Lena,
First let me say that I have a respect for you and your convictions regarding vegetarianism. But I, for one, do not share many of those convictions.
It pains me to see you talk of hopeing to collapse the entire meat industry. When I read this it tells me that while you feel you have a responsibility to protect and save the animals of the world, you cannot see past the industry and see the eyes of the farmers who will lose their family farms, the children and grandchildren of those farmers who may become homeless, poverty stricken and uneducated as a result of your wish. As one who lives in a rural part of the country I have seen this very thing happen.
Do you know what often happens when a farm is lost? Those many acres are usually bought up by developers who build as many homes as possible. These new urban developments increase the human population but in doing so they decrease the natural habitat of many species of animals. Trees are cut, underbrush is removed and many, many birds and animals die out. Those animals that move on into what natural area is left soon become overpopulated and when this happens they fight, kill and consume one another and stop reproducing until their population is once again under control - but fewer in number.
With less farm land, we have less crops to feed animals. We have overpopulation in humans which again take away the land and food from animals.
The point here is that every action has a consequence. This cannot be helped.
I agree with you that animals are not treated well. Many in unhealthy conditions. But the same can be said of many humans around the world. Animals are not treated with the respect they deserve, and this is true of many humans, i.e. persons who have differing views on vegetarianism.
Do you spare the life of a spider or mosquito? If not, how do you put the value of one existing life above that of another? Should all not be treated equally?
I don't understand how a vegetarian can preach moral ethics regarding animal life and then kill insects. And I don't understand how a vegan can smoke cigarettes after all the animal testing and animal products that go into the manufacturing of them. And surely all vegetarians must be against abortion, because abortion is the ending of a human life. There are many things I don't understand. But one thing that is perfectly clear to me is that I have much to learn and I won't have all the answers in this lifetime.
A wise shaman once said "to respect and connect with all of life we must think of ourselves as no better than the least of all creatures and no less than the Great Spirit." - We are all equal, we are all one!
With each meal I consume I say a prayer of blessing for the life that was given, plant or animal. I consider the sacrifice that has been made and I ask that I be found worthy to recieve this blessing and may the sacrifices I make be a blessing to others.
The connection that I feel to the universe is incredible because I take nothing for granted. I respect all of life and I consider it a great blessing to be a part of all and it a part of me.
I understand that some religions teach that man was created and given rule over all the animals of the earth. But that is not my path. I believe that we were all created equal and that life and death are a part of this existance.
By the way, try *looking* for they eyes of the plants you consume. You might just be surprised to find its heart as well. I've experienced both and you can too!
May we respect and connect with ALL things.
Peace,
Randy
