The choice!!! To be vegan or not to be vegan

Recently I was having a drink with someone and he had a discussion with me as to why I eat meat and that I should immediately cease the practice. Personally, I was brought up eating meat. I know all the details on how it's processed, I've seen videos of pigs being slaughtered, I've personally seen, first-hand, the egg farming facilities. And I still eat meat. I feel we've grown into a society that not only accepts the killing of these animals, but it downright encourages it.

My point of view is simple... It's the natural order of things. Sure, back in the day it was more widely accepted to kill an animal and eat the meat for survival, however these days there are other options. One can make the transition to an all vegetable diet and live a long and happy life. I however do not feel the same. To go completely vegan would change practically everything in my life. I went to culinary school and nearly everything I know how to cook requires some sort of meat or meat by-product. Among many things, I'd have to give up beef, chicken, pork and any other type of direct meat product. Then I'd have to give up eggs, cheese and milk. That then rules out pancakes, cookies, cake (even angelfood), MOST cake frostings, yogurt. Want cream cheese on your bagel? Too bad. Lox? Nope! Butter? Hell no! In fact I would have to give up many brands of grains and vegetables and switch to strictly organic because many products are fertilized with cow (or some other animal) manure, which would associate said items with meat. You can't even eat Jell-O. At the simple concept of going vegan, I've taken the liberty of suggesting some recipes that be taken for development by someone. Make them into something delicious and we'll talk.

Bean Curd Brownies
Soy Omelete
Eggplant cookies
Tofu Frosting
Puffed mung bean cereal


There are some that might argue that plants are living organisms too. And brutally harvesting them and subjecting them to high temperature cooking is not only unethical, but inhumane. Those who wish to shake a fist at us who eat meat should really look at themselves in shame for killing some of the oldest inhabitants of this planet for their own selfish reasons. Or perhaps they see these brutal acts as necessary for their survival. Hmmmm... makes you think doesn't it? You can't survive on this planet without killing SOMETHING. Take vanilla for example. Few people know that it comes from a specific breed of orchid. This orchid is a beautiful color and smells so delectably of vanilla. But nobody knows this because they're only interested in the end product. Many vegans will only wear clothing or buy textiles made from hemp... now excuse me, but WTF??? Since when did cotton become an artificially manufactured textile? Oh yes, that's right..It hasn't! BUT some people believe that it's better for the earth to use hemp exclusively rather than disturb the poor cotton.

These ethical extremists are responsible for SO much violence in our world. Bombing establishments for serving meat, throwing paint on people that wear fur. Now I agree that we shouldn't be skinning the poor animals in the name of fashion... but seriously...do you think paint is going to solve anything? Let me explain how this works. A rich person who has more money than any one person should have buys a fur coat. PETA freak throws paint and ruins coat. Rich person goes out and buys new fur coat. In throwing the paint, this PETA activist has essentially killed another animal, all by their own doing because they think that they're helping. The rich person who now has a red painted coat isn't going to have a sudden change of heart and realize that killing animals is bad, she's going to go out and buy herself a new one because she has the money to do so.

So perhaps PETA should spend less time punishing those who eat meat or wear fur (though I agree with the fur) and spend more time trying to pass legislation that would establish certain standards for the treatment of animals that are being farmed for food. Perhaps we could establish that these animals be free range and not forced to live their lives in confined spaces. Perhaps they would be fed better food.

I'd also be interested in taking a poll to ascertain exactly how many PETA members support the death penalty for those that commit murder. My guess is NONE. So if they do not support the death penalty, why are so many of them willing to kill for their cause? Don't they understand that killing people for eating meat or wearing fur is EXACTLY the same as the death penalty? The only difference is that killing people in defense of the poor meat is ILLEGAL, but the death penalty is a LEGAL course of action in some states. I think they should spend more time on the legislation rather than taking matters into their own hands. I think they'll get more accomplished.