Even after 26 years of being a vegetarian, I am still bugged by people who ask me why I don't eat meat. Because my way of life is so set in its ways it has become natural for me, you would think I would have a standard answer by now, but I am still a little startled when I get the question. It's like I have to continually justify myself and my way of life. Is this the way how gay people feel?
Originally, I became vegetarian out of compassion for the creatures. But soon I came to realise that it should be abhorant to eat flesh, not just to me, but to everyone. I saw no difference between who I was and the fictional Count Dracula. Well, there was one important difference. I did it for pleasure, Dracula did it for his existence. So who was the real monster? It was I.
Through the years I have learnt of the many other reasons for being vegetarian. The ecological and environmental reasons are plentiful. The health reasons are undeniable. And I have come to the conclusion that human rights and animal rights are one and the same. We will never have one without the other.
But in the end, it still comes down to this: do I want to eat a corpse? Someone once said "my body is a temple, not a living graveyard" and those sentiments still ring true to me to this day.
Location
South San Francisco, California, United States
"There is no creator" - the Dalai Lama. These are words of common sense, and it tells me that "spirituality" has nothing in particular to do with a belief in the supernatural. But then, those of us who grew up in the seventies watching "Kung Fu" already knew that being a vegan, atheist who follows the path of the buddha can reach enlightenment.
All kidding aside, what does a vegetarian atheist have to say? Stick around and you'll find out! Politically I'm rather liberal, but I do like to listen to staunch conservative talk show host Michael (the 'Whiner') Savage so I'll probably be mentioning him from time to time in my weblogs. So for now, how about some talk of broccoli, carrots and peas? Recipe's anyone??
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"As mankind becomes more liberal, they will be more apt to allow that all those who conduct themselves as worthy members of the community are equally entitled to the protections of civil government. I hope ever to see America among the foremost nations of justice and liberality."
- George Washington
"Maybe happiness is a fragment of existence, but with better packaging."
