Before anything else, let me first
make it clear that I do not believe eating meat is wrong, and I by no means judge
any individual who chooses to include meat in her/his diet. From a scientific
perspective, it is natural for one organism to consume another. Lions eat
zebras. Frogs eat flies. It is part of the food chain. This is the way nature,
ecosystems and food webs operate. From a religious standpoint, God created
animals for human benefit. Here is where I have to point out that that does not
mean, under any circumstances, that we are granted the right to inflict pain on
animals to meet our selfish desires. Abusing animals in circuses and zoos for
the mere sake of human entertainment is unacceptable, because entertainment is
not worth the suffering of animals. Testing makeup products on animals is
absurd, because beautifying ourselves is not worth animal lives. Wearing animal
skin and fur is unjustifiable, because we have no need for it and have plenty
of alternatives. My point is, while God did create animals for people to
utilize, He did not permit the maltreatment of animals. In fact, we have a duty
to treat animals well and to protect them from harm.
I do not believe eating meat is
wrong, yet I chose to be a vegetarian. The first reason for this is due to the
cruelty of the meat industry. Yes, it is okay to kill animals for food, but it
is not okay to torture animals before killing them. Is it right to squeeze
thousands of animals together in tiny spaces where they can barely move? Is it
right to cram animals into dirty sheds and wire cages where they cannot even
feel the sun or breathe fresh air? Is it right to genetically manipulate
animals to grow unnaturally larger to the point where their legs cannot support
their oversized bodies? Is it right to drown animals in boiling water to remove
their hairs or feathers and skin them while they are still alive? I do not eat
meat because I do not support the meat industry. I do not want to contribute to
the torment of animals.
