Why are you a Vegetarian?

My Why a Vegetarian? Story

When I first became a vegetarian, I almost felt ashamed to say it. It was surprisingly hard for me to "come-out" as one. I didn't like the strange faces, and arguments from my family that I would die because of an iron-deficiency and all my hair would fall out. Everyone seemed skeptical of my decision, causing me to feel unsure of what I was doing (though I do not feel this way anymore), so I decided to write this to explain why I feel so strongly about it.

In late February/early March I decided to make a switch to Vegetarianism. I had always considered, attempting to try vegetarianism, being an animal lover and all, but after a failed try I figured it wasn't for me. I thought that because most of the meat I ate was from the farmers market, and was humanely treated in my eyes, that I was doing my part.

It all began when I read Eating Animals by Jonathan Safran Foer. After I finished the book I felt kind of in a daze. I began to question so many things that I had never even considered.

I thought that because I was eating "humanely treated meat" most of the time, that I was doing the right thing, but at times I ate at Wendy's. Eating "humanely treated meat" cannot be practiced all the time, the thought is idealistic. A person who says they only eat humane meat will still occasionally eat from a fast food joint every once in a while.

I also began to look at the idea of "humanely treated meat".  What is humane? Animals that roam a farm or a big plot of land is what comes to mind. But the truth is, these animals will still die because I want to eat them. This isn't a win-win situation. This is a situation where an animal will live for an amount of time then killed for my pleasure.

Why would it be wrong for me to eat my cat but not a pig? Is my life more important and special than any other creature on Earth? Why do humans feel like we are the better species and therefore have the right to kill animals and treat them however we feel?

I acknowledge that animals do not comprehend things like we do and are not as complex beings; but that doesn't mean that they don't have emotions or feel pain. Daily I see humans emotions in my animals. My cat shows jealousy when I am giving attention to another cat. My dog displays excitement when it is time for a walk. And most importantly, my animals give me love, which I see every time my cats and dogs cuddle close to me.

Yesterday, I attempted to watch the documentary Earthlings which promotes veganism and shows videos of animals in factory farms, circuses, on the streets, and many other animals. The key word is ATTEMPTED. Twenty minutes into the show I had to turn it off because it was so disturbing and violent. I sobbed and sobbed for half an hour after I turned it off. We try to distance our self from the reality of what is happening on factory farms, in the fur industry, on the streets where stray animals live, at the circuses, in the dairy and egg industries, in the leather industry, but the truth is is that it's real. 97-99% of animals eaten in America are from factory farms.

Chickens are debeaked, crowded into cages or tightly compacted next to each other. Many are injected with hormones in order for them to grow quicker, and spend their whole life in a cage. Male chickens are sometimes destroyed because their is no use for them.
Cows are branded, have their horns removed, are tightly compacted, injected with hormones, artificially inseminated painfully, and are kept constantly pregnant so they can produce milk.
Unspeakable horrors happen to other animals who spend their days on a factory farm.
These animals never have the chance to live.

As I have become a vegetarian, I have become more aware of the importance of the earth and how our decisions can effect it. Farmed animals, are thought to be responsible for up to a quarter of "man-made" methane emissions worldwide. Many acres of land in the rain forest are cleared away each year in order to have more room for farms. People who switch to Veganism have a better effect on the environment then a person who changes from a conventional to a hybrid car.

Becoming a vegetarian wasn't only for the animals or the environment, it's for me too. It makes me feel more at peace with myself and causes me to be a stronger person because I am standing up for something I truly believe in. This decision has caused me to look at things more analytically and think deeper about why I do what I do. I have been trying, slowly, to adapt more vegan food habits, so that hopefully one day I can be a healthy vegan. My heart aches for the pain and suffering of millions of animals, who in my eyes have lives just as valuable as mine.