Friday, June 13, 2008

We Need Meat

We need meat, not an incredible amount, but reasonable quantities, to go along with our eggs, dairy products, nuts, vegetables, grains, and fruits*. The diversity our transportation and network lines allow us are the only reason vegetarians don't completely die off in the West in two generations.

I'll be back with more deeply meaningful posts in the next few days, but for now, here, from The Other Side via Tamara, is the story of a girl whose life has been turned horribly wrong by idiotic parents who don't understand that humans are omnivores.


*I am actually listing these in approximate order of the ones most necessary to keep you alive, if food is in short supply.

4 comments:

Assrot said...

I have to disagree on this. We don't need meat and we don't need dairy. I've been a Vegan for a very long time and I am as healthy and strong now as I was when I was 20 years old. (I'm currently well past the half century mark.)

If a person decides to become vegetarian or Vegan, they just need to educate theirself on what to eat that replaces the nutrients in meat and dairy products.

On the other hand, there is no cure for stupid and I think this girl's parents were just plain stupid and she paid the price. Had they educated themselves on a proper Vegan diet, this would not have occurred.

Stupid is as stupid does J.R. There are morons in every walk of life. That doesn't mean everyone is a moron.

Joe

J.R.Shirley said...

Maybe you missed this: "The diversity our transportation and network lines allow us are the only reason vegetarians don't completely die off in the West in two generations."

In other words, we now have the luxury of not eating meat if we carefully select from the bounty of good available from across the world. If you're poor or ignorant- or both- avoiding meat and dairy is ill-considered.

I'm in the middle of writing a paper, but the short version is that there are no primitive societies that totally avoid both meat and dairy products. The San were able eat relatively little meat because of the ready availability of very nutritious nuts, but they ate meat whenever they could get it, and were still protein-starved enough that menstruation started years later than elsewhere in the world.

Assrot said...

Very interesting. I am very interested in reading your paper on this once you have finished it if you care to share it.

Thank you for the civilized, well thought out reply rather than the usual lowbrow comments and insults I get from so many just because I choose not to consume,use or wear animal products.

Joe

J.R.Shirley said...

Joe,

I apologize. My reply was badly worded. I was writing a paper, but not on the subject of the bushmen or diet.

Joe, we all have to do the right thing as we understand it. I have no problem with anyone, of an age to decide for themself, who decides to avoid meat and/or dairy. I only have a problem ethically with those who eat meat, but are unwilling to involve themselves in the harvesting process- in other words, to disrespect the sacrifice that has been made for them to continue living. I have a BIG problem with those people, who like to pretend their Big Macs and steaks grow on trees, and moralize against those of us who are willing to kill or butcher what was a beautiful and living creature.

Back to more papers,

John


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