutely.