Ethics and food.....

[osodecanela]

I was listening to a program on research and animal experimentation on NPR a bit earlier today, which truly took me back.

I was reminded of a stand I took in physiology class, my first year of med school. Our class had been broken into small groups and we were expected to experiment on a live cat, it's skull open and electrical probes placed in various areas of the brain to 'see' what each stimulus did. I refused. I argued it was unethical to sacrifice so many animals simply for us to physically witness what would happen. If the neural pathways were already known, then no real benefit was being gained nor new knowledge discovered. If one cat had to be sacrificed, so be it, but videotape the poor beast's use, once and once only, if there was any educational benefit to be had here. What I saw being done was was immoral and unethical and I was not going to take part in it, even if it meant a failing grade.

I was excused.

I spent 7 years of my life as a vegetarian. I gave up meat my second year in college and did not consume it again until my last year in med school. I suppose on some levels it was a degree of rebellion, given my grandfather was a butcher and had been a shochat (someone who performs kosher ritual killings). I was also very troubled by the American food system and what was and still is acceptable to do to animals in raising them for food, as well as the cost of it to the environment (ie, water usage, feeding of grain to cattle, antibiotic usage, pollution of the environment by animal wastes, etc.).

I began eating meat again, though not by choice, on a trip. I'd been elected to the board of the American Medical Student Association. I was AMSA's trustee for region 2, representing the students of 20 different schools in NY, NJ and PR, and was determined that during my term I would visit every chapter within my region. While visiting the 3 schools in Puerto Rico, I'd been invited into someones home for dinner, not knowing they were unaware I was a vegetarian. I was seated in a place of honor and a rather elaborate meal had been prepared, pork as I recall. There I was, with it set before me; it was either eat it, or risk insulting my gracious hosts. I chose the former, especially when I discovered the animal had been dispatched just that afternoon, specifically for that meal. I ate, rather than feel the animal had been killed without reason, and then wasted.

My return to NY was marked by less and less time to prepare vegetarian meals that were protein balanced. Now that I had put flesh into my diet again, I succumbed to what was easier. It's hard to believe that was really 30 years ago. I have thought about it again from time to time, still working to reduce the amount of flesh I consume, and remembering to say grace when I sit down to eat, both a thanks the spirit that has provided my sustenance and to the beast who was sacrificed for my meal.

So I eat, sometimes aware of what went into the meal, sometimes not, and sometimes pondering the ethics of the meal, when so many go hungry in this world.

Comments

[eireangus.livejournal.com]

That was a very interesting post, thanks for sharing!

I always think about where meat comes from, and where it stands in my life. I know it's strange, but I am basically a vegetarian. I do eat meat sometimes, but usually not in the house. If I do eat meat, it's always kosher/glatt. I struggle with the Torah view we have over animals, but it is out of my control.

[fogbear.livejournal.com]

I hate to tell you this, but the American "Food" Industry is much more damaging now than it was thirty years ago.

Of course, I know it's possible to be an ethical meat eater, particularly in Northern California, in this day and age. But, really, is there any reason? Balancing protein isn't very difficult as long as you're not a vegan; I've managed for twenty years now, thorough all sorts of working conditions.

I should add that I'm not a vegetarian for ethical reasons. I am not a vegan and I wear leather and avail myself of various animal by-products. It's entirely for health reasons for me.

[furr-a-bruin.livejournal.com]

I'm with you on the treatment of the cats - that seems pointless to me too.

I don't eat meat - all other arguments aside - for the simple reason that I find the taste and texture repulsive, with two exceptions: chicken broth (for noodle soup [ideally with no chunks of actual meat] and chicken-flavored rice) and crisp fried bacon. (Bacon with soft undercooked spots makes me think "trichinosis". Either "fry" it in a microwave, or invest in a bacon press so it cooks properly!)

I only eat eggs as an ingredient in something else (e.g., french toast) but I'm a voracious consumer of dairy - cheese, yogurt, ice cream, BUTTER, whole milk....

[barbarian-rat.livejournal.com]

So I eat, sometimes aware of what went into the meal, sometimes not, and sometimes pondering the ethics of the meal, when so many go hungry in this world.

That's the way I get along in the world...could be better, could be worse.