Vegetarian encourages all to consider a meatless day
Twelve is a good age to experiment with makeup, gossip about boys and muddle through puberty. For me, it also was a good age to make a monumental life decision.
I decided at that age I was going to stop eating meat. It was a goal I did not actually accomplish until I was a sophomore in high school, but I like to think of my choice as a three-year work in progress.
I made the vegetarian commitment after some hard thinking and exposure to different ideas. I grew up in a meat-eating family and pretty much thought of vegetables as good items to accompany a hamburger, sirloin steak or other carnivorous item.
Despite my cow-chowing ways, I always was the devout animal lover I am today. I read books with plots revolving around animals and was fascinated with “all creatures, great and small.” I even had dreams of becoming a veterinarian so I could spend all day with cute little critters.
To pursue this goal, I began volunteering at my local animal shelter. It was there that I learned about vegetarianism and animal rights.
The man in charge of the shelter had not always seen the cute, puppy-and-kitty side of animal life. He previously worked on a “factory farm,” where workers raise animals in mass to make them into food.
Unfortunately for my stomach, I heard stories about things he witnessed there. Chickens with their beaks cut off, baby lambs force-fed laxatives and cows living in stalls full of their own filth and excrement were among the nicer ones.
The owner became so disheartened with the meat-making business, he left and became dedicated to fighting animal abuse in all forms.
Now, I realize this man was an activist. I don’t believe every animal farm operates with substandard practices. I personally know of several farms that are extremely humane. However, I think it is important to recognize that cruel animal treatment does take place, on farms as well as in testing labs and other areas that exploit these creatures.
My way of recognizing this cruelty was extreme. Even after I realized language arts and writing are more my strength than biology and traded a career as a vet for one as a writer, I still wanted kinder treatment for animals and believed my avoidance of dead cow, chicken and pig was a small but worthwhile contribution.
I began cutting meat out of my diet slowly and eventually gave it up completely. People ask me all the time if I miss it, and the answer is no. Sure, it’s weird to build your own meatless dish at restaurants, especially when surrounded by a meat-loving group of family and friends. I sometimes think I am the only LSU student who will graduate without ever knowing the taste of Raising Cane’s chicken.
But, I’m not alone. The number of vegetarians in our society is increasing. At the University, I have met a large number of students, like myself, who are happy to indulge in veggie feasts.
And today, National Meat Out Day, is the chance for people to take time out of the McDonald’s line and remember their four-legged friends. I’m sure many people will read this and head straight for the super-sized value meal, but please consider giving meat a break for one day. A black bean patty tastes good on a burger, and an icy glass of soy milk won’t kill you.
I’m not saying everyone should eliminate meat, but I think it’s important for people to be aware that animal mistreatment does exist in the industry. After all, all those neglected “oink oinks” there and “moo moos” here add up after a while.