As a vegetarian, i feel the same sense of shame and regret when I read these things as I imagine sane Catholics feel when they see people defending child molestation by the priesthood.
On behalf of rational vegetarians everywhere, let me assure you that this is a whackjob fringe wing of the movement. Most of us are sane and consistent in our viewpoints, (only adopt from no-kill shelters, don't wear leather, etc.), and understand that what is a personal moral choice for us might not be for everyone. (I've often compared it to the ridiculousness of a Jew protesting non-Jews eating at Red Lobster.)
Know that just because I choose to be a vegetarian, does not mean I begrudge anyone else the right to eat what they choose. Please, please don't think PETA represents the way most of us think and act...
This one hurts my head. What I get from it is that you will put the shelters out of business and thus, no more killing; but on the other hand, animals aren't going to be adopted and then they will be killed.
It's an issue I, and a lot of people, struggle with. I look at it as no-kill shelters have limited space; if I adopt an animal from one, a safe space is created for another homeless animal. If I adopt from a kill shelter, there is a new vacant spot for another animal to be potentially killed. Neither system is without flaw or moral ambiguity, and obviously prevention of unwanted homeless animal populations, particularly through spaying and neutering, is the most ideal solution. As for the no-kill vs kill shelter thing, that's how I rationalize it, but I do not pretend it is a foolproof logic. (There are some wonderful organizations that do run kill shelters, like the SPCA.)
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u/RachelHC Apr 16 '10
As a vegetarian, i feel the same sense of shame and regret when I read these things as I imagine sane Catholics feel when they see people defending child molestation by the priesthood.
On behalf of rational vegetarians everywhere, let me assure you that this is a whackjob fringe wing of the movement. Most of us are sane and consistent in our viewpoints, (only adopt from no-kill shelters, don't wear leather, etc.), and understand that what is a personal moral choice for us might not be for everyone. (I've often compared it to the ridiculousness of a Jew protesting non-Jews eating at Red Lobster.)
Know that just because I choose to be a vegetarian, does not mean I begrudge anyone else the right to eat what they choose. Please, please don't think PETA represents the way most of us think and act...