21. I am a vegetarian, and thinking that every time you eat a vegetable, or something along those lines, you are saving an animal for some time. It makes you feel good. I really think that we ARE making a difference, not just wanting to lose weight.

Posted at 5:14PM on Jul 7th 2007 by Meghan

22. It's not that I don't understand what the commandment "Thou shalt not murder" means, or the fact that it doesn't apply to animals or plant life. I know that in Genesis it tells us that God gave us the plants and animals for food. In fact, I'd go so far as to say that I probably understand the Bible as good as you do, if not better. But this isn't a Biblical discussion, nor should it be. God accepts my decision to be a vegetarian just as much as He accepts your decision not to.

I responded to your post because as a Christian Vegetarian, I felt that you were invalidating the decision that vegetarians are making to treat animals ethically by using your faith as a weapon to support your own decision. I may be the first vegetarian to say that I also support your decision, and feel that you should support ours. I'm not trying to "sell" you anything, but I am hoping to encourage you to love your vegetarian neighbors as much as you love your Christian ones. I also felt (and I'm probably wrong), that you were implying that vegetarians could not be Christian and vice versa when you began using your faith to attack vegetarian's supposed belief that they have the "exclusive decision" on what is and is not ethical. As I said before, I don't think I hold the monopoly on ethics, either as a Christian, or as a Vegetarian. Perhaps in reading the other postings I missed where a vegetarian said they did. If they did, then I'm sorry that's the picture of us that you have. Having said that, it is important for us to treat each other ethically, no matter what we believe. For vegetarians, it is important for us to treat animals ethically. Call them "made up" rules all you want, but I don't think it fair to criticize someone for choosing NOT to kill something. A bad rule is one that forces someone to do something that harms themselves or others. Vegetarians are not seeking to harm anyone.

Posted at 6:30PM on Jul 7th 2007 by Kimberly

23. You poor lost souls

how can think putting tortured animals in your body is going to be healthy.......

wake up its rotting flesh

Posted at 7:03AM on Jul 8th 2007 by Robert

24. Marcus

do you know how they treat pigs? cows? lambs?

are you so lost and stupid

they torture the animals

by keeping them in huge groups

poor lambs are kept in a box

so they cant move
so the meat is soft
chickens have half the beeks cuts off
the tortured animals are kept in the worst conditions

our human bodies can not eat this without getting cancer and other sickness

wake up marcus by the time your 60 70 80 you will pay for your stupidity

Posted at 7:15AM on Jul 8th 2007 by Robert

25. GO VEGAN!!!

Posted at 9:34AM on Jul 8th 2007 by dogxfashiondisco

26. I'm always amazed at how vegetarians have been elected to determine what is ethical.


If a Christian tried to give the vegs some things that were ethical based on Judean-Christian principles that have guided the world's moral codes for thousands of years, they would be up in arms. They would be all over that like flies on.... well, you know.


But now the vegetarians are the only ones that get to vote on what is "ethical" food and the rest of us have to believe what they say or we are assumed to be "unethical." Or is it that killing meat was ok when each family killed their own animals for food? It's hard to know. Has all of civilization, for thousands of years, been unethical? And we've just now discovered a species of "ethical" people called VEGETARIANS? What a marvelous time we live in!

Posted at 1:43PM on Jul 8th 2007 by Marcus

27. Kimberly: Good for you. I didn't say anything bad about being either a Christian OR a vegetarian. I only said, "WHERE DOES A VEG GET OFF THINKING THEY HAVE THE EXCLUSIVE DECISION ON WHAT IS ETHICAL AND WHAT IS UNETHICAL?"

And "Thou Shalt Not Murder" does not apply to animals or plant life. Never has. Sorry if you didn't understand that. When you start making your own rules and expecting the rest of us to live by your "made-up" rules, that's when things get a little dicey. Only a vegetarian believes that killing a fish or animal is murder. In the rest of the world, we don't buy what you're selling.

Posted at 5:04PM on Jul 8th 2007 by Marcus

28. Robert;

Don't you get it??!!

You've been sold a bill of goods! What you described doesn't happen in every situation. People have been eating meat since the beginning of time. Guess what--you don't get to tell me what to eat. You're not my momma.

You also didn't get elected to tell me what is ethical. You're just another "holier-than-thou" vegetarian that thinks you've found enlightenment. Your type is as distasteful to the rest of us as meat is to you (if that gives you some idea).

Vegetarians don't get to tell the rest of us what to eat or what is "ethical."

Posted at 5:13PM on Jul 8th 2007 by Marcus

29. And Kimberly:

What do you mean, I'm using my faith as a weapon to support my own decision? I didn't say anything about MY faith. I didn't bring whatever I may or may not believe into the discussion.

I just said that Vegetarians, as a rule, have an attitude that they've got it all figured out and everyone else doesn't. I'm just saying that the vast majority of us who are traditionalists with regard to meat-eating are sick of an elite handful saying that they eat "ethically" and the other 6 billion of us don't. It's more than a little pretentious.

Posted at 5:29PM on Jul 8th 2007 by Marcus

30. The comment I am referring to Marcus is this one:

If a Christian tried to give the vegs some things that were ethical based on Judean-Christian principles that have guided the world's moral codes for thousands of years, they would be up in arms. They would be all over that like flies on.... well, you know.

This particular comment offended me as a Christian Vegetarian because I know that I could adequately defend the ethics of both a Christian and a vegetarian. It was this comment alone that set me off. If you want to remain a meat-eater, fine. I support your right to do that, even though I don't agree with it. What I don't support however are rude attacks on vegetarians. Likewise, I don't support a vegetarian being rude to a non-vegetarian. You'll win more flies with honey than with vinegar (or however that saying goes).

Posted at 6:46PM on Jul 8th 2007 by Kimberly

31. Sorry you're getting your panties in a wad, Kimberly. I'm sure you could defend both your stance as a vegetarian and as a religious person. Good for you.

If you would take time to get down off your pedestal and read the posts, you would see that it is ALWAYS the vegetarians taking a militant stance against eating meat. VEGETARIANS are the ones who call their actions "ethical" and inferring that the rest of the world is unethical. VEGETARIANS are the ones who make blanket statements about how badly animals are treated, statements that are based on partial truths and occasional happenings. I happen to live in cattle country and I know how beef cattle are treated. They are not held in cages.

You may be both a vegetarian and a christian, but both groups have been guilty of looking down their noses at everyone who doesn't believe like they do. If you're upset about that, you should be addressing the vocal people in your camp who are offensive to the rest of us, rather than being upset with those of us who are tired of being looked at like we're murderers because we don't follow your philosophy.

Posted at 7:02PM on Jul 8th 2007 by Marcus

32. What about Anthony Kiedis? He's a vegetarian and I think that he's incredibly sexy.

Posted at 10:45PM on Jul 8th 2007 by Kate

33. I eat only a little meat. Uaually when it's mixed in with other things. I'm not vegetarian-ish because I think it's wrong to kill animals, or because it's "healthier" or because I want to become slimmer or any reason really except I don't care too much for the texture of meat.
Some people don't like raisins because they're chewy, or jello because it's wiggly, I don't like the way meat is grainy and muscley (yes, I know it's an animals muscles - that's why it has that texture).
So that's why I don't eat meat much. I'm not a vegi-nazi, or a "you got pointy teeth for a reason" - and you-lot don't go on bashing each other over some jello eating issue.
You either like it and eat it or you don't. The only person you can change is you. If we can change ourselves into good examples, be courteous to others, respect their decisions, then we can embody those beliefs we espouse in such a way as to encourage others to follow our happy example.
Namaste, I hope you find your own peace.

Posted at 7:55AM on Jul 9th 2007 by Ruthie

34. I can see that you're no different than those vegetarians you are aiming at Marcus, as your comments are equally as rude and offensive. I can also see that you're not using your faith as your weapon, but your underwear so as not to have them in a "wad". So in the interest of not maintaining this useless debate, nor slinking to your level or the level of those vegetarians you hate so much, I sign off here. Good luck with what you're selling.

Posted at 12:31PM on Jul 9th 2007 by Kimberly

35. Kate, I agree, Anthony Kiedis is sexy. As is Brian Bell of Weezer...my own personal favorite vegan!

Posted at 12:35PM on Jul 9th 2007 by Kimberly

36. "I wonder why I have these sharp (and a couple pointy ones) teeth in the front part of my mouth?...Hmmm...Answer: 'Ripping and Tearing'...humans are omnivores whether you believe in evolution, creation, both, or neither..."
Posted at 3:44AM on Jul 7th 2007 by James Brock

Hello James and all,
I'd like to correct the above statement by pointing out that, although we do have a few sharper canines and incisors in the front of our mouths, they are not sufficient for 'Ripping and Tearing' flesh the way carnivores' teeth do. The ONLY way we can eat meat using these teeth is to COOK IT FIRST! So much for the argument that eating meat is 'natural' for humans. Another thing I'd like to point out is that some people keep referring to 'protein' rather than 'meat' vs. vegetables, when they mean 'animal protein' vs. 'vegetable protein.' If you combine grains and beans correctly you get just as much protein as with animal products. I respect those who say their bodies don't do well on vegetarian diets, but have you actually tried a scientifically balanced, protein-rich menu? Numerous diets and recipes can be easily found in books, but it does take a little more work shopping and cooking. For many of us, it's worth it. You can't just take the meat out of your diet without replacing the proteins and nutrients it supplies, but when I did I felt much more energy and less hunger cravings! I encourage anyone who is interested to try, but please make sure you do follow a balanced diet with complete proteins or you won't feel well and you won't want to stick with it.

Posted at 1:44PM on Jul 9th 2007 by Velveteen

37. A number of years ago the Journal of Irreproducirble Results published a scholarly monograph on the Vegetarian Aggressive Personality. I think the gist of this was if you eat no meat and are mellow, keep smoking your herbs and more power to you. On the other hand if you have the personality of a pit bull, you are in denial and need to rip into a rack of ribs.

Posted at 1:50PM on Jul 9th 2007 by jeff

38. Ok, a little more from me:

'it is ALWAYS the vegetarians taking a militant stance against eating meat.'

Although what we eat is a personal choice, there's much proof that people eating less meat would be better for the whole planet in many ways. Similar to arguments against smoking, those who take a militant stance about vegetarianism are trying to help the human race and our environment on a global level. But they also need to remember that being rude and argumentative are not effective ways to convince others of this point of view.

"VEGETARIANS are the ones who make blanket statements about how badly animals are treated...
based on partial truths and occasional happenings. I happen to live in cattle country and I know how beef cattle are treated. They are not held in cages."

OK, I don't know where your 'cattle country' is but you are certainly not correct in saying NO cattle are ever held in cages, and that these are only partial truths and occasional happenings. I live in 'dairy country' and I guarantee that if you walked into any factory farm, anywhere, you'd see the conditions animals are kept in and that the way they are slaughtered is not healthy for these animals OR the people who eat them. That's the norm for mass-produced meat and NOT the exception. Beef from free-ranged cattle is not affordable for the average person.

You can argue about philosophy all you want, but some people are just sticking up for weaker beings who can't speak for themselves. But please try to say it in a way that won't close minds against you.

Posted at 2:12PM on Jul 9th 2007 by Velveteen

39. make a difference and wear leather shoes

Posted at 2:34PM on Jul 9th 2007 by Carlo

40. i skinned a rabbit the other day, dipped it in some batter and then deep fried it. it was pretty good, should've cooked a little longer though. I also breed blue pitbulls should anyone know of anyone who wants to buy one. thanks

Posted at 6:19PM on Jul 9th 2007 by mike