Critical Thinking

As I read the book, "Love dogs, eat pigs, and wear cows" by Melanie Joy, the idea of eating meat or carnism has proven to be a "choice." A choice that as humans, have the right to choose the food we want to eat, to be a part of our dietary nutrients. For example, we can live a healthy lifestyle with eating fruits, vegetables, and grains that all show to be in our pyramid food. But yet, eating meat can be healthy for you, but just knowing the real facts on how meats are processed, that is when eating meat should be a choice.

Eating meat should not be a part of our daily intakes!

Now in days, individuals tend to eat meat without realizing how "meat or animals" are being processed. Sometimes people just tend to be ignorant and not even look how reality really is. For example, I once showed the video "Earthlings" to a couple of friends and not only did they last about twenty minutes of the video until they watched where the cows were being killed in the slaughter houses, but right after a couple of hours they ate a hamburger that contained meat. I was amazed by their decision as they ordered their meal. Why do people tend to eat meat without realizing the effects that come with it? Animals such as, cows, lambs, goats, chickens all have feelings that we may not see because we can't interact with them with the same language of their same species would, but feelings are feelings. They are differ from humans, in which we can talk and say how we feel, but as to us they are unoffensive, innocent creatures. Therefore, we should stop eating meat. What would you feel knowing you were destined to die and be a meal for other people?

All animals should be treated equal and look beyond your feelings!

My question is, why are we so influenced by what we perceive the world or life "ought to be?" For example, we categorize all animals into two categories. The categories go by being edible or inedible. For instance, we see dogs as animals we can keep as pets, but not cows or chickens.This process of thinking, is "cynical, not only do our beliefs ultimately lead to our actions, but our actions also reinforce our beliefs." (443) I believe that any animal can be a pet if you make a connection or interaction with the animal. In that case, all animals should be given the opportunity to live and as us human beings be part of the "vegetarian group" which is a "natural thing" to do. We all follow a "belief system" that we use in regard of what we should eat. For example, "eating plants is a behavior that stems from a belief system." (446) I know eating any other kind of meat is unethical. For example, I am wrong to think such way that chickens are not meat. I categorize meat into two sections being white meat or red meat. I am all against red meat, but yet I eat chicken. I shall not think that chickens are inferior to any other animal, but I look at it as a less harmed animal that is eaten.When I see cows being slaughtered that is when I feel empathy for the animals the most. Maybe is because I see suffering the most or because I see blood the most. For example, Freud stated as follows, "the feelings that accompany eating another being are stronger--much stronger--than the accompanying thoughts." (479) As I see the cruel actions done to cows, my empathy for them grows bigger that I try to influence and make people realize we can all survive without eating meat.


Citation:
 The Anthology

Images:

[1]  http://teamnutrition.usda.gov/resources/mpk_close.pdf
[2] http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMurlXZ0STfFCNWxyqd7rq084hCtA3cDlm-oAXL2IpY8uk_clXIQL4z7M20JMWIbYwAMR5wORCwHSrApDMM5_1edHUgKg1wRLvmK3E-rUXhFeljdHneMXlzGciWufggNRzPqx-9B4mlCs/s1600/AnimalRights_3.jpg&imgrefurl=http://kallioldmaid.blogspot.com/2010_04_01_archive.html&usg=__crIGupB_95MJQatk_2xpzfWD314=&h=307&w=400&sz=21&hl=en&start=0&zoom=1&tbnid=9qG4_l1WhXmXcM:&tbnh=167&tbnw=218&prev=/images%3Fq%3Deating%2Bmeat%2Bshould%2Bbe%2Bbanned%26hl%3Den%26biw%3D1400%26bih%3D833%26gbv%3D2%26tbs%3Disch:1&itbs=1&iact=hc&vpx=455&vpy=92&dur=12491&hovh=197&hovw=256&tx=83&ty=185&ei=hlLzTPqzGoH_8Aaw9fG7Cg&oei=hlLzTPqzGoH_8Aaw9fG7Cg&esq=1&page=1&ndsp=24&ved=1t:429,r:2,s:0