I haven't posted anything about being a veggie in a while, because I don't make it my goal to be a "preachy" person. But because this blog is something I started about my kids and my kids are veggies, it's semi-related!
My sister recently sent me the link to a video online discussing all the "bad stuff" that is in food. She was horrified, and couldn't believe how long she'd eaten so many of the things featured in the video without a second thought. We started texting back and forth about how Stu and I buy items from the health food store and try to find things (from household cleaning supplies to our fruit and veggies) that are naturally derived and free from chemicals. My sister (Meghan) then said she wanted to go to the health food store next time I go. I sent her links to some of the resources that I've found useful in the past. She watched videos and read studies. She came with me to the health food store and ended up buying vitamins, free trade health items and foods, deoderant and toothpaste. She's always been a bit like me in that she is thirsty for knowledge and researches things that interest her until there is nothing left to read about the subject. She even joked "I think I'm becoming a veggie!".
I texted her yesterday and asked "have you eaten meat lately?" and she responded with "nope". She watched a movie I recommended (Earthlings) and said she cried through the whole thing and that it was crazy.
My poor parents are going to have to now add another "veggie" serving to the table at family dinners!
Another friend recently watched some videos about factory farming and decided to try the veggie lifestyle and asked for some advice. When she asked for a rundown about the food Gage eats in a day, I started thinking about the things I want Gage (and Finn) to remember when he's older. I think every parent tries to teach their children to be kind and to live compassionately. What I find odd, is that parents try to do this while feeding other animals to their children. It just makes no sense to me! I know meat eating people that are kind and live compassionately, absolutely. But I feel like part of the process of teaching our children something, anything really, is that we have to set that example ourselves. Just like when our kids are old enough to understand that swearing is bad, all parents go through the "stop swearing" phase and have that difficult time substituting a certain "F" word with something much more tame when they stub their toe. Or how we try to teach our children manners and how to use "please" and "thank you" but then behind the wheel on the way to the grocery store we have copious amounts of road rage (I might be guilty of this) and also use certain "F" words. I don't feel like we could truly succeed in teaching our children to be compassionate adults that are kind to ALL beings and to teach them that all beings are equal while also using other animals to nourish their bodies. For holiday dinners. To test on to ensure our cosmetics and health supplies are safe.
I know there are a lot of people out there who believe that the animals slaughtered for our food (or those used to test products on) are not equal to us. We are superior humans, that have through centuries become these advanced beings that have accomplished so much more then any other species on earth.
....that have become ruthless animals that with wars, murder, racism, sexism, class systems, poverty, starvation, polluting, oil spilling, genocide, and disease ridden.
Because we can?
I would like, and strive to teach, my children to grow up in a peaceful world where we don't use another species to survive. That they are to be kind to others regardless of species, class system, background, colour. So far, I think that Stu and I are on the right track.
Just some food for thought.
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