Is it moral to eat meat? ***Constructive Discussion ONLY***

[greyfields]

This thread is being created as a constructive place to discuss your views on eating the flesh of animals. We have many members who are vegetarians or vegans, and sometimes tensions boil over into otherwise well-meaning threads on other topics. Only participate in this thread if you do the following:

1) Tell us in your own words why you choose to eat meat. If you choose to quote someone else, keep it under two sentences please.

2) Has owning chickens (and other livestock) modified your philosophy on eating meat?

3) Do not post links to articles by other people which are stupidly long and no one will ready anyhow. This is in your own words.

4) No attacks on other people for their views.

5) NO PETA PROPOGANDA OR CUT & PASTE JOBS.

This thread will be monitored closely and my finger is on the ban button for anyone violating these rules or any other BYC rules which you agreed to by signing up to these boards.

 

[greyfields]

I feel that raising, eating and selling my own meat (chicken, duck, goose, beef, pork & lamb) is a moral thing to do. There is always regret when going to the processor, part of me always wants to turn around and go back home. But, then I think about my feeling towards the animal and the good life I've strived to give them. That is more care or emotion that a vast majority of animals produced for meat are given. People like us, the small producers who care, are the ones who ought be raising meat. I should feel guilt over every piece of meat I ate up until this point.

Now, I am going to quote a personal hero of mine from England who is a chef, author and columnist. This is his meat manifesto I am providing as a beginning point of the debate. Please don't quote other people in your respones, but respond in your own way.

Quote:

 

[ncgnance]

Why I choose to eat meat:

1. Protein is the fuel for the human body. Meat is protein.

2. Veggies are good, but, not much protein there...

3. I raise my own animals to provide protein because I know that they are raised humanely, free of harmful additives, and killed as humanely and quickly as possible.

4. I care for and enjoy all my animals, but I do not lose sight of the reason why I have them.

5. I raise my own vegetables and fruits for the same reasons. I like to know what I'm eating.

6. For me, there is no question of morality. God gave the go ahead to Adam and Eve after they sinned. He even gave them the list of animals to eat or not to eat. As a Christian, I look to the Bible for morals, so He made it alright for me to eat meat.

7. Its just so darn hard to get a salad to taste like a steak!!

 

[Bawkadoodledoo]

I feel that eating chickens of ANY source that I do not know about and have not seen the operations of is very repulsing to me. Same goes with all other meats. Owning chickens has changed my view on the world of food and meat, as now if I eat eggs, they must be from my own hens. I wouldn't have it any other way.

 

[Guitartists]

I am curious to know when and where moral opposition to eating meat began. I know that religions that believe in reincarnation often do the vegetarian thing. Is this where it began? There are many reasons to be vegetarian..... not all are due to moral opposition. Anybody know the answer? Maybe someday I'll try finding that info......

Oh and adding.....

I eat meat because I enjoy it and I feel that humans are predatory animals.

Just getting into owning chickens... but I have always wished I had a farm to raise my own meat so that I know the quality of it, and know that the animals had a good life prior to being eaten.

P.S.... Number 6 really gave me a good chuckle

 

[greyfields]

There has always been 'opposition' to eating meat. I recall translating something in Latin once from an ancient vegetarian. So, I wouldn't call it "opposition" but more like a different point of view. It's kinda like being left handed. Who can explain it really, it's just the way the person is.

Of course, there are ancient religions (if not older than Christianity) that prohibit or restrict the eating of animals for meat.

 

[farm_mom]

Is it moral? Yes, particularly if it is mindful. Is it easy? No. It takes a cetain amount of courage, and a great amount of respect to look your food in the eye. It is far easier to eat a factory farmed meat-like product at a burger joint..... but I'm not saying that's a moral choice.

 

[hcammack]

I believe that eating meat is moral. I think that we evolved (don't start up on me) to be omnivores and eat meat. I do regret eating meat raised in such poor conditions. I plan to raise all of my food when I am an adult.

Henry

 

[ChuckenGirl]

i eat meat. i personally see no problem with it, i eat any type of meat as long as it is bled out properly.

 

[patandchickens]

I think it is not necessarily the ideal or most-noble thing to eat meat -- but I think it is perfectly acceptible as long as it's done in a balanced thoughtful way. (Yes, I eat meat myself)

I think it's immoral to eat:

- excessive quantities of meat,

- meat from animals raised to live deliberately unhappy lives for the sake of laziness, cheapskateness or weird gourmet obsessions,

- meat from wild populations that can't sustain harvesting without decimating the population,

and (here is where I think more people are apt to disagree with me, including practically everyone I know),

- I think it is also immoral to eat something you are not willing to kill and clean yourself. If you "can't face" killing the animal, you should not be putting the burden on someone else just to make yourself feel better by hiding from where the meat came from. Not to say you actually have to kill everything you eat, but if you WOULD NOT, then IMO you ought not be eating it.

JMHO,

Pat