Our oldest, Miss Prima is a remarkably old soul. She can sometimes see through the most complex, grown-up situation and boil it down to the simplest terms.
Tonight, as I was tucking her into bed, she began to explain to me how some kids in her class were giving her grief about her continued belief in Santa Claus, The Easter Bunny and The Tooth Fairy. We went round in circles for what seemed like hours about how God only makes people because he loves them, about how He came up with the concept of free choice. He created this world, and all of us because he wants us to love him back, but he doesn't want to force us. Otherwise, how would he be able to decide who gets to go to heaven or not? If someone chooses not to believe in Santa Claus et al, then I guess they will no longer be visited by said same. Hey, it's their loss in the long run.
I was wrapping up my "sermon" when her light bulb clicked on. "Oh, you get what you order in life!", which has been something we've been trying to teach her for what seems like forever. "Yes!", I replied, "You do!"
She went on, "If you believe that the Tooth Fairy is nothing but some guy in a tutu, then that's all you're gonna get: Some guy in a tutu."
"Yes, dear. You're absolutely right."
Thursday, April 15, 2010
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Earthlings
I watched this documentary the other day. It has changed my life.
I simply can no longer be a part of a food chain that condones the abuse and downright torturous treatment and slaughter of God's defenseless, innocent creatures.
Whatever your belief system is, whatever your opinions on how the universe was created, or who, if anyone, was behind it all, I believe we all have the same general idea about it. The differences lie in the details that fit one's own version. I personally believe that a Supreme Perfect Being had a hand in creation, that it was "His" idea and doing in the first place that got this whole thing rolling. Where we went from there, or how long it took us to get here is anybody's guess. Insert your own belief system in there, trace your own path, but it's pretty clear to me that we all end up in the same place. We're on this big blue-green marble spinning around in space TOGETHER, and probably for a reason.
I believe that the overwhelming majority of religious and even spiritual belief systems have two central tenets in common: 1) There is something/someone "out there" that is bigger and better than us, and everything is a result of his/her/it's will. 2) We should be excellent to each other.
Even if you believe that the universe and everything in it was created simply by some random, massive, complicated chain of physical and chemical reactions, I don't know of anyone who will disagree with #2.
That's what I'm stuck on after viewing this documentary. I don't see the way we treat animals as "being excellent to them". Now, having my beliefs steeped in Judeo-Christianity, I do believe that humans have been purposely elevated to a higher position. (You may not, and that's fine for you.) I believe that along with our higher status, as well as our right to use the animals, vegetables, and minerals God has put at our disposal, comes a higher level of responsibility to be caretakers. Get it? TO "TAKE CARE". We, as a species, have completely failed in this responsibility. Sure the others are "lesser" species. I do not intend to convey upon them the same rights as humans, but being sentient (they feel pain, they are conscious of their own existence, they are aware) means that they do have some rights, in my book. They have the right to exist, to live (even if it's just to be our food) , but also to be treated with diginity and care.
I don't wish to tell anyone that they should no longer eat meat, or wear leather, or use animal products at all. I can't make you do that. Even if I were in a positon to, I would never mandate you do. What I do respectfully implore you to do is to take a serious evaluation of your principles, of your morality. Ask yourself "Is this right? Is this fair?" I answered "no" on both counts, in case you haven't already figured it out.
From this point forward, when it comes to food and sharing of recipes on this blog, they will mostly be of the vegetarian, even vegan variety. Truthfully, I will probably not go completely vegan myself. I will probably continue to eat meat and consume animal based products like dairy and eggs. I will make sure however, that what I do eat is as cruelty free as possible. There are ways, I've checked. I'll be sharing this with you in later posts. I think that there are many more people out there who would choose to go that route but are reluctant because they don't know how to prepare a lifetime's worth of meals without meat. I've done some checking, and let me tell you, you'd be amazed at what's out there. I must warn you that it will take more thought, planning and effort to cook and eat this way, but I think the end result will be worth it.
I simply can no longer be a part of a food chain that condones the abuse and downright torturous treatment and slaughter of God's defenseless, innocent creatures.
Whatever your belief system is, whatever your opinions on how the universe was created, or who, if anyone, was behind it all, I believe we all have the same general idea about it. The differences lie in the details that fit one's own version. I personally believe that a Supreme Perfect Being had a hand in creation, that it was "His" idea and doing in the first place that got this whole thing rolling. Where we went from there, or how long it took us to get here is anybody's guess. Insert your own belief system in there, trace your own path, but it's pretty clear to me that we all end up in the same place. We're on this big blue-green marble spinning around in space TOGETHER, and probably for a reason.
I believe that the overwhelming majority of religious and even spiritual belief systems have two central tenets in common: 1) There is something/someone "out there" that is bigger and better than us, and everything is a result of his/her/it's will. 2) We should be excellent to each other.
Even if you believe that the universe and everything in it was created simply by some random, massive, complicated chain of physical and chemical reactions, I don't know of anyone who will disagree with #2.
That's what I'm stuck on after viewing this documentary. I don't see the way we treat animals as "being excellent to them". Now, having my beliefs steeped in Judeo-Christianity, I do believe that humans have been purposely elevated to a higher position. (You may not, and that's fine for you.) I believe that along with our higher status, as well as our right to use the animals, vegetables, and minerals God has put at our disposal, comes a higher level of responsibility to be caretakers. Get it? TO "TAKE CARE". We, as a species, have completely failed in this responsibility. Sure the others are "lesser" species. I do not intend to convey upon them the same rights as humans, but being sentient (they feel pain, they are conscious of their own existence, they are aware) means that they do have some rights, in my book. They have the right to exist, to live (even if it's just to be our food) , but also to be treated with diginity and care.
I don't wish to tell anyone that they should no longer eat meat, or wear leather, or use animal products at all. I can't make you do that. Even if I were in a positon to, I would never mandate you do. What I do respectfully implore you to do is to take a serious evaluation of your principles, of your morality. Ask yourself "Is this right? Is this fair?" I answered "no" on both counts, in case you haven't already figured it out.
From this point forward, when it comes to food and sharing of recipes on this blog, they will mostly be of the vegetarian, even vegan variety. Truthfully, I will probably not go completely vegan myself. I will probably continue to eat meat and consume animal based products like dairy and eggs. I will make sure however, that what I do eat is as cruelty free as possible. There are ways, I've checked. I'll be sharing this with you in later posts. I think that there are many more people out there who would choose to go that route but are reluctant because they don't know how to prepare a lifetime's worth of meals without meat. I've done some checking, and let me tell you, you'd be amazed at what's out there. I must warn you that it will take more thought, planning and effort to cook and eat this way, but I think the end result will be worth it.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
