NOTHING should die so I can eat

[bertha katzenengel]

:cry:

[LeftyMom]

1. Need to talk?

:hug:

[bertha katzenengel]

2. yes, but i can't right now

ty for the :hug:

[bertha katzenengel]

4. I work in Chinatown in DC

For lunch today I went in search of veg, and maybe tofu, at one of the thousands of Chinese restaurants that surround my office. I walked into the restaurant of my choice. In the entry way were four or five 30- or 40-gallon aquariums. They had no gravel, no aeration, no plants. Some were empty. One had several perch swimming around. And one had water at the top, and so many catfish on the bottom that they were stacked upon each other. They looked like so many large, smooth, gray stones arranged in someone's garden pond, but it was sickening. Just the thought of something being kept alive for some human's gastronomic pleasure makes me cry and/or sends me into a rage.

I've always had a serious problem projecting my feelings onto animals. Seriously. I've worked on it in therapy, but it's been years and it seems all I learned is gone. I saw those fish and a wash of helplessness and rage and desperation rushed over me. Those poor fish... how they must feel... etc. And these words have been ringing in my head ever since --

Nothing should die so I can eat.

(I told Mrs. V. tonight, I'm sorry, but I just can't eat meat anymore. I apologized because I do a lot of the cooking and I won't be able to cook for her if she wants meat. She understands completely, but still I feel bad. She doesn't like any of the substitutes I've had so far. I don't know how we're going to handle two different diets around here.)

[CrispyQ]

5. What we do to one, we do to all.

Well that was comforting, wasn't' it? ;)

I don't mean to be flippant here, but until we all realize that we are all connected & that the above simplistic philosophy is true, we do not have a good chance of evolving beyond our blood lust.

Mrs. V. sounds pretty open minded, even though she doesn't share your views. She may come around eventually, & if she doesn't, sounds like she is willing to work with your contridictory viewpoints. That's a good thing.
=====

PS - Nothing should die so I can eat.

Something has to die so you can eat. Sadly, that's just how it is for us organic life forms. We cannot live on minerals alone. We must consume the flesh of some formerly living being to gain our sustenance.

My only argument to this is: Eat As Low on the Food Chain as Possible.
Or: Leave as Small a Footprint as Possible.

Both are worthy goals. The best to both of you.

[JitterbugPerfume]

6. Leave as small a footprint as possible

:yourock: CrispyQGirl


I have all but given up meat.I eat occasional chicken (once or twice a month) and fish.

Boca and MorningStar Farms work fine

[bertha katzenengel]

7. thank you, CrispyQGirl

:)

[peacebuzzard]

3. I hear you, sister.

My dismay is profound every day. I will never adjust or conform.