There is a question here, directed to:
The Religious Among Us
This post isn't discussing the usual groups thought of as religions, not Catholics or Mormons or anything like that. Maybe, instead of religious, the word fanatic should have been used, but it doesn't quite fit so we're sticking with religious…
In order to keep up with various farming practices I often read about things that are happening in other areas of the country. We raise a lot of meat here on the Farm: chicken, turkey, pork, beef, and more; consequently I read a significant number of articles about meat, meat processing, marketing, and the raising and slaughtering of various animals. Lots of different practices exist in America and around the world when it comes to these subjects and there are lots of interesting bits of information being gathered by researchers. Of course, there are lots of differing opinions about meat, too; "I love it," "Never eat it," "We eat too much of it," "I couldn't live without it," and so many variables of whatever strikes somebody's fancy to advertise as their idea and idealogy.
Lately, many news organizations have added comment sections to their news stories. These, too can be informative, especially when discussing some new or emerging practice that persons have familiarity with, sometimes moreso than the writer of the original article. Comments though, sometimes turn into diatribes.
This was the case with a recent article I read about an alternative form of processing plant for meat, the mobile processing unit. In fact, this article was discussing fairly new developments in the processing business, developments that will hopefully help small farmers; of course, I was interested.
Reading the comments gave me some insight into what was happening in Vermont; that was good. I checked back on the article's comment section to find if there were more insights. Nope, nothing like that! The vegans had taken over, with long arduous comments about how meat wasn't ----- (whatever vegans think).
Others asked why, why do you post the same things over and over again, spoiling the conversation. The vegans responded in a way that I expected, they were trying to convert all to the vegan lifestyle. This, to me, is fanaticism.
So why the word religious in the title? First, be forewarned that the following paragraphs contain profanity. But also, be aware of their message, it expresses tolerance, forgiveness, and understanding; all the things a good religion professes. A self declared vegan joined the comment stream asking why information continued to be repeated, and, in fact, voicing the opinion that an article about meat processing wasn't really a place for vegan proselytizing. After reading excuses posted by two other vegans, this vegan wrote:
"Many aggressive vegetarians beg the question by assuming their case is self-evident. The projection of a range of human emotions onto non-human animals isn't universal across, or often within, cultures. Non-human animals themselves don't extend such a courtesy to other species -- aside from the occasional news story about a German Shepherd adopting a duck or something. Most are neurologically incapable of empathizing with their prey the way we do with them. Do they feel pain? Yes. We may care or we may not about that. But, rest assured, they don't care when it happens to their food.
Our abstraction of animal minds into something relatable is novel in the animal kingdom. This is conjecture, but I don't even think it's something every human is naturally prone to do. And either through heredity or upbringing, one will solidify their position on this; making alternative views seem nonsensical.
(a) Of course animals feel pain. Of course they're part of a continuum of animal life. Of course it's immoral to kill them. Of course vegetables don't feel pain. Of course molars prove we're meant to be vegetarians. Of course factory farming is despicable and bad for the environment. The answer is obvious.
(b) Of course man has been hunting since he could sharpen a stick. Of course animals aren't humans. Of course they eat each other. Factory farming is a despicable practice, but doesn't reflect intrinsically on the diet. Of course my family's been thriving on meat for generations. Of course the smell of bacon is one of my fondest childhood memories. The answer is obvious.
Seriously, vegans. It's you guys starting shit. Maybe out in the world people say, "Whaaaatttt?" when you tell them you don't eat meat. But nobody is inviting you to dinner and bugging you about it on the internets. You're just putting meat eaters on the defensive about something they probably wouldn't otherwise give a shit about.
Just make your case without being a moralizing, sanctimonious dick about it, don't be pissed if a rapid conversion doesn't take place, and move. the fuck. on."
Do people ever say things like that in real religions?
posting from Emma's Family Farm,
Windsor Maine;
Steve Hoad
See what we're doing on the Farm at
http://twitter.com/TheHoads
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