Hi guys, I just found this forum and I've a question about why

[Duppers]

Why are most of you vegetarians?

A friend maintains that most vegetarians are motitived by health reasons; I mantain it's out of true compassion.

I'm sure a wannabe and I keep trying. I have been active an animals rights activist for decades now.

[yewberry]

1. Wow, reasons vary.

Most of the veg*ns that I've known have been ethical veg*ns. (Me, too.) My husband was initially motivated by health/food safety issues, but the other reasons moved into his life over time, too.

Glad you found the board and welcome!

[Duppers]

4. thanks so much

I'll peek in from time to time. I'm glad to know this form is here.

(I recently had some difficulty on the Travel Channel's Anthony Bourdain forum. Bourdain picked on veg*ns, in particular Woody Harrelson, and I took issue with him. I love the peace, comfort, and understanding I'm finding here.)

Wakka.

[Critters2]

13. Anthony Bourdain's contempt for vegans is legendary

The man is an ass. We've had long discussions about his attitude on the christianveg discussion board.

[peacebuzzard]

2. All things considered....it is the only logical deduction

I could make as a living being. There came a time of reason me , I was not given a manual of instructions at birth. As progression and facts became available to me, it just became a natural involvement in order to maintain myself and cause the least destruction to other living entities sharing this space in time.

[Duppers]

3. thank you both so much -- some quotes for you

A most considered reply, peacebuzzard. Thanks.

The quotes:

"The difference in mind between man and the higher animals, great as it is, certainly is one of degree and not of kind."
-Charles Darwin, in "The Descent of Man"

"The animals of the world exist for their own reasons. They were not made for humans any more than black people were made for whites or women for men." - Alice Walker

We all love animals. Why do we call some "pets" and others "dinner?" -k.d. Lang

"Anyone who has accustomed himself to regard the life of any living creature as worthless is in danger of arriving also at the idea of worthless human lives." ~Dr. Albert Schweitzer

The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated. --Gandhi





Btw, sorry about my grammatical error in the OP. I changed the post and forget to remove a word.

[Robeson]

5. That pretty much sums it up for me as well...

...we all have a footprint we place on this planet. I try to keep mine a light one.

[LeftyMom]

6. Initially I was motivated as much by my own health as by AR reasons.

At this point in my life, I'd choose veganism even at detriment to my health (thankfully a non issue, I'm a very healthy vegan) so I't probably more like 60/30/20 AR/ecological impact/health.

[CrispyQ]

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

We're all interconnected. I reached a point where it just made sense to eat as low on the food chain as possible so as to make as small a footprint as possible.

Or as a friend of mine likes to say, "I eat as far away from my DNA as possible." :rofl:

[Duppers]

9. I like that

"I eat as far away from my DNA as possible."

Very good! Thanks for posting.

[flvegan]

8. Personally, I went vegetarian over time specifically for compassionate

reasons. First red meat, then chicken (when I found out how THEY were treated). Veganism was an easy, almost natural choice for me. There are, however, a great many vegetarians (and vegans, and raw foodies) that do so for health reasons. I don't know about "most" though.

[Duppers]

10. thanks

The contention between my friend and myself began over my distinguishing red meat vs. white meat.
My friend thought such a distinction was silly. :mad:

Ok, then! I HAD to go deeper into the issue to prove my point. So, to boost my side of it, I foolishly assume and stated that MOST vegetarians were motivated by their consideration and compassion for animals. 'Course I couldn't back that statement up. I know, I know -- it was a stupid thing to say.

Then, when I found this forum, I thought I'd ask.

All of your responses have boosted my confidence that I wasn't far off in my assertion. THANKS.

Hugs to all here. Critter lovers and conservationists! You're my kind of folks! :hug:

[WhollyHeretic]

11. When I first went veggie it was mostly environmental reasons

as well as AR.

[Critters2]

12. I became veggie when I lived in the county in Iowa with the most

factory farms in the state. The county with the most factory farms in the state with the most factory farms! I was active in community issues and local politics and was disgusted with the impact the factories had on rural economies and the environment. Then I learned how their workers (a large number of them undocumented--so no protections) were treated. From there, I began to research the lives of the animals themselves. That did it! I decided the cost of this industry was not worth it, and I quit eating meat or eggs. I'm now vegan in my own home, lacto-veg when I eat out, which my job kind of requires quite a bit. I don't wear leather or fur (never owned any fur) and use vegan cosmetics.

After I'd made these commitments, I discovered the Christian Vegetarian Association (christianveg.com)
and have become active with it. I'm working now on a resolution to get my church to encourage at least education as to the treatment of "food animals" in local congregations, and to have churches offer veg alternatives at potlucks and what not.

I've always had low blood pressure and a healthy weight, so health issues never entered into it for me, really. But, like LeftyMom, I would be veg*n now, even if it weren't healthy. But it is, so...

Welcome to the Tofu Ghetto! :hi:

[Duppers]

14. thanks, critters.

Btw, "Critters" is one of my favorite words...I use it often when referring to our 4 legged fur friends.

[pecwae]

15. Speaking for myself

I am veg for philosophical reasons. About 12 ago I was reading an article about a cow who just refused to board the cattle truck for the trip to the slaughterhouse. The farmer was so impressed with her persistence that he kept her and never tried to make her board again. There were a few photos of this lovely, intelligent animal and the close up of her face did me in. I stopped eating meat that day.

[Rob H.]

16. Mostly compassionate reasons

although the fact that it's a very healthy way to eat is a definite bonus. The idea had been growing in me for a while and one day I got to thinking about how animals, wild or tame, just seem to trust me for some reason (a trait that I must've somehow picked up from my dad) and it hit me how awful it was that I had been repaying that trust by eating some of them. I quit eating meat that day and never looked back. I'm now mostly vegan; I used to still drink milk but over the last year or so I haven't been able to tolerate dairy the way I used to, and I've found that I actually prefer the taste of soy and rice milk, anyway.:)

[femmedem]

17. Environmental and concern for animal well-being.

Diet for a Small Planet convinced me. That was before I even knew how animals raised for meat are treated. The health issue was minor, although I was aware of it.

You say you keep trying. Finding it hard? Any way we could help? Do you know how to balance proteins?

[Duppers]

19. thanks for your kind offer

Yes, it's the proteins. PM me if you would please.

Besides my cravings, I'm also fighting my very carnivorous hubby's taste.

I grew up on a working farm and I know animals have feelings and personalities and that they respond to love...and that they smile! :) My sister and I stopped eating red meat when we were children. Here's the story: We had milk cows who had caves who were bottle fed by us; and consequently, if they were males, they'd be butchered when they reached full growth.

It began one afternoon when my sister and I came home from school and many large chunks of red meat lying on our kitchen table. It was being cut up and wrapped for the freezer by the adults in our house. We soon learned that the meat was our "pet," that "it" was our Jackie. From that tearful day I refused to eat beef for many, many yrs.

My sis is still a vegetarian. My will is not as strong and many yrs. ago I caved into my husband's taste for ....god, I hate to say it, but for...Blood! Damn. That the way I feel about it when I let myself. He gets sick of dining on just chicken and fish. (Sorry, I don't think I can give up white meat.) And I'm just an average cook, btw.

I typed all of this just to let ya know who I am and what you're up against. :)

[flvegan]

18. One question:

You say that you're a wannabe. You also state that you're an animal rights activist "for decades" now.

What makes you a wannabe and not an "already are"? For the record, I'll take every wannabe in the world.

"Vegetarian" is a label, as is "vegan" (like me), oftentimes.

One can still be very much an animal rights activist without being veg*.

[Duppers]

20. Hey, flvegan!

I may have answered your question in my last response above.

Doesn't everything come down to enough motivation? "Where there's a will..., etc." Then I'm lacking in enough moral conviction to go all the way. Sigh.

I have two big meateater in my house (when my son is home from college). I've always put their wants, wishes, and needs above my own. I need to explore some good tofu recipes. They haven't liked the ones I tried a few yrs. back.

Thanks for the push, guys. I needed it. Now, onto bertha katzenengel thread. I'm sure I'll learn something.

[peacebuzzard]

21. Duppers, I am sure you will have a learning curve like everyone here.

welcome to the ghetto. I have learned so much here as well.