For the last year or so, I have been toying with the idea of becoming a vegetarian, perhaps even a vegan. As far back as I can remember, I hated the texture and taste of meat. At times, even the smell of meat would make me nauseous. My father was taught to finish what was put on your plate, without complaining, and to be grateful for any food that was prepared for you. So it was only natural for him to pass that discipline onto his children. I can recall many dinners where he would force me to eat the meat that my mother prepared. He wasn't trying to be cruel to me, he was just doing his job as a parent. I spent many countless nights sitting at the dinner table just staring at the meat on my plate, absolutely dreading having to put it into my mouth. Eventually, I would pick up a tiny piece of meat and start to chew it. I would chew, and chew, and chew, but I could never seem to swallow it. When I tried to swallow, I would gag. I would usually end up spitting the chewed up meat into my napkin and throwing it into the garbage. However, over time I acquired a taste for meat. Occassionally I will even crave a steak, although I still struggle with the preparation of meats, and if anyone starts to talk about the meat, in a good or bad way, I can't eat it. My mind starts to think about what it is I'm eating and that's all it takes AND forget about anything with skin or bone, that is a big no no for me!
I read something extremely disturbing today. I read about the treatment of the animals in the slaughter houses. I read real stories of what happens from the people that work there, and I cried. I have heard of these cruelties before, but I have always sheltered myself from the facts for two reasons. The first reason is I do not want to feel uncomfortable at all. What I mean by this is that I can't stand the way I physically feel after hearing anything remotely disturbing about the treatment of animals, or humans for that matter. My stomach tightens, and I become ill, not just for a couple of hours, but for days afterward. I once "accidentally" saw a video online of a man slaughtering a cow by cutting its throat while it was still alive. I had awful nightmares after that. The second reason is pure laziness. I do not want to have to make a decision about how I affect their torture. I am perfectly happy living in my ignorance, afterall ignorance is bliss, right? Today however, I was ready. I allowed myself to be exposed to the truth, and it truly broke my heart. I can no longer take part in eating meat and supporting the senseless slaughter of innocent animals. I will do everything in my power to change my eating habits.
If you are interested, I will share the excerpts from the book with you. Post a comment.
"It is my view that the vegetarian manner of living by its purely physical effect on the human temperament would most beneficially influence the lot of mankind."
-Albert Einstein
"As long as humanity continues to be the ruthless destroyer of lower living beings, he will never know health or peace. For as long as men massacre animals, they will kill each other. Indeed, he who sows the seed of murder and pain cannot reap joy and love."
-Pythagoras
