In Nicole's blog, she responded to Becca's question about whether vegetarians ought to abstain from eating eggs and dairy products as well as the idea of red meat vegetarianism and pescatarianism. Nicole believes that if a person has their own home, buys their own food, prepares their own meals, has enough money and resources to be knowledgeable about the meat industry, and is in good health, then they should choose a vegan lifestyle and live their lives completely meat and animal product free. However, it's not so easy for a lot of people who do not have the money, the resources, the knowledge or the ability even if they wanted to. There are many types of vegetarians; those that only consume animal products but no actual meat to those that only consume chicken but no other animal to the people that just choose to not eat red meat. To be a complete vegan is tough because many products are made from animals which we do not even realize. Such a lifestyle would have to be strictly enforced and thought about on a regular basis. Nicole also stated that being anything more can an octo-lacto vegetarian on campus would be nearly impossible because of the meal plan we are forced to endure and the lack of true vegan options as well as money to buy our own food. Anyone who chooses some sort of vegetarian lifestyle is taking a step in the right direction even if they are consuming or using some animal products, according to Nicole. She then asks, "Why do you think there are so many misconceptions about vegetarianism, like that it is unhealthy or that people go through meat-withdrawals?"
I think it is because people feel threatened that they will have to change their ways so they buy into these fallacies just to convince themselves that vegetarianism is an impossible idea. People like the taste of animal flesh but they don't like to think about what it actually is. In my experiences, people advocate against vegetarianism because they see humans as natural predators who are meant to eat meat. To them, it's natural. It's something they do not think about and do not want to end. The responses I get when I tell people I am a vegetarian are that meat tastes too good, or that plants have feelings to, or our ancestors ate meat and our bodies are created to do so as well. I think it also might be because people do not generally accept what is different because they may not understand it. They might have all of these misconceptions because they never took the time to become more aware about cruelty to animals and a vegetarian lifestyle. They acknowledge whatever negative critiques they hear about because vegetarianism is not universally accepted in our society. They may also focus their opinions around what they see PETA and other extreme animal rights groups doing so their opinions are biased. People do not want vegetarians to force their beliefs on them so they stay narrow-minded and look for any reason to dismiss such a lifestyle. However, I'm not saying all omnivores are like this. I have met some people who respect my views but still enjoy meat for dinner.
Finally, I have found that when people ask me why I am a vegetarian and I respond with my own personal feelings which do not accuse or try to convince them to go vegetarian, I get respect even if they do not agree with my choice. I think it is important for everyone to be aware and educated about the meat industry, other cruelty to animals, and the abilities animals have. Only then can people truly make educated decisions whether to consume animals and animal products or not. I think the lack of education is the largest problem of the many misconceptions and negative attitude towards vegetarianism.
My final questions: Do you think children are capable of making the decision of whether to consume animals or not? Also, if children knew at a young age what they are eating once had a life, would they make the choice not to consume meat?
Children are by definition incapable of deciding important moral cases (like whether we ought to consume the flesh of sentient nonhumans). The problem, of course, is that most adults fail to recognize the moral significance of these acts, and so misdescribe them as simple "choices."
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