In the situation of *death* between human vs. animal, and human vs. plant, its meaning is more interesting than the simple on-off binary. Our relationship with food is a particularly great example. From hearing how most vegetarians I know rationalize their diet, it seems to really come down to: like having seen a slaughterhouse propaganda video ...err something equal to it.
[I should say that I admire the pursuit of a healthy diet, and the people who can muster enough discipline to stick with it even when it isn't as convenient or as... delicious. I really am not thinking this idea out as an attack on vegetarians who I know (and don't know), and of course not all who practice it accurately fall into my loose generalization here. But still it might sound like it. So I'll just refer to one particular friend named, uhm, Betty.]
"Betty, do you eat meat? What made you decide to stop and when? Do you make exceptions? Do you ever cheat? Can we still date even though I am not?"
It has been difficult to get a clear reason as to why Betty chose this diet at some point in her carnivore life. Her responses revealed that Betty, like most, is pretty open to others not following the same diet. Well of course, this topic usually comes up over a meal. And it would not be nice to tell your date that you're offended he's stuffing a dead cow into his face. But really I think Betty, like most, don't mind that others eat meat.
This is a good thing. It means that Betty doesn't necessarily want everyone to convert. It isn't a religion and she isn't setting up any exclusive situations where unless you buy into her way, you aren't welcome.
[Crossing "cult" off the list.]
Betty, like most, also revealed that she would still eat fish and shellfish. Now this was quite a clue, and good news as well. It means that it isn't that she hates plants and want to devour them into extinction.
[Crossing "secret kingdom war conspiracy" off the list.]
Eating sea animals eliminated arguments around how meat is just bad for you. It also eliminated arguments around animal killing, animal confinement, animal cruelty, and general bad farming practices - since those all apply to seafood as well.
So, what could have turned Betty from chomping meat burgers to chomping garden burgers, and still be okay with eating sushi with me? My latest theory: vocal cords.
[I'm sure this argument has been introduced before. Search on how Google search killed originality. If none found, write an idea about it.]
Betty must have seen a video depicting scenes of how animals are converted into food. This video documented the horrible animal farm situations and followed it through the production line and into the grocery store. There are too many horrible things to mention here. You can't imagine it if you haven't seen it.
But consider this though: when Betty was a little kid she had a pet fish in a bowl. The fish eventually died of course. But she was perfectly fine keeping it in a little bowl. I would argue that such confinement is comparable to a lamb kept in a small cage in a food production farm. So why is the fish in a bowl not perceived as cruelty, even for little Betty?
The difference perhaps: a lamb has some ability to convey emotions via its facial expressions, its physical gestures, and its vocal cords. The mental and physical pain of a lamb can be imagined, even if not witnessed at the dinner table. Where with a fish, it can not.
A fish has no eye brows to frown, no limbs to bend weak, no voice to wail with. If the candidate for food seem complaisant, then Betty is okay to eat it.
[Picture the dumb look of a fish face.]
Why are fish and plants complaisant? Are you complaisant?
It's easy to understand why plants are non reactive and unexpressive. They just don't have the means - at least none that we can physically sense. But why do some animals (like fish) have similar disabilities? It definitely was not expected that the top of the food chain where Betty sits would eventually base its eating habit on (a form of selective) compassion.
Related links:
The Cult of the McRib
Was Jesus a Vegetarian?
Image: Ducati logo. I have a habit of removing logos from things I drive and things I wear.
If we imagine the plant and animal kingdoms running along a continuous line, it might as well be that compassion begins with vocal chords. It being nothing but an identification with the unfortunate object, it follows then that we tend to show compassion to things most like us.
During the various health-conscious diets of my life, I've been known to draw the distinction even a little higher, deciding that birds also make for a guilt-free meal. Present day, I've managed to confuse myself (and others) by now and then feasting on the silent fish, and even the occasional (free range) mammal. Which means that currently I'm some sort of a Betty.
Though what I want to bring up is that diets in general (and the constant obsession with what we eat) are a form of control. Beware! Betty might have issues. At least according to the book "When Food is Love" which states that there is a strong connection between food and intimacy. Duh.
But be it vocal chords, intimacy issues, or avoidance of stress hormones (to which I presently subscribe), eating less meat can be a positive thing.
Caveat. Dieting being a symptom, the cause must be treated as well.