Tuesday, July 31, 2007

Can you love animals and eat meat?


Frankly speaking, I don't think so. But I know when I was an omnivore in my younger days, I love animals. I love cute animals like rabbits, dogs, cats. As to whether I love pigs or lambs or chickens, I guess I am not sure, we don't see them living in people's houses as pets and they are usually out of sight.

Out of sight, out of mind. No connection was made between a living fish and the fish and chips I bought from the school's canteen. I wolfed down pieces of animals disguised as wontons, ngo hiangs, yong tau fus, mutton curries without given them another thought. Do I have selective love and love only "non-food" animals? Maybe. But some people can play with and love animals and the next instant, eat their meat for a meal. I guess it depends more on "making the connection".

On one visit to my grandma's house, the neighbour's hen came foraging with her little chicks near our house. I wanted to play with the chicks, but was never allowed to get any closer with their fierce mother always nearby. I still continue to eat chickens after that never seeing the link between death and living. Maybe we will be able to love them if we live with them and enjoy their company as family members, maybe then, we will give "What should I eat for dinner?" a deeper thought.

18 comments:

urban vegan said...

It's hard to wait for others to come to your level of realization, isn't it? For me, it was a big victory when my husband said no to foie gras in a restaurant b/c he thought it was cruel.

zweiya said...

I guess we all goes thru that phase... and certainly glad that we are over that stage now. :)

vko said...

It is upsetting because so many people love animals and to think of how many more vegans there would be if they could make the connection, but then again I only made the connection with dairy & eggs a year and a half ago and I was vegetarian for five years before that.

As we continue to live our vegan lives, we will help others to eventually make the connection...that's my hope anyway.

Unknown said...

My husband loves animals but is still a meat eater. I find this difficult, as you do, to understand, but hope one day he may turn veggie...

JudyMac

bazu said...

Yes. Every day, I am confronted by the fact that so many people, most people, don't make the connection between the pets they cherish and the animals they eat. It's tragic.

Anonymous said...

Actually, I would like to ask..

"If we love animals, shall we or shall we not kill mosquitoes and cockroaches??"

This question crept up again when I read that someone suggested caning for abusing "animals" in the ST Forum (can be read for free). Obviously that person meant cats & dogs.

I immediately thought, "What about the pigs, chickens and ducks? Is killing them for food considered abusing?".

Then, more questions came... How about killing insects? (I still kill mosquitoes and sometimes small cockroaches).

Also, is animal testing in the labs considered abuse too??

dreamy said...

I hope they can make the connection soon...very soon...

Good point veggiebun, ppl dun see killing "farm" animals as abuse strangely. I tdon't intentionally kill mozzies so it's not a prob for me hehe

Anonymous said...

JudyMac,

There is hope. My husband of nearly 7 years recently stopped eating animals. Just keep providing an example, don't judge, and praise him for any little improvement.

My husband's also a Republican. My example in that arena hasn't helped much, though. There's still time, I guess, so I can dream . . .

KleoPatra said...

i'm always hoping and praying that people will come around to your/our way of thinking... compassion over cruelty... i can never understand how people just don't "get it." i read somewhere, someone said, "If slaughterhouses had windows, everyone would be vegetarian." But you know, i'm not so sure of that... people are strange and people can be cruel... it's hard in this world sometimes... i'm so thankful for people like you.

dreamy said...

I am glad there are vegetarians and vegans too :) without all of you I couldn't possibly survive easily on a veg diet.

Sarah said...

I call that having a case of the 'fluffies' -- you say you love animals, but what you really mean is you like cute fluffy animals and you'd keep as a pet. Think about what you say before you say it.

Sarah said...

thank you for bringing the issue of the 'fluffies' into awareness, meat-eaters really need to think about what it actually is that they like...say, meat perhaps?

Check out my blog at http://veganvoice.blogspot.com

Great site!

dreamy said...

Hi Sarah thanks for visiting :) I would think they prefer the flavourings added to make the meat "taste good".

Anonymous said...

Dreamy, in fact, it is REALLY those flavorings that make me miss non-veg food. I had never like eating just plain meat last time. Luckily there is VHF that uses those similar flavoring! I really wonder how they could make such great tasting food without even using garlics & onions. :)

dreamy said...

Hmmm... that wld be their secret! hehe... maybe u can go there and work part time and learn from the chefs :p

Anonymous said...

after spying on their secret recipes, I can go work at your vegan cafe? hahahaha...

dreamy said...

hahahaha.... IF I have a vegan cafe! But then, if u know the secret recipe, you can start ur own! And I can work there part-time! yay! :)

dreamy said...

hahahaha.... IF I have a vegan cafe! But then, if u know the secret recipe, you can start ur own! And I can work there part-time! yay! :)

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