Conscious, Compassionate & Healthy Eating

[PLFXpert 0]

Thought I would start a new thread and not hijack Krisanne's.

In response to 'bella:

Quote

Dominion changed my life. It's what made me make the choice to go vegan.

I avoided reading it for so long because of the heavy God influence and that it's written by G.W.'s speech writer (also wrote for Sarah Palin).

That is actually why I am excited to read it (just ordered it Friday so have not yet started it).

Many of my friends and most of my family are Christian conservatives. I consider myself a Christian indepedent.

Long story short, we (my family and I) do not talk about animal welfare, especially not with regard to where our supermarket meats and dairy come from.

I do not believe humans are the only beings created "in God's image", but I have always said if we are then is it not within God's image to show compassion and concern for all other beings' welfare?

I came across this quote written by Scully taken from his book: "Animals are more than ever a test of our character, of mankind's capacity for empathy and for decent, honorable conduct and faithful stewardship. We are called to treat them with kindness, not because they have rights or power or some claim to equality, but because they don't."

It really hit home for me. I am really hoping his book is a great read and something I can maybe share with my friends & family in an unobtrusive way, and one they might relate to.

I was truly born caring a great deal about animals. I have discovered and continue discovering their welfare and human health and welfare are not only relative, but imo, directly connected to one another.

Paint me in a corner, but my color comes back.

[SpeedRacer 1]

When someone asked Oscar Wilde what his favorite animal was, he said, "Steak!"

Speed Racer
--------------------------------------------------

[freeflybella 0]

This thread kinda just got thrown away. Shame, because it could've been a meaningful dialogue.

Action expresses priority. - Mahatma Ghandi

[virgigirlie 0]

Skinny Bitch is also a great book. Some people are put off by the sarcasm and the fact that the truth is not sugar coated. But it gives a raw, honest picture of what goes into making food out of animals (that also upsets some people) and the evolutionary argument against humans eating animals and animal products (claws, agility, the ability to eat raw meat, seriously pointy teeth made for tearing, keen senses of sight, sound, smell, etc.).

No matter how an author approaches the subject, I see it as promoting a way to exercise compassion and morality while doing something awesome for your body and our environment.

"If you can't be a good example, then you'll just have to be a horrible warning." ~Catherine Aird

[labrys 0]

Quote

the evolutionary argument against humans eating animals

I'm confused by that.... there is no evolutionary "argument" against humans eating other animals. The evolutionary "fact" is that humans are omnivores and have been eating other animals and plants as long as we have recorded history.

Owned by Remi #?

[hungarianchick 0]

Wear only plant-based fibers? Ensure that those plants were grown and harvested in a way that prevented the death of other living creatures? Walk everywhere with your face covered to prevent accidental inhalation of micro-insects? Do you stare at the ground in front of you to make sure you don't step on any ants? Do you own a pet which you never treat for fleas or intestinal parasites?
Do you own leather shoes, purse? Does your car have leather seats?


Face it...living on this planet means destroying other life-forms, including other mammals. No way around it. Not eating meat does little in the grand sceme of things.

"I love cooking with wine. Sometimes I even put it in the food."

[PLFXpert 0]

Quote

Face it...living on this planet means destroying other life-forms, including other mammals.

So is there no reason, in your opinion, to prevent unnecessary pain and suffering?

Quote

Not eating meat does little in the grand sceme of things.

Disagree, but then I am not of the position humans should not eat any animals or animal products so...

Paint me in a corner, but my color comes back.

[PLFXpert 0]

Quote

Wear only plant-based fibers? Ensure that those plants were grown and harvested in a way that prevented the death of other living creatures? Walk everywhere with your face covered to prevent accidental inhalation of micro-insects? Do you stare at the ground in front of you to make sure you don't step on any ants? Do you own a pet which you never treat for fleas or intestinal parasites?
Do you own leather shoes, purse? Does your car have leather seats?

By that logic: If you cannot finish a race first, then why race at all?

Paint me in a corner, but my color comes back.

[hungarianchick 0]

Quote

So is there no reason, in your opinion, to prevent unnecessary pain and suffering?

I've never said that. You also neglected to answer any of my questions. Caring about animal welfare goes way beyond just "conscious eating". Do you do extensive research on your non-food products such as your fashion accessories to ensure they were consciously farmed?

"I love cooking with wine. Sometimes I even put it in the food."

[rockstar_girl 0]

Precisely why I stopped hanging out with other vegetarians... the vegan police!

I mean, I do what I can, but short of living like one of those monks who starve themselves to death... ya gotta draw the line somewhere!

Of course, I'm also too selfish to stop skydiving, so I happily continue to burn through fossil fuel for the thrill of it all!

[billvon 3,120]

>Face it...living on this planet means destroying other life-forms,
>including other mammals.

That's just one of a long list of excuses.

"I can't lose weight - everyone's gotta eat!"
"I'm too busy to exercise."
"I can barely save any money, so why save any at all?"
"Other people are on their cellphones, and I've only had four beers - face it, they're worse drivers than I am."

Yes, you have to eat - but you can eat fewer twinkies and hamburgers if you put your mind to it. Yes, it's hard to exercise - but it is possible. Yes, it's hard to save money. But do it for a few years and you might be able to afford a down payment on a house.

There are options between "eat nothing but grass" and "eat nothing but bacon" that are better both for yourself and for the rest of the world.

[TomAiello 26]

Quote

There are options between "eat nothing but grass" and "eat nothing but bacon" that are better both for yourself and for the rest of the world.

I'm going with eat nothing but Twinkies, personally. And Ho-ho's...everyone loves a good ho...

-- Tom Aiello

Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com
SnakeRiverBASE.com

[sundevil777 102]

I have not intentionally eaten meat for 30 years. I do not push it on anyone else and will not bring up the subject in conversation unless others do. I still admit that meat smells and tastes good, but the idea of actually eating it is completely unappealing.

It has been asserted by PETA (I'm not an advocate of theirs) that the livestock industry contributes more in terms of greenhouse gases than all of the trasportation industry. I haven't heard of anyone claiming that this was false, they just say that it is unimportant because eating habits can't be changed. I disagree, these habits can be affected, when people discover how good the alternatives actually are, there is opportunity for many to stop eating animals.

People are sick and tired of being told that ordinary and decent people are fed up in this country with being sick and tired. I’m certainly not, and I’m sick and tired of being told that I am

[billvon 3,120]

>I'm going with eat nothing but Twinkies, personally. And Ho-ho's...everyone
>loves a good ho...

For the love of God, why would you want to live in a world without Ding-Dongs?

[wmw999 2,589]

I'm still trying to come up with a good recipe that includes both grass and bacon.

Wendy P.

There is nothing more dangerous than breaking a basic safety rule and getting away with it. It removes fear of the consequences and builds false confidence. (tbrown)

[TomAiello 26]

Quote

>I'm going with eat nothing but Twinkies, personally. And Ho-ho's...everyone
>loves a good ho...

For the love of God, why would you want to live in a world without Ding-Dongs?

Ding-Dongs?! You must be a racist...or a communist...or a cracist!

Cracist!

-- Tom Aiello

Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com
SnakeRiverBASE.com

[billvon 3,120]

>Ding-Dongs?! You must be a racist...or a communist...or a cracist!

If I was a communist I'd be pushing Tim-Tams. They have no place in American capitalism.

[kelpdiver 2]

Quote

It has been asserted by PETA (I'm not an advocate of theirs) that the livestock industry contributes more in terms of greenhouse gases than all of the trasportation industry. I haven't heard of anyone claiming that this was false, they just say that it is unimportant because eating habits can't be changed.

The energy issues are a much more compelling reason for vegetarianism than this silly notion about being compassionate to the animals. (Don't plants deserve compassion too? Is a redwood or a wild mushroom any dumber than a cow? Or for the half vegetarians, fish?)

Since animals have to survive, the energy from the plants they eat are mostly consumed. We only get a fraction of that. So there's a loss there. 10:1 is the easy ratio. And the cows require pastures, so there's clear cutting. And after they eat the grass, higher erosion potential. So large scale meat production has issues, like large scale ethanol production (most SF vegans still drive cars).

On the flip side, fresh vegetables are perishable items. While ground meat can be frozen, can the same be said for the substitute portabella mushroom you use instead as the burger? What are the energy costs of it? It's a bit frustrating dealing with so many unknowns.

And meat is tasty.

[PLFXpert 0]

I do love a portobello mushroom, but I totally see your point. I mean who am I to support the stealing of portobello spawn to produce more portobellos for my disgusting, delicious pleasure? That's like kidnapping or something.

Paint me in a corner, but my color comes back.

[TomAiello 26]

Quote

>Ding-Dongs?! You must be a racist...or a communist...or a cracist!

If I was a communist I'd be pushing Tim-Tams. They have no place in American capitalism.

Remind me of a place I used to eat lunch semi-regularly, in Budapest. It was call "Mao Elvtars Kinai Gyors-Bufe"--roughly "Comrade Mao's Chinese Quick Buffet."

I'm sure Mao would spin in his grave to know that his name graced a fast food joint.

-- Tom Aiello

Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com
SnakeRiverBASE.com

[mnealtx 0]

Quote

Remind me of a place I used to eat lunch semi-regularly, in Budapest.

And just WHAT were you doing in Bootyfest, young man???

Mike
I love you, Shannon and Jim.
POPS 9708 , SCR 14706

[hungarianchick 0]

Quote

Yes, you have to eat - but you can eat fewer twinkies and hamburgers if you put your mind to it. Yes, it's hard to exercise - but it is possible. Yes, it's hard to save money. But do it for a few years and you might be able to afford a down payment on a house.

There are options between "eat nothing but grass" and "eat nothing but bacon" that are better both for yourself and for the rest of the world.

I already do all that, Bill. The only way you will get me to eat a twinkie or a fast food burger is to shove it down my throat at gunpoint.
My point was about all the hypocrits who claim to care about animal walfare and the environment and and when the discussion is over they drive away in their Hummers with the premium leather seats...

"I love cooking with wine. Sometimes I even put it in the food."

[freeflybella 0]

Quote

Quote

Yes, you have to eat - but you can eat fewer twinkies and hamburgers if you put your mind to it. Yes, it's hard to exercise - but it is possible. Yes, it's hard to save money. But do it for a few years and you might be able to afford a down payment on a house.

There are options between "eat nothing but grass" and "eat nothing but bacon" that are better both for yourself and for the rest of the world.

I already do all that, Bill. The only way you will get me to eat a twinkie or a fast food burger is to shove it down my throat at gunpoint.
My point was about all the hypocrits who claim to care about animal walfare and the environment and and when the discussion is over they drive away in their Hummers with the premium leather seats...

You seem angry. I suggest trying not to achieve perfection and recognizing that every little effort you make in the world really does matter. It's less pressure and much more rewarding.

Also, just because someone else is a hypocrite, doesn't mean the cause isn't worthwhile.

Action expresses priority. - Mahatma Ghandi

[pirana 0]

Quote

Is a redwood or a wild mushroom any dumber than a cow?

Yes.

Next question please.

" . . . the lust for power can be just as completely satisfied by suggesting people into loving their servitude as by flogging them and kicking them into obedience." -- Aldous Huxley

[TomAiello 26]

Quote

Quote

Remind me of a place I used to eat lunch semi-regularly, in Budapest.

And just WHAT were you doing in Bootyfest, young man???

Studying economic reform, in the early 90's.

Interestingly the experience did not leave me believing in government economic intervention, as one would expect from having my intellectual horizons broadened.

-- Tom Aiello

Tom@SnakeRiverBASE.com
SnakeRiverBASE.com