[split] "Some people eat animals, some don't."

[Diana]

I have been thinking about this thread and all that has passed on this subject here at B4 since I first became a member. 

I have definitely expanded my views, and learned a lot over these years by interacting with this group. The end result at this point is that there is a lot to consider in terms of existence, especially from larger and larger views. And while this is all good, I feel this issue has gotten more and more clouded, convoluted, and conflicting. This isn't bad in my view, but after some thought I was able to brush away the chaff and get to the wheat. That is, for me, and how I feel.

The very basic ideas of what to consume here in 3D always come down to not doing harm, for me. This is a complex issue, but not really when you take one conscious decision at a time, and allow that you don't have all the information at any given time. Of course we can't do everything, but we can make each decision as it comes with integrity.

The following was my very first post here years ago in the closed thread "in regards to eating meat," aside from what transpired in my wanderer story thread. It states (simply) the way I saw things then, and still do . . . though there is much more to consider, yet for me touching the world lightly and doing the least harm is what matters. 

I am very conflicted on the issue of eating meat I would very much like to begin a dialogue as to why one should not or should be able to consume meat.

I would like to respond to your inquiries about eating meat, and your observation that plants have life which should be respected too. 

I agree that all life should be respected. Then, the problem remains, as we exist in 3-D and must consume food until we evolve to something higher, what do we eat? 

An animal has a strong instinct for survival, even when hunted in a natural environment. It experiences terror when chased by predators. This fear is only a fraction of what farm animals feel when taken to slaughter because they are trapped and cannot even run. Just considering the physical results of this fear and terror--release of hormones, adrenaline, fight-or-fight response--it is unwise to consume the meat as you will be ingesting these hormones too, which the animal's body has manufactured. Also, you cannot cut a leg off an animal without killing it.

You can, however, prune a plant and cut off leaves without killing it. You can harvest vegetables without killing the plant. Many plants "want" animals to eat them as it is their way of spreading seed and propagating. Fruit falls off trees, vines, and bushes to be eaten by animals so that the seeds can be spread. It seems obvious that it is less cruel to consume the life force from plants, rather than animals.

I agree with one of the posts here, that the Native American way of thanking the animal ceremonially is best if one has to consume meat. But does anyone HAVE to eat meat? Why not touch the world more lightly, more gently, and be healthier in the process? 

You might think of the issue this way:

Imagine the most Utopian future world you can. What would it be like? Perhaps at that point consuming anything but air and sunlight would be all we need? Draw a straight line from where we are now to that future world. Now start taking steps along that line.