I celebrated a moment today that won't be missed. I drank a glass of milk today, and I've decided it will most certainly be my last. It's only been a few days since I've started doing this, but I have to say that I'm feeling very good about it so far. It is taking some time to become adjusted to not eating meat, but so far, I haven't missed it. I shudder to think of the horrid conditions animals are kept in before the slaughter.
Personally, I still don't have anything against other people eating meat; My decision to become vegetarian was a personal one, simply because I didn't enjoy it. Even so, the methods of which these animals are kept and treated should most certainly be reevaluated.
Many thoughts pop into my head regarding farm animals. Spiritually, if I believe in God, and that he created animals for civilization's consumption, why would God let the animals feel pain? Personally, I don't like seeing anything or anyone in pain; I'm a softie. It causes me discomfort, and I didn't want to know about it. However, now that I do know about it, I am very glad my eyes have been opened. It seems to be a condition of our society: what we do not see does not hurt us. Ignorance, though blissful, should not be practiced when it comes to important matters, such as what we put in our mouths. Perhaps if our society was still a farming society, in that we grew our own food and raised our own animals for slaughter, perhaps I would still be interested in eating meat. It's a thought, however impractical.
What follows is a guideline for making vegan brown rice. I'm typing it here so I can share it, but more importantly, so I don't forget it!
1 Cup brown rice, cooked. Let cool
Chop vegetables desired to eat. 1 cup more or less does it for me.
1 cup of beans, cooked.
Salt, pepper, soy sauce to taste
Chop the vegetables and saute with cooked beans in a large frying pan. I don't specify a time because it is up to you how done you want them! When vegetables are near desired doneness, add rice. Put soy sauce on rice, as much as desired, as well as salt and pepper. I also add premade salsa, but it's not required. I just like the spice and flavor. Cook for a few minutes until rice is hot. Serve however you like!
Now to go to bed. It's late right now, and I'm very tired. Still, I'm happy with how life is right now. It's getting better all the time.
Sunday, July 25, 2010
Friday, July 23, 2010
Part 1: A Vegetarian's Journal
The time has come for me.
It's always been there, but I never gave it heed. I told myself I didn't like eating meat, but I kept on eating, thanks in part to my parents. I don't blame them. They were doing like they were raised: eating meat was part of your diet. It continues to be a necessity for them.
Myself...
From youth, I have never enjoyed handling meat. The texture was quite vile, and the circumstances surrounding the consumption of the meat was apparent to me quite early. I'm not referring to the poor treatment of the creatures we raise to be food, but to the entire concept: I didn't like the idea of eating a cow, chicken, or pig. However, I kept on chowing down. It was normal. I even thought of veggies as being quite weird. (I refer to vegetarians as "veggies") I can recall an instance when I was younger. I was sitting on the school bus on the way home. I took a bag of beef jerky from the vending machines; I was still under the impression that if it tasted good, it was good.
I'm a fan of Paul McCartney. I've been a Beatles fan my entire life, and liking all of their solo careers was inevitable. Paul is an amazing person in my opinion. I am a musician, and I appreciate Paul more than the other Beatles for a few reasons: his writing, his multi-instrumentalism, and his presence. I became a member of his fan forum a month ago, and I enjoy speaking with other fans about him. His choice to be vegetarian influenced me a bit too, and the encouragement of his fans is quite lovely as well. I thank Paul for being an influence on my life thus far. I hope someday to thank him in person.
Now I will take time to introduce myself. I am 17 years old at the time of writing. I play guitar, drums, keys, and bass. I play in a band in my hometown in southern Utah (I am not, however, mormon.) I'm starting this blog as sort of a journal of my life as a veggie. I've only gone 4 days without meat, but already I'm feeling good about it. This first post, as you may have guessed, is an insight to the reasons I've made the decision to give up meat; They are numerous, and I'm trying to list them all.
My parents are supportive of me, and I'm thankful for this. Without asking questions, they accepted my choice to become veggie, and encourage me to keep at it. I want to take a moment to thank them for everything they have done and continue to do for me.
It's time for another story. The final straw for me took place 1 week ago. I was in Mexico, visiting family and getting some repairs on my amplifier done. The day I left, I went to a taco shop with my cousin and his family. The tacos were horrid. Various bits of cow were included, like large chunks of fat, connective tissue, and chunks of meat with veins hanging off. It wasn't so much disgusting as it was eye opening: I was eating a living being. I did more research into the raising of farm animals for consumption and found a video narrated by Paul McCartney. Here is the link for the video: Glass Walls . It made me realize what sort of things go on in the slaughterhouse, and I truly felt sorry for the animals. I decided I would stop doing my part in their pain, and took my name out of the hat, as it were.
Future posts will probably focus more on my day to day ramblings (this is a journal, after all), but you may find interesting stuff on here, like projects, writings, links, et cetera. As of right now, I'm enjoying being a vegetarian, and I'm happy with my decision so far. As odd as it seems, it feels "right" to be a veggie. I feel like this is the way I was meant to be. That's why I said the time had come for me. I finally started listening to my body and my mind, and most importantly, my heart. I knew that it had to be done, and I did it. With hope, it will continue to work for me. Even if it doesn't, I do not advocate the mistreatment of animals, even if we are going to eat them. The way we treat them before we eat them is appalling. We should treat them with great respect. They are doing something for us. They are feeding us. We should thank them. I am thanking them by saying "Enough." I'm through with meat and meat products. I'm entitled to do so, just as you are entitled to eat the meat from the animal.
But then again, it's not about you or me.
It's always been there, but I never gave it heed. I told myself I didn't like eating meat, but I kept on eating, thanks in part to my parents. I don't blame them. They were doing like they were raised: eating meat was part of your diet. It continues to be a necessity for them.
Myself...
From youth, I have never enjoyed handling meat. The texture was quite vile, and the circumstances surrounding the consumption of the meat was apparent to me quite early. I'm not referring to the poor treatment of the creatures we raise to be food, but to the entire concept: I didn't like the idea of eating a cow, chicken, or pig. However, I kept on chowing down. It was normal. I even thought of veggies as being quite weird. (I refer to vegetarians as "veggies") I can recall an instance when I was younger. I was sitting on the school bus on the way home. I took a bag of beef jerky from the vending machines; I was still under the impression that if it tasted good, it was good.
I'm a fan of Paul McCartney. I've been a Beatles fan my entire life, and liking all of their solo careers was inevitable. Paul is an amazing person in my opinion. I am a musician, and I appreciate Paul more than the other Beatles for a few reasons: his writing, his multi-instrumentalism, and his presence. I became a member of his fan forum a month ago, and I enjoy speaking with other fans about him. His choice to be vegetarian influenced me a bit too, and the encouragement of his fans is quite lovely as well. I thank Paul for being an influence on my life thus far. I hope someday to thank him in person.
Now I will take time to introduce myself. I am 17 years old at the time of writing. I play guitar, drums, keys, and bass. I play in a band in my hometown in southern Utah (I am not, however, mormon.) I'm starting this blog as sort of a journal of my life as a veggie. I've only gone 4 days without meat, but already I'm feeling good about it. This first post, as you may have guessed, is an insight to the reasons I've made the decision to give up meat; They are numerous, and I'm trying to list them all.
My parents are supportive of me, and I'm thankful for this. Without asking questions, they accepted my choice to become veggie, and encourage me to keep at it. I want to take a moment to thank them for everything they have done and continue to do for me.
It's time for another story. The final straw for me took place 1 week ago. I was in Mexico, visiting family and getting some repairs on my amplifier done. The day I left, I went to a taco shop with my cousin and his family. The tacos were horrid. Various bits of cow were included, like large chunks of fat, connective tissue, and chunks of meat with veins hanging off. It wasn't so much disgusting as it was eye opening: I was eating a living being. I did more research into the raising of farm animals for consumption and found a video narrated by Paul McCartney. Here is the link for the video: Glass Walls . It made me realize what sort of things go on in the slaughterhouse, and I truly felt sorry for the animals. I decided I would stop doing my part in their pain, and took my name out of the hat, as it were.
Future posts will probably focus more on my day to day ramblings (this is a journal, after all), but you may find interesting stuff on here, like projects, writings, links, et cetera. As of right now, I'm enjoying being a vegetarian, and I'm happy with my decision so far. As odd as it seems, it feels "right" to be a veggie. I feel like this is the way I was meant to be. That's why I said the time had come for me. I finally started listening to my body and my mind, and most importantly, my heart. I knew that it had to be done, and I did it. With hope, it will continue to work for me. Even if it doesn't, I do not advocate the mistreatment of animals, even if we are going to eat them. The way we treat them before we eat them is appalling. We should treat them with great respect. They are doing something for us. They are feeding us. We should thank them. I am thanking them by saying "Enough." I'm through with meat and meat products. I'm entitled to do so, just as you are entitled to eat the meat from the animal.
But then again, it's not about you or me.
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