Ignorance is bliss.
Especially is the case with the current state of our animal agriculture industry. Which is probably the reason why I haven’t bothered investigating into it. Cuz frankly, I’m scared what I’m going to uncover. Drawing the line on moral decisions is not always easy. And just because the truth is ugly, it doesn’t justify turning a blind eye.
So enjoy my podcast below as I delve into the ethical stance of eating meat.
30 Days Vegan: The Ethical Concern
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When I was 12, I got a Red Ryder BB gun. As manhood points soared through the roof, I embodied my inner Bond and started shooting up random objects around the yard (sorry Dad). Soon after, I had created a muti-stage marksman courses. I took my training seriously.
Amidst my training, the perfect challenge to test my shooting skills landed on a branch, not too far away. Eyes fixed on the target, I began pumping the Red Ryder.
… eight … nine … ten …
Steady Matt, just like you trained. Slow breathe, steady hand, and with the target in scope, pulled the trigger!!
!POP!
Feathers burst and I saw the robin bird drop like a rock. Then, to my horror, began flopping and twitching around on the ground.
As my heart ached, I knew the job was not finished. So I guilt-fully walked over to the robin. Tears began to swell as I pumped the Red Ryder and shot the bird three more times before it stopped twitching. I took life. And I felt awful.
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Where do I draw the line?
For me, I’ll be continuing to challenge myself to remain open to experiment with a lifestyle free from meat. I feel continuing to eat meat after what I’ve learned during this vegan challenge goes too strongly against two key values of mine – Compassion and Health.
Health
My lifelong value for optimal health does not align with the sickness correlated with meat consumption. When we eat meat, we’re also consuming what that animal consumed and consists of—antibiotics, hormones, processed foods and other toxins that are carcinogenic to the human body. More on that in last week’s podcast with Dr. Garth Davis.
To summarize: meat is not a necessity, it’s a luxury, and one that’s making us sick.
Without health life is not life; it is only a state of langour and suffering – an image of death. – Buddha
Compassion
I believe all people, at their core, want to behave in a humane and conscientious way. From our pure, untainted infancy, we want to bond with and take care of our animal friends, it’s innate. To see this in action, watch little Luiz Antonio in the video below work through whether or not he should eat an octopus on his plate.
Personally, I’m naturally more compassionate for those I understand and relate to more. Humans have a 96% genetic similarity to chimpanzees. We have an 82% similarity with dogs. And an 80% similarity with cows (source).
Factory farming is responsible for over 90% of meat production, where 3000 animals die every second. I would never treat an animal like this myself, yet everytime I eat meat, I’m supporting factory farming and the suffering that’s involved with it.
Fortunately, the power for change is dependant on what I allow on my fork. I’m grateful to have the money to buy anything I want to eat. Meat won’t be missed, It will be eagerly replaced with the endless array of nature’s bounty.
Love and compassion are necessities, not luxuries. Without them humanity cannot survive. – Dalai Lama
Where do you draw the line?
Strict values are required to make this decision. So if you’re reading this, I challenge you to not take the easy route and turn a blind eye.
This is a major life-altering decision. Yet it’s my intention to continue experimenting and remain open to information to deepening my understanding on this topic. So if there is something you’ve come to understand that I haven’t mentioned, I invite you to mention it in comment below. Thanks!