Theos-Talk Archives (August 1999 Message tt00070)

At 10:34 PM 08/28/1999 -0700, Dr Aidan Rankin wrote:
>MK Ramados wrote:
>>At 12:07 AM 08/28/1999 -0700, Dr Aidan Rankin wrote:
>> However I don't see that it is necessary for all of mankind
>>>or indeed all Theosophists to adopt vegetarianism, although I know that
>some
>>>early Theosophists like Pythagoras were vegetarians.  Organic meat reared
>in
>>>humane conditions should be acceptable because its so rooted in Western
>>>culture.
>>
>>Individual opinions are ok.
>
>Yes, indeed they are.  Britain and America are built on freedom of speech.
>>
>>While no one sees the likelyhood of everyone become a vegetarian, (as
>>another writer mentioned - I think Art)  I do not understand humane killing
>>for food. Any one who has witnessed firsthand the cruelty that goes in
>>killing is likely to understand vegetarianism
>.
>>
>I think you are practising a form of cultural imperialism.  A vegetarian

Not at all. A choice is put forward with all the graphic details of the
cruelty that goes on behind the closed doors of the slaughterhouse. Once
the facts are known, it is up the individual whether one wants support the
cruelty or change their food habits.

In the US, where I live, there is a growing trend towards Vegetarian diet
and each one is moving to it for a different reason. The change is
predominent in the younger generation. All one needs is to go to the campus
of a large university and watch the cafetria line. No one has forced these
choice vegetarians to change. The change out of their own choice.

>diet might be appropriate for some Asiatic peoples, and I would be the last
>to try to force them to eat meat.  However meat-eating has always been part
>of the Western way of life and always will be.  And as I said before, not

May be so. However, there is a gradual shift at least in the US.

>only the Western but the Native American, too.  And in Buddhist Mongolia,
>the staple diet is lamb.  The key point is that animals used for food are
>treated humanely - whether by settled farmers, or nomadic herdsmen.
>Besides, vegetarianism would cost thousands of farmers' jobs in my country,
>and have catastrophic consequences for our rural way of life.

This the same argument that bomb and mine industry gave. Tobacco farmers
are saying the same.  Mines are killing and maiming thousands of innocent
men, women and children. Tobacco is creating a large heath problem in the US. 

When changes takes place, there is going to be a shift in the occupations.
It is like when automatic telephone dialling was introduced, all telephone
operators were out of job.

Best wishes from Texas  ....mkr

>Best Wishes.
>
>Aidan
>

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