The Christian Survival Guide Go to the ant, thou sluggard. Consider her ways and be wise. Prov 6:6

The truth about Vegetarianism

Check out this article from Mother Earth News - The truth about vegetarianism http://www.motherearthnews.com/nature-community/the-truth-about-vegetarianism.aspx

When I was a young, punk kid looking for ways to differentiate myself and cry for attention, I hung out with a crowd of people who fancied themselves to be vegetarians and vegans. They were all young PETA supporters that thought themselves educated on the subject of true conservation simply because they read Animal Liberation and had a few pets. Yet these kind folks would wear leather vans sneakers and skateboard (grip tape uses adhesive which can consist of a mixture of hooves, antlers, and fatty acids), and they would still eat at cheap fast food restaurants that utilize "factory farming" vendors for meats, but they would only order veggies.

Being a Southern boy and understanding a bit about meat production I just never understood what good they were really accomplishing. I mean, even if they convinced the country to stop eating meat, monoculture producers and biotech firms like Monsanto would still exist - destroying vast areas with once rich soil and choking off natural habitats which in turn still kills animals! These companies were the true enemy! Not a hunter who is humanely harvesting an antlerless deer because wildlife resource officers have determined that the herd needs selective culling.

What these animal rights "activists" lacked was good, sound science and an understanding of how the biosphere actually works. Its the sum of all things working in a symbiotic manner. Not simply an emotional and "intellectual" attachment to a cute, oh so cuddly puppy coupled with ignorance and selective science.

To quote the article's author, Lierre Keith, "Not eating meat won't solve our planet's problems." He is absolutely correct and makes a great point later by pointing out that sustainable diets are the only way to make it all work. Again let me quote Mr. Keith, "Life isn't possible without death, and no matter what you eat, something has to die to feed you." This guy is spot on.

With the popularity of the recent documentaries, Food, INC., and The truth about food, I would like to think that more of these people would consider sustainable gardening and permaculture as viable options. If nothing else, support small farms that don't use genetically engineered seeds. But time and time again I see these people rally a protest at an outdoor goods store to argue the morals of culling a herd (a scientifically proven method of improving the biosphere), but never do you see these people outside a Texaco screaming about ethanol production.

I used to laugh at the ignorance of it all and considered them to be harmless fools driven by the need to be seen as different, but now its just sad. The obvious lack of data to support that any of their efforts are saving a number of animals is pitiful. The fact that they don't understand that too many animals in an environment is as bad as no environment makes their logic pathetic.

Now, please understand that I do not support factory farming (though admittedly I could be more selective with food vendors), and I definitely do not support animal cruelty or suffrage. But I see that life is an interdependent thing. I support legal, humane kills and selective culling while we are not in an end of days scenario.

Proverbs 12:10 A righteous man cares for the needs of his animal, but the kindest acts of the wicked are cruel.