There’s a schizoid quality to our relationship with animals, in which sentiment and brutality exist side by side. Half the dogs in America will receive Christmas presents this year, yet few of us pause to consider the miserable life of the pig — an animal easily as intelligent as a dog — that becomes the Christmas ham.
MICHAEL POLLAN-New York Times 11/10/02
There is no case for non-vegetarianism. Not in this day and time.
fugney says:
Who’s a born again vegetarian?
You might consider that in one particular culture, it is a ritual to kill and eat your own pet dog, to imbibe it’s good qualities.
Or consider a hypothetical culture where people may eat the remains of their dead loved ones, as some kind of ritual requirement. I think the human species is capable of it.
Yay!! Gross-out!! 😀
May 20, 2005 — 11:46 am
Lakshmi says:
Why consider any hypothetical case? Why not look as humankind as we stand today?
Born again vegetarian…:-)
A term I coined for myself.
May 20, 2005 — 11:53 am
fugney says:
I am tired of arguing along the lines of “morality has a purpose”. I don’t think it’s wrong to kill an intelligent animal. But then again, I don’t believe in right or wrong. HAAHHAHAHAH!!
There is no case for non-vegetarianism. Not in this day and time.
That makes me want to eat chicken.
May 20, 2005 — 11:58 am
fugney says:
Also, I am not very fond of dogs. I am willing to consider dog-meat.
May 20, 2005 — 11:59 am
quizling says:
I’m fond of dogs (and pigs) but my fondness for meat overrides all that. Some of the beef we get in India is pretty dodgy; so if you’ve eaten beef, chances are that you must have eaten disguised dog meat at some time or the other. It doesn’t bother me — all I’m concerned about is how fresh the stuff is.
>>consider a hypothetical culture where people may eat the remains of their dead loved ones, as some kind of ritual requirement
Hypothetical? What do you think is behind the Christian tradition of partaking of bread and wine, embodying the flesh and blood of Christ? Believers would argue it’s only “symbolic”, but the underlying *concept* is cannibalism. Okay, the Church call it “transubstantiation”, but that’s only to make it sound more palatable to the faithful. 😀
May 20, 2005 — 12:29 pm
fugney says:
but the underlying *concept* is cannibalism.
Is it? I thought cannibalism was killing and eating….
May 20, 2005 — 9:36 pm
arunshanbhag says:
Konkanis consider fish as part of a vegeterian diet. Howzat 😉 Smart guys uh?
please, please, please 🙂
May 20, 2005 — 12:41 pm
Lakshmi says:
🙂
Suit yourself, Mr. Konkan himself…:-))
May 20, 2005 — 2:00 pm
arunshanbhag says:
I hate suits
😉
May 20, 2005 — 5:13 pm
Lakshmi says:
🙂
Aren’t you funny??!!!
May 23, 2005 — 11:28 am
99kanitas says:
when i hear people complaining about fish, start thinking… man, you haven’t eaten it done the right way
May 20, 2005 — 2:29 pm
arunshanbhag says:
Exactly! When I hear of someone wanting to try fish in a restaurant for the fish time, I caution, NO!
Wait till you go to mumbai and let one of the superb places there be your first time.
Or come to my house and I will grill some killer salmon – (whenever summer decides to visit, ie).
🙂
May 20, 2005 — 5:10 pm
hariputtar says:
there is a story to it which i am sure a lot of you must be already aware of. the maithil brahmins in bihar also partake of fish-flesh 🙂 in their diet … related: an interesting story on saraswat migration etc:
http://www.gsbkerala.com/gsbhistory.htm
May 22, 2005 — 8:49 am
rileen says:
I’m a B.A.V myself, Lakshmi – but there’s always going to be a case for non-vegetarianism, we don’t have to agree with it 🙂
May 20, 2005 — 4:43 pm
fugney says:
Yay. I agree.
May 20, 2005 — 9:34 pm
Lakshmi says:
Perfect, Rileen.. you ARE the man!
May 23, 2005 — 11:28 am
rileen says:
This seems to be turning into a “let’s pull Rileen’s leg” post :-p
May 23, 2005 — 11:30 am
rileen says:
Buhahahabububuha
May 20, 2005 — 5:09 pm
splitpeasoup says:
I’m vegetarian myself, however I support non-vegetarians who consume humane, organic or freerange meat products.
May 20, 2005 — 9:01 pm
murthys_r_us says:
Seeing as food habits are intensely personal and dictated by culture, shaped by local food availability in the regions folks come from etc. IMO, it is not possible for a universal outlook that all could agree upon.
I am vegetarian too. I had a friend remark once – “Are you vegetarian because you love animals and don’t want them to be killed for food? Or do you just hate plants?” 😀
– M.
May 21, 2005 — 7:51 am
lalunadiosa says:
I don’t know Locks!
Should intelligence be the basis of whether you choose to eat something or not?
Or should life be the basis?
It doesn’t make sense to discriminate against plants ‘cos they do not appear intelligent to us…..there are theories that suggest that plants feel pain as well!!!
May 21, 2005 — 9:12 am