Most of you will not read this, I’m sure. But please, at least skim. Please? It’s not as ‘vegetarian extremist’ as you might think. In fact it might stick up for you…

In April I posted the following status message to my Facebook feed. Seeing some of peoples reaction from both the comments on Facebook and remarks made outside of Facebook, I was furious with what some people said in regards to what I said.

So I got into a discussion with a friend of mine, and I said to her “I can’t stand these meat-eating extremists who use excuses like protein, meat-tearing molars, “that’s why they were put on this Earth,” “they love meat too much to give up,” “it’s supposed to part of every meal”…etc. to justify eating meat. I don’t understand why they have to be so firmly against something entirely and not even be able to consider they might be wrong about how they feel and think, about what they’ve always known to be truth, about trying something different?”

And her response really got me thinking. She said:

“Well, I know for me, sometimes it’s hard to listen to vegetarians because I think why the vegetarians/vegans get so much disdain is that some of them are quite arrogant and seem to think because of their eating choices, they are somehow more moral than those who don’t adopt their lifestyle. Even if vegetarians/vegans ARE more moral nobody wants to be preached to about anything. Think about how you reacted when your parents told you to do something you didn’t like. Or a teacher or your boss. I equate the shoving it down our throats as the same thing. The only time people are okay with anything is when it clicks in their own head. When it affects them directly. When it interrupts their happiness and comfort. When they can justify it to themselves and not someone else justifying it for them.”

I really like what she wrote. Because I think it’s 100% accurate.

It’s still difficult to understand how someone can down a bunch of blue pills and turn a blind eye to imagery like this.

And say that it’s either a) completely natural b) we need this c) they have no feelings d) this doesn’t affect me

I just don’t get it.

She also said this:

“When you have two opposing viewpoints, there will be much debate and general unpleasantness. I suppose there is no other way. People will be people. No one wants to view the world as it is, (with shades of gray). Just as you feel meat eaters try to justify their lifestyle, so to will vegans try to justify theirs.”

I think I have more of a problem with what she said here than people turning a blind eye to straight up needless murder. Why? Because.

I don’t know man…we’re not cavemen anymore. We don’t need all the things we did when we were foraging for food and warmth. It’s the 21st century, we’ve allowed gay marriage (or will eventually), women’s rights, minority rights, ILLEGAL immigrant rights, built a civilized society, found other means of getting protein and nutrients…we’re fatter than we’ve ever been, we’re more unhealthy than we’ve ever been…I realize my friends words to be truth…that “the only time people are okay with anything is when it clicks in their own head. When it affects them directly. When it interrupts their happiness and comfort.” But, when is that time going to come and just listen, y’know? Listen to the world around you and what’s happening to it.

I understand you may not like extremists and the shock value of the imagery and not respect us for using it. But, someone has to stand up for these guys…so many of us can get behind gay marriage, women’s and minority rights but we draw a line if they’re not human beings? That they only exist for our sustainability?

If that’s true. Fine. They exist only to sustain ourselves. I can deal with that. The only thing I want anyone to consider and think about, is why are they treated like they are? In slaughter houses and factory farming, circuses and zoo’s? We treat murderers and rapists better than we do our own food! If you hold human beings higher than animals, then why give rights to people who clearly don’t care for human life? There’s no reason! I mean, South Park was right…we look at China and look at them weird for savagely killing dolphins, sharks, and whales? But we don’t look at ourselves and think what we’re doing is weird? We’re supposed to be the ’smarter country’ because we don’t stone people to death or kill rape victims? Or sacrifice people to gods?

I don’t know…

On a final note, to clarify things. I’ve never once said don’t eat meat, in fact, I still believe that we need it just not nearly as much as we think or desire to have. Seriously. If you do find something somewhere where I said that, well I’m here to say in finality…is that, all I ask…is two things…

1. Eat considerably less meat
2. Highly consider what you know to be truth might not be truth

Please just consider it often. If you’re not going to do it for me, the animals, a girl you like, a boy you like, the Earth, or others…then at the very least…do it for yourselves. After all, what goes around, comes around.

The reason why I’m even posting this is because PETA posted the photos and work of an Italian photographer Tommaso Ausili recently. They are part of a series titled “The Hidden Death.” The series explores the fact that “Neatly packaged meat in supermarkets is often completely detached in consumers’ minds from the process of its production.” I could say more, but the photos are so powerful that I will give my keyboard a rest and let the images speak for themselves.

I was going to post a bunch of graphic images and videos but, for now, I’ll take the advice and words of my friend and let you choose between the red pill and the blue pill.

Well, it happened again.

And prior to that, a sparrow got trapped in the drain.

Is it just me or does it seem as if this is the beginning to be a real life version of this scene.
(Snow White – Whistle while you work)

He must’ve fallen down through the window drain we see right outside of our basement office. Makes me wonder how many other animals get trapped on accident in man made things that they can’t get out of…how many live, How many die?! How many get saved by people??!! I’m glad he’s okay and hopefully he’ll find his family.