RE: Vegetarians, Vegans, and Pescatarians
July 22, 2009 at 8:07 pm
(This post was last modified: July 22, 2009 at 8:08 pm by Oldandeasilyconfused.)
It's always fascinated me that countries in which people eat little or no meat tend to be very poor. Most people in such countries [traditionally] could not afford to eat meat if they wanted to.Eg India and China and much of SE Asia. The moral prohibitions came later,to justify the fact. A common feature of moral absolutes.
Before the Industrial revolution,peasants throughout much of Europe ate meat perhaps once or twice a year. A YEAR.
The gradual inclusion of regular amounts meat into our diets has had a survival value,in terms of making us bigger,smarter and stronger. Being omnivorous is better for the species than being vegetarian.
My honest ,biased opinion, based on vegetarians I've actually met and the drivel many spout: In an affluent society,I think a decision not to eat meat is precious.
Vegetarianism on pragmatic grounds is another matter entirely EG Comparing the energy cost of grain and meat to produce. BUT,that argument doesn't work for free range animals in areas where no crops can be grown,such as most of Australia. We use our dry areas for sheep and cattle.
I reject any moral argument against eating other animals. My position is that we humans are only animals too, and efficient predators.That's why we're at the top of the food chain.
Before the Industrial revolution,peasants throughout much of Europe ate meat perhaps once or twice a year. A YEAR.
The gradual inclusion of regular amounts meat into our diets has had a survival value,in terms of making us bigger,smarter and stronger. Being omnivorous is better for the species than being vegetarian.
My honest ,biased opinion, based on vegetarians I've actually met and the drivel many spout: In an affluent society,I think a decision not to eat meat is precious.
Vegetarianism on pragmatic grounds is another matter entirely EG Comparing the energy cost of grain and meat to produce. BUT,that argument doesn't work for free range animals in areas where no crops can be grown,such as most of Australia. We use our dry areas for sheep and cattle.
I reject any moral argument against eating other animals. My position is that we humans are only animals too, and efficient predators.That's why we're at the top of the food chain.
