ken@hp-pcd.UUCP (ken) (08/17/84)
Among my own reasons there are at least two thoughts that I do
not know how to place in your categories. Reason one is very
important and reason 2 decreases in import all the time.
1) To eat lower on the food chain. (a subcategory of health,
politics, agribusiness, etc.). As we pollute our ecosystem with
herbicides and pesticides, these pollutants accumulate much more
slowly at low levels of the food chain. I can also manage to get
organic grain, but I know not where to get beef fed solely on
organic feed (not that I really want it).
2) My wife is a great cook and she is a devout veggie. I love my
wife more than I desire meat, and through knowing her I have
grown to become a veggie also.
-ken
hp-pcd!ken
cbo@utai.UUCP (Calvin Bruce Ostrum) (08/26/84)
I would like to know *why* people are vegetarians, and what other concrete
aspects of their lives stem from the same underlying ideologies. Please
circle one or more, with elaboration, and return to me. I will gladly
appreciate your reply, and eventually post a comprehensive summary. (Of
course, post your reply yourself if you feel it is a good idea to do so).
* Generally for reasons of personal health and well being. (e.g. dont like
meat, it makes me ill, humans aren't suited to eat meat, etc). Other concrete
aspects primarily relate to personal health also.
* For religious reasons (although some of this is subsumed in the category
of ethical reasons, below). Here, other concrete would relate to the other
dogmas of the religion.
* Ethical/ecological reasons. A major component in the solution of world
starvation would be the freeing of land from wasteful meat production for
more bountiful yields of necessary food (particularly plant proteins).
* Ethical/animal rights reasons. Animals have a right to life and should
not be destroyed for human whims. Or perhaps weaker versions: animals have
a right not to be tortured or mistreated for human whims, and as a matter
of fact they are being so tortured presently in the food industry.
(Perhaps this argument might be expressed in a utilitarian fashion rather than
a rights based fashion).
Here, other concrete would relate to concerns for animal rights in
other areas (as experimental tools and clothing, for example).
There are some other reasons (perhaps faddishness is one of the big ones?)
but these seem to be the most important. Each of these reasons delineate
different boundaries for vegetarianism; please be explicit as to what your
boundaries are.
--
Calvin Bruce Ostrum, University of Toronto Department of Computer Science
uucp: { utzoo linus ihnp4 floyd allegra uw-beaver
ubc-vision cornell watmath hcr decwrl }!utcsrgv!utai!cbodaemon@decwrl.UUCP (The devil himself) (08/29/84)
Re: Vegetarianism: Show Us Your Reasons_______________________________________
Heck, my reasons for being a vegetarian are so good, I'll post them
to the net. Would they ever make it to utcsrgv!utai!cbo anyways?
MONEY - Not too long ago, I was living on a very low income. Things got from
bad to worse (remember the recession?) and I spent many days without a bite to
eat. I remembered a special friend of mine who was a vegetarian; she didn't
seem to be suffering from it at all. I decided to give it a try. I had to
learn a few things, like how to cook nutritious meals, etc. I began eating
better for less money. Much more economical.
HEALTH - Humans aren't built to eat meat, as anyone who's compared humans with
herbivores and carnivores can see. I started feeling a *lot* better when I
switched to vegetarianism. I still do. I'm also happier without the animal
fat and the heavy concentration of pesticides and pollutants one gets when eat-
ing at the top of the food chain, not to mention the hormones and god-knows-
what-else that go into livestock.
ENERGY EFFICIENCY - I met this special friend of mine in an Energy Activist
group; that might give you some idea of the people I hang around with: I soon
learned that vegetarianism is the most efficient way of feeding ourselves. I
am ecology-oriented, right down to the ethical level. I hate waste. I was
quite pleased to find how vegetarianism helps out here.
KINDNESS TO ANIMALS - I plan on going into this in more depth in a future art-
icle. For now, meditate on the two meanings of the word "kindness."
MORE VARIETY - Most meals are unexciting variations on the preparation of meat.
Being a vegetarian means putting together foods that complement each other in
taste and protein. I'm more aware of nutrition and my body. Cooking becomes
an art and I enjoy it a lot more. I enjoy eating more, too.
ICEBREAKER - When I go out to eat with a group of people, it becomes apparent
that I'm a vegetarian. This can often lead to stimulating conversation invol-
ving topics like thriftiness, health, ecology, kindness, and awareness of one's
body.
<_Jym_>
:::::::::::::::: Jym Dyer
::::' :: `:::: Nashua, New Hampshire
::' :: `::
:: :: :: DYER%VAXUUM.DEC@DECWRL.ARPA
:: .::::. :: {allegra|decvax|ihnp4|ucbvax}!decwrl!dec-rhea!dec-vaxuum!dyer
::..:' :: `:..::
::::. :: .:::: Statements made in this article are my own; they might not
:::::::::::::::: reflect the views of |d|i|g|i|t|a|l| Equipment Corporation.