Pesco-vegetarianism

I've been presented with a lot of questions since I became a "pescetarian" (I eat fish, but no other animals) in October. Namely, why? I've explained here the basics, but let's go into a little detail, shall we?

1. They're animals. You wouldn't eat a cat or dog, so why a cow? Because it's not as cute? Society tells you it's okay to eat a cow, so you do. Yes, nutritionally there is some value (though red meat does more harm than good), but if you were a good source of nutrients (which you probably are), I still wouldn't eat you. I promise. I don't think killing one being to feed another is right. I hear the argument often that we have canine teeth, and eating animals is natural. First of all, I don't think that everything that occurs in nature is right. Second, there's a difference between killing animals to eat them, and raising animals specifically to feed your hunger. If I were going to eat meat again, it would be minimal, and free-range only.

2. They're treated horribly, even before we slaughter them. Look into how chickens are treated on farms. If it doesn't make you sick, you're probably not really thinking about it. To answer inevitable questions, I only eat free-range eggs.

3. Global warming. If you're going to try to tell me it's a hoax, stop reading and punch yourself in the face for me. We know that our transportation contributes greatly. Raising cows contributes more. Roughly 18% of the global warming effect comes from the methane and nitrous oxides emitted by manure. In other words, one way to help stop global warming is to never go anywhere unless you're walking, skateboarding, biking, etc. An easier and more effective way is to cut meat from your diet.

4. Here's the biggest one for me. Meat is an extremely inefficient food source. Animals raised for food do not graze on grass, they are given feed: grains grown specifically for these cows, pigs, etc. The amount of calories in the grain used to feed these animals greatly exceeds the value of their meat. In other words, if we used all of the grain we grow for farm animals to feed humans, we could feed tons more people. In addition, these grains are less expensive than meat, so even more people could afford to eat. I hear the argument frequently that there are a million farms in the Midwest; that there can't be a shortage of land and resources. Many of the crops you seen grown in Iowa are not for you to eat: they're animal feed. All of that land is dedicated to feeding an animal you're just going to slaughter and eat later. Feed, kill, eat, repeat.

I'm frequently asked why I still eat fish. Honestly, part if it is because when I first gave up meat I gave up fish as well, and got pretty sick because I wasn't getting a lot of the nutrients I need. Here's why I think it's okay to eat fish (though if I thought I could give it up I would, and still might someday):

- One argument is that fish can't feel pain. I don't believe this, but I do think that they way fish are caught (and sometimes raised) is more ethical than the way other animals are treated.

-Many fish are not farm-raised, and those that are must be treated fairly well or else they would not be safe to eat.

-Raising fish does not contribute to global warming, nor does it require the use of nearly as many resources as raising cows and pigs.

I'm sure there's more to say here, but that's all I've got for today. Peace, love, and harmony.

I believe in love; It's all we got

I can't believe that there are still people in the world who look down upon others for their sexual preferences. It's honestly baffling to me. Here's a comment I came across in response to an article on whether or not California will fight prop 8:

"Well if gays are allowed to marry then I suppose a man can marry his horse or a woman can marry her dog or a grownup can marry a child or how about multiple people marrying eachother?Afterall, isn't it all love and why if one type of degenerate love cannot be discriminated against can't other types as well?In the future there won't be any Churches because the gays will have sued all of them into bankruptcy as well as having their tax exempt status taken away for refusing to marry them and marriage of any sort will most likely be considered a homosexual thing just like the rainbow is now considered a symbol of homosexuality."

I actually thought this was a joke the first time I read it. No way, I thought, did someone really just compare a gay man to a fucking horse. I read more feedback by this reader and found out, to my dismay, that this was a totally sincere comment. I literally almost threw up. There are few things more beautiful than love between two human beings, and to not recognize that is something I simply cannot understand. How can you call any love between two people "degenerate"? The argument that love between two people of the same sex is in some way lesser than that of a heterosexual couple has always confused me.

Also, WHY would marriage become a symbol of homosexuality?? Because it's something homosexuals are able to do? Gay people each sandwiches sometimes too, does that mean my PB&J is a gay pride symbol? Fucking ridiculous.

PS: For the record, if homosexuality eliminates churches, as this reader suggests it will, I will be eternally celebrating.

I came across another reader's (guy named "Flip) response to this closed-minded righty ranting. If I knew him personally, I would hug him:

"It's always shocking to see we have so many ignorant bigots left in this world. If you voted Yes on 8, or supported it, then you don't support equal rights. That simple. You voted for, or supported taking other human's rights away from them, while your rights remained untouched. You deserve aboslutely no help from anyone when your rights end up being on the line.If you really love someone, you don't love them because they have nice tits or a huge dick. You love what's inside of them. Whether you call that a soul, or a spirit, or a personality, that's what you love. Love is love. Souls don't have genitalia. Use your brains. Don't fall back on what your mythology, I mean religion, tells you. And if you think Rush Limbaugh is a decent human being with relevant and intelligent things to say, you're beyond help. I pity you."

Exactly. Exactly exactly exactly. Love is love. Get with the program.