Stephenlawrence,
I appreciate very, very much that you are trying to understand what I'm saying. I also appreciate this supportive statement:
Quote:
Originally Posted by stephenlawrence  I don't think it is hypocritical to say that you care for animals, but you will kill them for food. Someone that makes an effort to minimize the suffering of an animal that he is going to eat is choosing a course of action that is consistent with caring for animals. He could also choose not to kill the animal. That would be consistent as well. Both actions are reducing the suffering the animal experiences. The first in part, the latter entirely. To kill the animal without regard for its suffering would be hypocritical, as it is in complete disregard for the proposed value. |
However, this is what I can't agree with:
Quote:
Originally Posted by stephenlawrence There is a valid point that doing any harm to the animal is inconsistent with the proposed value . . . |
This presupposes that causing death is causing harm. And that's the thing that I've tried repeatedly to state that I do not believe. I do not believe that causing death is causing harm. I believe that death is good.
You go on to ask me about the why behind some of my statements, but the statements you quote were already explaining the why to the best of my ability. I cannot venture into more of the why without treading on forbidden religious territory (I'm not even sure I didn't cross that line already in the statement about "sacred ritual.") And even if I did try to explain these statements in my spiritual context, I don't really think it would help.
So instead, I'm going to turn the tables, and I'm sorry if you feel attacked because I really do appreciate what you said very, very much and don't want to attack you, but what are your reasons for eating meat? Are you a vegan in incubation? Do you recognize the moral superiority of their position but you have "many values to consider, some of which . . . conflict, and [you] need to reconcile them by making compromises?" Or do you actually value your own moral position on eating meat?
Please, by all means, to all meat eaters on this forum: Do you have actual moral reasons for eating meat?
How about you vegetarians? Why do you think it's okay to continue to use some animal products?
I'm the only person here who's bothered to try and explain that I have reasons for eating meat that make some kind of moral sense to me, at least. What about the rest of you? Is silence the easier route because it lets you keep the respect of the vegans here? Do you all believe that vegans are right, and some day you'll be a vegan, when only you have the strength? Do any of you have reasons for your positions that don't involve being too weak to be a vegan? Does the forum consist only of vegans and vegan wannabes or are there non-vegans out there who actually believe in what they eat?
If you do believe in what you eat, my sense is that there are even some vegans on this forum who will respect what you believe, even if it's not what they believe, just as you respect what they believe even though you feel differently. I still have to believe that mutual respect is a possibility.