Should We Eat Meat?

Thanksgiving arrives every year with a heated debate over how to best cook that plump and juicy turkey. But the idea of a tofu turkey (also known as a “tofurkey”) has gone from a joke a couple years ago to a reality for many. While vegetarianism has been practiced for over a thousand years in some countries, it is a relatively new concept in the West. And so, with the question cropping up more and more often, should we eat meat?

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Regarding Argument

Eating Animal Products Contributes to Cruelty

- From PETA

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What is cruel?

Cruelty as defined by who? You mean cruelty defined by man. Is it any more or less cruel that dolphins play with their food while it is still living? Or that a shark may take its prey apart in pieces?

- sumwatt July 24, 2008 10:31AM

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- Ummmm.... yeah
  
  Huh?? Yeah, of course "cruel" as defined by man. "People" are the ones who are having this discussion. And what exactly did you expect??
  
  Surely there is a better argument you could attempt to make than this.
  
  - kelley August 14, 2008 7:25PM
  
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  - Ok?
    
    Are you saying that the fact that we kill animals is cruel? Or are you suggesting that the way we kill them before we eat them is cruel? I am on the yes side and I agree that the way we slaughter animals is cruel by my standards, but at the same time I can not do it myself for that would require too much work and commitment.
    
    - Miga September 3, 2008 5:29AM
    
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Kosher Meat and Morals

The morals that are set for Kosher meat state that an animal cannot suffer excessively,be castrated, have any sickness, be missing any body part (including a beak) or even have a single nick on the slaughtering knife (it most be 100% smooth) if these standards are not met, then the animal cannot be eaten by anyone who keeps kosher.
That is besides the Torah's prohibition against Mistreating or hurting animals for any reason.

- berelv July 25, 2008 12:06PM

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- I think it's fair to say you are unaware of what's going on
  
  You need to investigate further into the world of mass-produced Kosher meats. I, like you, assumed that the laws, as you stated, could not be bastardized in order to allow the stunning industry it has become. Please investigate instead of assuming that your laws and traditions are being upheld to the standards you assume exist.
  
  Then continue reading this debate to see if you can truly justify supporting the industry and the paradigm.
  
  - mike August 17, 2008 10:45PM
  
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  - I see your point
    
    I have never cared to investigate how animals are treated before they are slaughtered because I was ignorant. I still think there is nothing wrong with eating meat and I do not care for kosher or whatnot because I do not know if they do what they claim. How do I make sure that the meat products I eat have not been slaughtered in a cruel manner?
    
    - Miga September 3, 2008 5:33AM
    
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  - Oh Really
    
    How ya doin, yes the laws are being upheld, i raise cattle i've been in countless slaughter house no ivestgation needed, im aware of what's going on, uve been listing to peta to long, and here's some advice they are greedy, misleading bigots
    
    - Bleininger14 August 12, 2009 4:05PM
    
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    - Almost a year later...
      
      Cool to see that people read these debates long after the dust has settled.
      
      A few quick points:
      1) The laws I was referring to were Jewish laws, and they are most certainly not being followed. The ones that are being followed are several thousand years old from a source whose moral guidance has long since been dismissed as antiquated and inconsistent.
      2) The USDA enforced laws to which you are referring are ridiculously vague, unconcerned with the rights of animals , inconsistent and arbitrary in assignment and enforcement, and monetarily driven. But you're right; for the most part, they are being followed by slaughterhouses.
      3) PeTA is not an organization I "list to" for some of the very reasons you mention.
      
      You'd do well to investigate the animal rights movement instead of assuming that it is being run by PeTA and its supporters. Sadly, PeTA claims to be our voice and our reason. Their voice is loud and ineffective, and their reasoning is typically flawed. Seek the points in this debate specifically regarding the inconsistency of supporting human rights while dismissing animal rights. Stay away from PeTA demonstrations as fodder for counter arguments, because you'll hold no ground with me or most activists with argument grounded in logic.
      
      - mike August 12, 2009 4:56PM
      
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so?

is there a solution? It is cruel how we treat animals in slaughter houses but is there a right way to kill animals before eating them? Euthanasia shots? so they can have 'death with dignity?'
No I'm not really making fun I'm just curious what the plan would be.
I suppose some of you think we shouldn't eat meat at all. But what do we do with the animals?? Can someone answer that please? Do we set them up in apartment buildings and wait on their every need? (please no) Do we pick some island in the Pacific and send the excess of species there to run wild?
And what about when we pluck down from geese? Is that cruel? Shall I burn my down comforter?
And what about shaving alpacas fiber off? The shavers make them do the double splits (four legs) and tie them there as they shave them. Is this cruel? Perhaps they like it...

but returning to my point...say we decide NOT to eat meat. that will only lead to using animal products. THEN what do we do with the animals?

- zebrakin November 24, 2008 3:58PM

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typo

i meant lead to NOT eating animal products....

- zebrakin November 24, 2008 4:56PM

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Oh Really?

Animals are not concious when there hung up and bled there knocked unconcious because there was a little animal rights bill passed in the 70's about having the animal being unconcious. Plus if a 2,500 pound bull was conious and hanging up by his legs there would be a huge 2,500 lbs safley issse for the employees, trust me you'd want it unconcious

- Bleininger14 August 12, 2009 4:00PM

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