Various morbid ponderings (was Meat Processing)

[Amy Z]

Amanda wrote:

> It's been a source of many interesting discussions betwixt my 
husband
> and me, how modern attitudes toward both eating meat and death have 
been
> influenced by the fact that insulation from the realities of both 
is,
> more often than not, the norm. I'm not trying to tweak vegetarians 
at
> all, but I consider all life is precious, and I've quite honestly 
never
> understood why breeding specific varieties of plants, planting, and
> harvesting them for the specific purpose of eating them is any 
different
> from doing so with animals. 

For me it has to do with suffering.  Animals, in my best judgment, do 
not wish to die, and they don't wish to live the way your typical US 
farm forces them to.  I feel a lot better about eating animals raised 
on small farms around my home, where I see how they're treated and 
know that they live a pleasant life and then die.  But I don't eat 
any.

One day someone's going to prove that plants feel pain just as 
animals do, and then I'll throw my hands in the air . . . and eat 
bacon again, figuring it isn't any worse than potatoes.  Until that 
day, well, I'll believe the evidence of my eyes.

I think you're right, though--we are very removed from the life and 
death processes of animals and of our own families.  It isn't even 
easy for a family to stay by the bedside of a dying member in a lot 
of hospitals.  

> And a book plug--for the stout-hearted--"The American Way of Death" 
by
> Jessica somebody. 

Amanda my dear, you are truly One with the HP Universe.  
The "somebody" is Mitford, and she is JKR's great heroine and the 
woman after whom she named her daughter.

Amy Z
who plans to be cremated and sprinkled in the woods I love, thank you