Comments on: Kill a Vegetable http://www.kristynicole.com/2006/08/kill-a-vegetable/ Me in the Unabridged Version Wed, 07 Jan 2009 12:20:21 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7 hourly 1 By: Amy http://www.kristynicole.com/2006/08/kill-a-vegetable/comment-page-1/#comment-292 Amy Mon, 21 Aug 2006 17:17:47 +0000 http://www.kristynicole.com/blog/2006/08/16/131/#comment-292 I've only been at this two weeks, but so far it's been easy to not eat meat when I'm finding my own meals. And for the first time in years I stopped feeling guilty for the suffering of animals that was partly my fault. What's weird is now I feel guilty NOT eating meat in front of the people around me. It's like I'm on trial--they want to know what they're going to be able to eat with me now, they look askance, they wonder why they have to be inconvenienced by my choice, they seem to think I-told-you-so. (This isn't everyone, but I'm surprised this is happening at all!) For anyone reading, try to understand that this is a personal choice, but still one that might be the most important choice in the person's life and therefore deserves respect. That respect may not mean you have act likewise (meatless) in the person's presence, but that moment would certainly not be the time to announce how you feel there's nothing wrong in eating meat. I guess I'm struggling enough to figure out what I should eat now (going to a restaurant with someone is really hard), that I don't need someone watching to see what I'll pick just so they can feel self-satisfied that I'm being ridiculous. It's still worth it to me--my personal peace by not killing an animal--but I'm torn by the dismissal of those close to me. I’ve only been at this two weeks, but so far it’s been easy to not eat meat when I’m finding my own meals. And for the first time in years I stopped feeling guilty for the suffering of animals that was partly my fault.

What’s weird is now I feel guilty NOT eating meat in front of the people around me. It’s like I’m on trial–they want to know what they’re going to be able to eat with me now, they look askance, they wonder why they have to be inconvenienced by my choice, they seem to think I-told-you-so. (This isn’t everyone, but I’m surprised this is happening at all!) For anyone reading, try to understand that this is a personal choice, but still one that might be the most important choice in the person’s life and therefore deserves respect. That respect may not mean you have act likewise (meatless) in the person’s presence, but that moment would certainly not be the time to announce how you feel there’s nothing wrong in eating meat.

I guess I’m struggling enough to figure out what I should eat now (going to a restaurant with someone is really hard), that I don’t need someone watching to see what I’ll pick just so they can feel self-satisfied that I’m being ridiculous. It’s still worth it to me–my personal peace by not killing an animal–but I’m torn by the dismissal of those close to me.

]]> By: Oz http://www.kristynicole.com/2006/08/kill-a-vegetable/comment-page-1/#comment-291 Oz Sat, 19 Aug 2006 17:21:55 +0000 http://www.kristynicole.com/blog/2006/08/16/131/#comment-291 I've known many vegetarians over the years and I don't think I've run into any that have taken the "if you eat meat you are evil" high ground. Maybe it's because a lot of them are pagans, so they are big on personal choice. That doesn't keep them from extolling the virtues of a vegetarian diet, whether they are abstaining from meat for spiritual or health reasons, but they have never made me feel "bad" for being a carnivore. At potluck dinners, my most popular item was what I called Hunter - Gatherer Fried Rice. It was Cashew Chicken Fried Rice for the Hunter dish, and I would take out half before I added the egg or chicken and put that in the Gatherer dish. The dishes were labelled with pictograph a la cave paintings, one with a spear and one with two wheat sheafs. People found it amusing. What was I talking about? I’ve known many vegetarians over the years and I don’t think I’ve run into any that have taken the “if you eat meat you are evil” high ground. Maybe it’s because a lot of them are pagans, so they are big on personal choice. That doesn’t keep them from extolling the virtues of a vegetarian diet, whether they are abstaining from meat for spiritual or health reasons, but they have never made me feel “bad” for being a carnivore.

At potluck dinners, my most popular item was what I called Hunter - Gatherer Fried Rice. It was Cashew Chicken Fried Rice for the Hunter dish, and I would take out half before I added the egg or chicken and put that in the Gatherer dish. The dishes were labelled with pictograph a la cave paintings, one with a spear and one with two wheat sheafs. People found it amusing.

What was I talking about?

]]> By: Maisey http://www.kristynicole.com/2006/08/kill-a-vegetable/comment-page-1/#comment-290 Maisey Sat, 19 Aug 2006 09:41:47 +0000 http://www.kristynicole.com/blog/2006/08/16/131/#comment-290 Hi, lbfh... I'm a cow and I know what you mean about vegetarians making you feel "guilty" about my delicious insides. While I know that it's not a sin in your religion to eat me, I sure wish you wouldn't. It's not about vegetarians trying to feel better about themselves, it's about -me- not getting slaughtered. I'm sure someone would speak up for you if you were tasty. If we were on a deserted island I'd understand that you had to eat me to survive; you or me, right? But we're not. There are many options that are actually better for you and the environment that don't involve killing me. Sorry if this doesn't move you; I'm a cow and it's difficult for me to articulate my needs, but I wish that you would reconsider your position with an open mind, unbiased by the vegetarian guilt trip you seem to have been handed. Making someone feel guilty about their own choices makes it sound like "killing" is a choice between vanilla and chocolate. We're talking about my life. Please let me live out my days, simple as they are, without pain and with my calves to care for. I wish that I were as cute as a dog or a cat or something, because for some reason it seems reprehensible to eat anything cute, but when it comes to "delicious" all bets are off. Damn this tastey rump! Hi, lbfh… I'm a cow and I know what you mean about vegetarians making you feel "guilty" about my delicious insides. While I know that it's not a sin in your religion to eat me, I sure wish you wouldn't. It's not about vegetarians trying to feel better about themselves, it's about -me- not getting slaughtered. I'm sure someone would speak up for you if you were tasty. If we were on a deserted island I'd understand that you had to eat me to survive; you or me, right? But we're not. There are many options that are actually better for you and the environment that don't involve killing me. Sorry if this doesn't move you; I'm a cow and it's difficult for me to articulate my needs, but I wish that you would reconsider your position with an open mind, unbiased by the vegetarian guilt trip you seem to have been handed. Making someone feel guilty about their own choices makes it sound like "killing" is a choice between vanilla and chocolate. We're talking about my life. Please let me live out my days, simple as they are, without pain and with my calves to care for. I wish that I were as cute as a dog or a cat or something, because for some reason it seems reprehensible to eat anything cute, but when it comes to "delicious" all bets are off. Damn this tastey rump!

]]> By: lbfh http://www.kristynicole.com/2006/08/kill-a-vegetable/comment-page-1/#comment-289 lbfh Sat, 19 Aug 2006 04:08:14 +0000 http://www.kristynicole.com/blog/2006/08/16/131/#comment-289 There is absolutely nothing wrong with eating meat. Nothing... Definitely nothing wrong spiritually. There are times during the year (Lent comes to mind) when we are to not eat meat on Fridays, etc., but that is NOT because eating meat is wrong. It is simply a token of faith. The church could have said we should all wear togas every Friday, as a token of Faith. They chose abstinence from meat. The only thing wrong is trying to make someone else feel guilty for their own choices. I don't know what I'm having for dinner tomorrow... But I'm sure it had parents. That is of course a joke, thanks Seinfeld. Respect for life comes more easily while EATING meat, than it ever could while looking disdainfully at someone else eating it. There is absolutely nothing wrong with eating meat. Nothing… Definitely nothing wrong spiritually. There are times during the year (Lent comes to mind) when we are to not eat meat on Fridays, etc., but that is NOT because eating meat is wrong. It is simply a token of faith. The church could have said we should all wear togas every Friday, as a token of Faith. They chose abstinence from meat.

The only thing wrong is trying to make someone else feel guilty for their own choices.

I don’t know what I’m having for dinner tomorrow… But I’m sure it had parents.

That is of course a joke, thanks Seinfeld. Respect for life comes more easily while EATING meat, than it ever could while looking disdainfully at someone else eating it.

]]> By: Oz http://www.kristynicole.com/2006/08/kill-a-vegetable/comment-page-1/#comment-283 Oz Thu, 17 Aug 2006 02:03:24 +0000 http://www.kristynicole.com/blog/2006/08/16/131/#comment-283 I could never go vegetarian. While I respect, and maybe even slightly envy, those that can, I am far too picky and too lazy in my dietary habits. I could never go vegetarian. While I respect, and maybe even slightly envy, those that can, I am far too picky and too lazy in my dietary habits.

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