First off, I find it remarkably interesting the directions this topic has taken since it began.
Next, as many of you know, I have a meatless diet (I generally steer clear of the term "vegetarian" due to being wary of the label and tactics associated with the scene; some of this was addressed earlier in this thread).
I do eat dairy products and eggs because I have no moral or physical aversion to them (I don't like the way eggs are mass produced, but thankfully most stores now carry "chicken friendly" eggs). Bottom line is, I quit eating meat because my body was telling me it didn't like it anymore and I listened. Back in '95 or so I got halfway through my customary lunchtime roast beef hoagie, and my stomach was churning to the point I threw the rest away and never looked back.
In close to nine years of a meatless diet I have sustained zero adverse physical effects, especially not weight loss or anemia, have stayed in superior physical shape (aside from the effects of 1.5 years in a body brace
) and right now I clock in at 190 (10 more lbs of Atkins to go
).
Although embarking on this lifestyle was done for reasons having nothing to do with moral dilemmas or religious ambiguities, in the subsequent years I have encountered literally thousands of reasons to suggest that eating meat is just flat out not a good idea. You name it - everything from ecoli to environment to hormone depletion. You don't have to look far.
I will mention that there was a time when I did eat some meat since I stopped. I was in the boondocks somewhere at an all day party/barbecue about four years back, drank an awful lot of beer all day and there was literally nothing else to eat, so I grabbed some chicken from the grill. Know what? It tasted like shit. Once you stop eating meat then try it again later you get a fairly reasonable idea of exactly how nasty it is.
Last, I don't care who eats meat or doesn't. My wife doesn't eat too much of it but her diet is by no means meat-free.
I do have to say though, for all you God-fearing Christians out there who feel God gave you the in-built right to slaughter animals, I simply suggest that "having dominion over the beasts of the field" can easily be perceived to imply a responsibility for the well-being of animals that has nothing to do with breeding them for food. For the 99% of people here who have never visited a slaughter house, I suggest you consider doing so. You'll never look at your precious hamburger or porterhouse the same way again, I'll tell you that much.
now back to the markets.