vegetarian wisdom
I'm writing an article about healthy German eating, and I came across these quotes. Although I'm not a vegetarian, I deeply respect those who choose to be. Unless they judge me for *not* being vegetarian. Then my respect is sadly diminished. Anyway, here they are:
"Nothing will benefit human health and increase chances for survival of life on earth as much as the evolution to a vegetarian diet." - Albert Einstein.
"The time will come when men such as I will look upon the murder of animals as they now look on the murder of men." - Leonardo da Vinci
"I have no doubt that it is a part of the destiny of the human race, in its gradual improvement, to leave off eating animals." - Henry David Thoreau
"A man can live and be healthy without killing animals for food; therefore, if he eats meat, he participates in taking animal life merely for the sake of his appetite." - Leo Tolstoy.
"I do feel that spiritual progress does demand, at some stage, that we should cease to kill our fellow creatures for the satisfaction of our bodily wants." - Mahatma Gandhi.
"To become vegetarian is to step into the stream which leads to nirvana." - Buddha.
posted by Kate @ 10:16 AM
4 comments
4 Comments:
I have another philosophy which says that I am here on this earth for a time and I have a moral duty to do the best job of it that I can, and that I, like every other creature, have a right to some resources in order to do that. I really don't believe I would be as healthy and alert as a vegetarian, and meat tastes good, and we are meant to eat it. It is unavoidable that we make an impact by being here-- by living in a house you have preempted many living things, cute squirrels and birds and katydids that would otherwise have lived there. Just by walking across the grass you are murdering countless nematodes, not to mention fungi and grasses. So what? Others will grow. I say, don't waste, but don't apologize for taking what you need. It would not have been possible for people to colonize northern climates without livestock-- there just isn't enough protein in grass and forests up here. Northern Europeans needed the cow to process grass and give us calcium and protein in order to survive in a cool climate with limited sunlight in the winter.
Thanks for your REACTION, Matt.
When I hear an amazing roster of voices (Ghandi, Thoreau, Albert Einstein!) coming to similar conclusions, I'm going listen. Feel free to ignore them, but I'm not going to.
Hey Kate, I guess I got all wound up there. You're right, these guys are persuasive.
I've had some similar quotes on my refrigerator for several years now. I've never checked whether they were accurately attributed to their supposed authors, but I don't care that much because I agree with them...and so far haven't "shared" them with anybody. :)
Also, Matt, I agree that we needn't apologize for following our biological destinies. But if we aspire to a peaceful, wise societal existence that transcends our natural genetic predispositions (including violence and avarice and jealousy and child abuse), then I believe we need to try to "free ourselves" from systems that reward a disregard for other creatures, that encourage efficient animal cruelty.
I've recently gone away from being vegetarian because it was just too hard to feed our three kids in a healthy way that they didn't gag at. Sigh. But we do mostly buy free-range meat at the coop (not so much more expensive than factory-farmed meat), and otherwise we get turkey sandwich meats and use lots of peanut butter and cheese. Not that turkeys deserve abuse, but I think I'd have the guts to wring a turkey's neck to feed my family, but not to shoot a furry, petable mammal just because it's tasty. It's seems less hypocritical, I guess.
I have to periodically reread the horrific accounts of understaffed pig farms, with piglets that get their feet caught in the grates and get slowly cannibalized by other piglets. Etc, etc. (Humane Farming Association, 415-771-CALF. Or PETA, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) It's so easy to forget, strangely enough, especially when BBQed pork chops are so delicious! Reminds me of child carpet-makers. Such beautiful oriental carpets, and no way to know which ones were made by kindergartners chained to their looms, and seemingly no way to change sad situations so far away. So its easier to figure that a perfect carpet at Marshall Fields must have been made in an ethical way.
I only hope our children will have it easier trying to live ethically in future years!
Here are the quotes:
As long as men massacre animals, they will kill each other. Indeed he who sows the seed of murder and pain cannot reap joy and love.
-- Pythagorias, 6th Century BC
Our task must be to free ourselves... by widening our circle of compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature in its beauty.
-- Albert Einstein
Animals are my friends and I don't eat my friends.
-- George Bernard Shaw
The day will come when men look upon the murder of animals as we now look upon the murder of men.
-- Leonardo DaVinci
Back to household tasks!
Heidi
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