VEGANGELICA

Hey Unfan,
I agree with you that meat has nutritional value and that many people find it tasty. For people who are malnourished and do not have access to synthetic vitamin B-12 or fruits and vegetables, a small quantity of eggs, millk, or meat can help them avoid micronutrient deficiency.

In my previous post I was trying to point out that the ethical question is this: given that people *can* eat all types of animals (including humans)...and have throughout history...how does a particular person decide what or whom s/he feels is ethical to eat? Is it mean to eat someone when we don't have to? Is it unfair to eat someone just because that individual is less intelligent than me? Given that an individual animal's life matters to her or him, to what degree is it unethical to end her or his life to satisfy a taste?

Thanks for pointing out where you agree and disagree with what I said...such as when you note that you have no problem with people loving animals. The first non-human I loved was a cat and I had a very strong sense of responsibility toward her as well as love. Now that I've experienced what it is like to have a child, I do feel that my feelings toward the cat whom I cared for and grew up with were similar although not as strong. Next post I'll share a poem I wrote about her long ago. I still think about her 20 years after she died.

Yes, I agree with you that gathering plant foods and hunting animals were both important parts of human diets during human evolution, and biologically we are able to be omnivores. From studies I've read, diets heavy in meats, especially red meats, are not healthful due to the harm caused by excessive cholesterol, saturated fats, iron, and protein in the diet...also cooking meats at high temps creates carcinogens. Several studies link red meat consumption with estrogen-sensitive breast cancer, although it is not clear if this is due to hormones given to cattle in the 70s or due to some of the nutritional downsides of meat consumption. However, well-planned omnivorous and well-planned vegan diets are both healthful.

You wrote: I am intrigued by your "for the most part"...because if I'm interpreting that correctly you are saying that there are some humans whose lives you value less than some non-human animals. This is interesting to me...what qualities does a person have that would make you value that person less than a non-human animal's life?

Hi nick,
I agree that teaching kids fire safety is important because one thing about humans is that we can be dare-devils and do silly, self-destructive actions! Hmm...I don't recall saying eating meat is "evil"--but I am arguing that it is mean to kill and eat an animal who presumably enjoys living/feeling etc.. I actually don't believe in "evil"...that is, I don't think the universe is stamped somehow with a list of actions that are "good" vs. "evil." I feel these ethics questions are open to debate.

Hello Conan,
I've been meaning to get to the lyrics in your song...but I'll post this first! I disagree that dietary choices are not debatable. Often the only way anyone changes her or his mind about anything is by learning about more information (facts) and perspectives. I like debating because I like learning. Within nutrition science circles, debates currently rage (if scientists can rage) about how to combat malnutrition, and one of the topics under debate is what role animal source foods should play. Plus, if you haven't heard it yet, you will: the typical American animal-based diet is being critiqued and criticized because it is not only unhealthful but also a very energy-intensive and environmentally damaging diet and for environmental reasons people are encouraged to reduce their consumption of animal products.

Also, debating is a good way to learn how someone else thinks about something. It helps me learn where are thoughts are similar and where they diverge so that I can better understand how we come to a different conclusion.

I remember going to the bathroom in the pool as a child and quickly swimming away from the warm spot, feeling guilty and hoping the chlorine was working! Now I don't much like to go in swimming pools because I know what people are up to under that yellow-blue water!

Back atcha, Sugar!

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