Vegetarians......Yes or No

[Tsuyoiko]

Is it possible to be a good vegetarian entirely by choice? I mean, if you accept the moral argument or the health argument and decide to become a vegetarian, can you be successful at it?

Two examples to clarify what I mean:

My mum, my sister and I have all been vegetarian for around 20 years. We became vegetarian because we love animals and now we could no more eat them than eat another human being. The idea of eating meat is anathema - the look, smell and taste of it is repugnant to us.

My dad, on the other hand, became vegetarian at the same time as my mum, but his reasons were different. He accepted the moral argument, particularly with regard to the environment, so he made the choice to give up meat even though he enjoyed eating it. Consequently, he had frequent minor lapses over the years - the odd pork pie at Christmas, things like that. Since he became disabled he started to eat meat again, I think because he is denied so much by his illness that he doesn't want to deny himself anything that he is able to enjoy.

 

[Sarapva]

My reasons for becoming vegetarian weren't really intellectual reasons like for health or the environment. I decided not to eat any more meat after seeing a video about how animals are used for meat and fur, and was so horrified that right then and there I vowed that I would never eat meat again as long as I lived. That was 3 or 4 years ago, and my resolve hasn't weakened. It was more of an emotional decision, but maybe because I felt it at such a deep level it has stuck with me. I don't know if I would make the same decision based on any logical reasons, unless eating meat made me physically ill. Or, maybe more accurately, a decision based on logical reasons might not stick with me (or me with it).

 

[yumeitsumo]

My best friend is a vegetarian. I am planning on being a vegetarian temporarily. Cuz I wanna lose weight. LOL, I'm not a big person I just have a little bit of a belly. So.. yeah

 

[yamahaR1]

I am scientifically classified as a carnivore

 

[Mavrek]

I like to eat the veggies and meat specially i like beef.In my opinion both are necessary for healthy and strong body.

 

[Tsuyoiko]

I am scientifically classified as a carnivore

I doubt that. I suspect you're actually an omnivore

 

[kairu]

Those who believe meat is necessary for a healthy, strong body (haha, not naming any names....) are a little off track. Basically, everything good that's found in meat can be found in other foods, and those foods don't have a lot of the negatives that come with meat.

I'm a vegetarian for a number of reasons: (A) I never really liked meat. I've known what it was ever since I can remember, and I've had an aversion to it for as long as I can recall.

(B) I saw the slaughterhouse videos, too. That brings me to another point, about people being against vegetarians forcing their way of life on others: I know, in my case, I don't want to force others to become vegetarians. I would, however, prefer that practices regarding the treatment of animals would change, and thus would urge meat-eaters to eat free-range meats, poultry, and fish.

(C) The environmental concerns got to me, haha. The resources it takes to raise meat-animals and then transport them across the country is ridiculous (also why I try to eat local/organic -- the food usually comes from somewhere nearby and thus doesn't have as much of an environmental impact).

Anyway, I did a report on animal rights in my freshman literature class in college (haha)... here's a copy of the handout for anyone who wants to see it:
http://www.csun.edu/~cgz96948/hw/Animal Liberation handout side1.doc

 

[Goldiegirl]

I was born a vegetarian...really...I wouldn't even eat meat when I was a baby. I would get sick and vomit it all out. My pediatrician told my mom that meat wasn't necessary for me to thrive. Sometimes it was an issue, though and I would get the ole' "your not leaving this table until you finish your dinner.", but after getting sick at the table on a few occasions that stopped. I especially can't stand the smell of fish. My husband made some salmon and these fish cake things and when I walked into the kitchen I started gagging. I thought I was going to be sick. I feel bad though, because he likes it and I don't want him to feel like I am judging him on what he likes, if that makes sense. Overall I don't mind people eating meat (in respect to what animal the meat comes from!), it's a personal choice. I just prefer tofu for protein, there's never any of those grissley bits and stuff!

 

[Sarapva]

I'm a vegetarian for a number of reasons: (A) I never really liked meat. I've known what it was ever since I can remember, and I've had an aversion to it for as long as I can recall.

You and Goldiegirl are the smart ones! I have a cousin who also had an aversion to meat. He grew strong and healthy and could outrun us as kids. And yes, tofu is wonderful!

 

[magevampjoe]

I don't codemn someone who chooses not to eat meat, but major factors for my eating meat are:
taste
good for you (in certain quantities(I know you can get quorn etc but it isn't normal - meat is natural)
human and animal instinct - we have teeth for eating meat, so use them.
We have been eating meat for thousands upon thousands of years. I'm not going to change it
I also don't really mind if an animal dies to fill my stomach.

A thousand years ago people had to go and kill and animal, skin it, cut it off the bone if necessary, cook it and eat it, then wash the blood off their clothes.
Your aguments back will be 'yeah, but we are a changed world and people don't do that'. But that is what scares me. You have to be politically correct, you can't do this, you have to call a blackboard (the old things at the front of class where you use chalk) a chalkboard in the UK etc etc ETC. People are scared to live. Another part of the other argument 'that was a thousand years ago'. Yes, but it wasn't that long ago - nothing to the age of the earth, and nothing to the age of the human race (and it's predecessors AFTER the monkeys).

Nah, I just eat meat.

An example; pork. If everybody became vegetarian, nobody would eat pork, and so what use would pigs be? Nobody would pay to house a pig if it isn't going to be useful. So pigs would die out, because of nowhere to live and noone wants them.
Same with certain cattle, because certain breeds of cattle aren't used for milk, so they die out. If everyone became vegan, all cattle would go extinct as well.

Anyway, if you want to eat greens, eat them. Don't EVER make a decision based on something you don't agree with. It makes you not you.

 

[centrajapan]

Dailailama is not a vegeterian. Everyone thinks he is but he isn't. He eats animals.

 

[Chi65]

He doesn't, see this:

H.H. Dalai Lama

 

[centrajapan]

I've met him. He needs to eat animals for his body. He got sick because he didnt get the proteins from meat. He also said that you can kill mosquitoes.

Visit India. Anyone can meet him.

I am disappointed that the Dalai Lama does not choose to be vegetarian, but I give him credit for discussing the issues

Satya July 99: Editorial by Catherine Clyne: East Meets West

You can also google. Is Dai Lai Lama vegeterian?

 

[Chi65]

I am friends of the Berlin tibetan buddhist center, directly related to the DL and organising his visits here. They confirmed the first link, not yours.

I was also invited to see him, via Chinese friends, by the way.

Dalai Lama becomes vegetarian again! - UK Indymedia

 

[centrajapan]

They are lying. I am not. I heard him say I eat meat but if possible one should try to minimanize as much as possible in taking lives. The Tibetan culture is harsh, long winters and cold. It is a land locked region. People in colder climates have been needing to survive on meat where as in trropical warmer climates they can survive without meat. In Tibetan culture there is no wide spread vegeterianism unlike in India where the climate is warmer.

Famous Vegetarians - His Holiness the XIV Dalai Lama of Tibet (1935- ) ?? Despite common Western beliefs, Tibetans, including Tibetan monks, are generally not vegetarian. There is an argument that the high cold mountain region makes it impracticable to grow sufficient plant food, which readers will have to judge for themselves. Apparently there is a tradition of praying for animals before they are slaughtered and not taking any more than are necessary, similar to stories that have been told about Native Americans.

In the mid 1960s the Dalai Lama was in Kerala, Southern India, where a high proportion of the local population have always been vegetarian. Their tradition, as with other parts of India, is of lacto-vegetarianism, using a modest amount of milk products (but not eggs). Whilst there the Dalai Lama decided to become vegetarian but then proceeded to live on a bizarre diet consisting entirely of milk and nuts. If this is true, and it seems to be well documented, it would have been an extremely high fat and very unhealthy diet by any standards. After 18 months he became very ill and his doctors, unsurprisingly, blamed it on the lack of meat rather than advising a better balanced vegetarian diet. He was persuaded to return to meat-eating and has done so ever since.

International Vegetarian Union - His Holiness the XIV Dalai Lama of Tibet (1935- ) ??

Dai Lai Lama probably eats whale meat too. Its an another one of those urban neo hippie myths. Dailailama is a vegeterian. Probably a marketing conspiracy made by the anti whaling movement like Greenpeace.

 

[Chi65]

Sorry, they are not lying, why should they?
You can't even write his name right.


Simply compair the dates. . .

 

[centrajapan]

Why should they say Dailailama is a vegeterian when he isn't? I can write his name in katakana.

You can't even write compair. Whats compair?

 

[Chi65]

Why should they say Dailailama is a vegeterian when he isn't? I can write his name in katakana.
You can't even write compair. Whats compair?

Then leave "compair" out, and your katakana is of no interest here.
Just the dates and facts..

 

[centrajapan]

Why don't you state dates and facts? And look into Tibetan Buddhism? TIbet is a region dunno but some place about 3000 meters above sea level. Hardly any trees grow there. Its like a dessert like vegetation. Inuits are not known to be vegeterians either are they?

 

[Chi65]

Why don't you state dates and facts? And look into Tibetan Buddhism? TIbet is a region dunno but some place about 3000 meters above sea level. Hardly any trees grow there. Its like a dessert like vegetation. Inuits are not known to be vegeterians either are they?

What a joke, just look into the links, there are the dates and facts, for all to see, don't come with old shoes.. . .
You can read, can you?

Or do you need me to write to him or go to the center around my corner and ask once more?

 

[centrajapan]

Logic is not your strong side is it? Please ask your lying friends about the climate in Tibet.

Undoubtedly, Tibet is one of the harshest places for human existence. It is cool in summer, but excruciatingly cold in winter. In Lhasa, the relatively humane city in Tibet, although the temperature may exceed 29 degrees C (84 degrees F) in summer, it can also plummet to minus 16 degrees C (3 degrees F) in winter!

http://www.travelchinaguide.com/cityguides/tibet/climate.htm

Ah yes tomatoes and beans do grow in sub zero temperatures. I mean Norway is so green in the winter time. The trees have leaves, its the time of the cucumber harvest.

 

[Chi65]

Logic is not your strong side is it? Please ask your lying friends about the climate in Tibet.

The lyer is you, stay with the truth, please and stop insulting the Center and the people around the DL.
A bit more respect would do you really good.

The rest is not important here, nor was discussed by me.

 

[centrajapan]

Im saying Dailailama is not a veggie. Get over it.

 

[Chi65]

Im saying Dailailama is not a veggie. Get over it.

While he now is one. . .

Not my problem if you close your eyes about this.

 

[centrajapan]

His Holiness is not necessarily vegetarian. ...

His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama | The 14th Dalai Lama

Is it only Dalailama your lying friends support or Tibetan Buddhism?