5 ms·

How should I properly revere the plant that was killed for me to enjoy, if I followed the plant-based diet?

• devmunchies 9y ago
  I'll respond to your tu quoque with some very relevant quotes. Charles Darwin: "There is no fundamental difference between man and the higher animals in their mental faculties . . . The lower animals, like man, manifestly feel pleasure and pain, happiness, and misery." Leo Tolstoy: "A man can live and be healthy without killing animals for food; therefore, if he eats meat, he participates in taking animal life merely for the sake of his appetite. And to act so is immoral." Carl Sagan: "Humans–who enslave, castrate, experiment on, and fillet other animals–have had an understandable penchant for pretending animals do not feel pain. A sharp distinction between humans and “animals” is essential if we are to bend them to our will, make them work for us, wear them, eat them–without any disquieting tinges of guilt or regret. It is unseemly of us, who often behave so unfeelingly toward other animals, to contend that only humans can suffer. The behavior of other animals renders such pretensions specious. They are just too much like us."
  • mushbino 9y ago
    Me "I like the taste of meat."
    • lathiat 9y ago
      mmm bacon
    • devmunchies 9y ago
      so does everyone. That’s what makes it a noble cause.
  • mirimir 9y ago
    I wonder how other carnivores would philosophize about their prey. And yes, humans obviously aren't obligate carnivores. But just as obviously, we aren't obligate herbivores either.
    • devmunchies 9y ago
      Well, we can’t really eat raw meat without getting sick and I don’t think raw meat is appetizing to many people. We’re kind of in a class of our own. Another relevant quote: Plutarch: “There is nobody that is willing to eat even a lifeless and a dead thing even as it is; so they boil it, and roast it, and alter it by fire and medicines, as it were, changing and quenching the slaughtered gore with thousands of sweet sauces, that the palate being thereby deceived may admit of such uncouth fare.”
      • mirimir 9y ago
        Ummm, raw tuna is very tasty. Venison too.
      • emmanuel_1234 9y ago
        > ell, we can’t really eat raw meat without getting sick and I don’t think raw meat is appetizing to many people. We’re kind of in a class of our own. Few other animals have any kind of control over fire. Steak tartare, raw eggs and sashimi are delicious.
      • chopin 9y ago
        I think the Japanese would have a word with you. I've read somewhere that humankind started as scavengers. As a lover of dry aged meat, I'd wager to say that we not only can eat raw meat we also can eat pretty old raw meat (I prefer my steaks rare).
        • cassianoleal 9y ago
          I like mine blue rare. I suspect raw would be fine if the meat was actually fresh but there's always days between slaughter and plate, so the meat is effectively decomposing by the time we cook. Another point is that the more you cook red meat, the higher the chance you'll get cancer. My personal anecdote also tells me that the rarest the steak, the easier the digestion and the greater the benefits (muscle gain, workout performance and appetite control). I usually eat low-carb and near zero grains and cereals though. As always with personal anecdotes, YMMV.
  • euyyn 9y ago
    Nothing of that answers what do you do to show gratitude for the plants you kill for your enjoyment. It's the least plant eaters can do for themselves. (A little step beyond that reverence would be trying not to be self-righteous).
    • devmunchies 9y ago
      I have my own garden. I gues meat eaters can raise their own meat? Why do people think non-meat eaters are always self righteous. Does it offend you so much or cause that much dissonance that it leads to feelings of resentment?
      • euyyn 9y ago
        Oh, don't be mistaken, I have plenty of vegetarian and vegan friends that aren't self-righteous. It wasn't an assumption based on putting you in a category, rather a commentary of the way you look down on others. Slaughtering or mutilating the plants you raised yourself doesn't look like revering them too much. Looks like just raising them for your own satisfaction of tasting their flavor.
  • thousandautumns 9y ago
    None of those were relevant to the question posed to you.
• jkmcf 9y ago
  Look to the Native Americans. Or, at least some of them. Give thanks to things the world gives to you.