Re: Electric Frying Pan with Timer

On Mon, 7 Sep 2009 13:12:09 -0400, "Evelyn" <evelyn.ruut@xxxxxxxxx>
wrote:

"Gary" <not@xxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:atbaa59ii5540l2td9lhpn28qa7gpdl8u1@xxxxxxxxxx
On Mon, 7 Sep 2009 11:14:59 -0400, "Evelyn" <evelyn.ruut@xxxxxxxxx>

Gary,

I don't "take pride" in it either but I have come to realize that we are
creatures who survive by eating other creatures, and live in acceptance of
that thought.

I know a lot of vegetarians, and all of them are gray in complexion and
usually not healthy looking in general. I refuse to feel guilty for
eating
according to my health's best interest, but I make every effort to respect
the fact that meat was formerly another living being. There is a
fascinating essay written by Alan Watts called "Murder in the Kitchen" and
he explores the concept of meat eating and meat avoidance, in great
philosophical detail, and all the while being both respectful of other
living beings, as well as humorous.

He said (paraphrased) that if you cook a chicken and you don't cook it
properly, that chicken has died in vain. If more people were respectful
of
the meat they eat, it would be a better world. Another thing, I do try
to
buy meat which is not from factory farms whenever possible. I buy
natural
free range chickens and grass fed beef because it is kinder to the
animals.
I NEVER eat veal. Have not eaten veal in many years, purely because of
the
cruel way it is raised.

There is a middle way between just eating whatever and however, and
respecting living beings. That said, if you are a person who does better
by eating an omnivorous diet, acceptance of that fact, and setting some
sort
of ground rules for what, why and how, is probably wiser than walking
around
feeling guilty, or regarding meat eating as some sort of a bad thing.

I'm not a vegetarian. In recent years I do lean toward being a
non-flesh eater. I haven't quit -- but I have cut down my
consumption of meat. I still eat some, but only because I do
understand that it is difficult (not impossible) to eat healthily
without meat.

I'm not so sure about the moral aspect of killing smaller animals. I
mean, hell we are bigger, aren't we ? Might makes right doesn't
it ? Life has shown me that is about the only consistent morals man
knows.

My dislike of eating meat is simple. I don't think humans are
intended to eat meat. I think just about every disease known has it's
roots in eating meat. I do know that many scientists are now
convinced that eating red meat (what other kind is there) causes
several kinds of cancer. That fact alone made me slow down.

BTW, how can a Bhuddist eat every creeping, crawling creature she
can get her ands on ? What happend to the migration of souls ? Or
does that stop at the hamburger stand ?


Gary,

I just got done telling you that I made an extra effort and paid the extra
price of eating more humanely with naturally raised meat.

I just got done telling you that I never eat veal because it is raised too
cruelly.

I just got done telling you that I am respectful of other living beings, but
that I refuse to feel guilty for eating a diet which works best for my
health.

Like so many, I have health issues that respond well to eating less
carbohydrates and include some protein. I don't "gorge" myself on meat, a
small portion at some meals suits me fine.

Some buddhists are totally vegetarian, such as those in Southeast Asia.
Others, as in Tibet, do eat meat. The original reason for that was because
Tibet is so high in altitude their agriculture is extremely limited. Meat
was necessary to them to survive. Some have still chosen to become
vegetarian or to limit their meat eating a great deal.

I am one of the latter. We don't eat meat at every meal, nor do we eat it
every day, nor do we eat large quantities. But we do eat some meat. Last
night we had a special treat of two lobster tails. They were frozen and the
creatures weren't killed especially for us.

If you choose to allow this issue to disturb your peace of mind, you have
defeated the purpose of all buddhist practice already.

Interestingly enough a tibetan lady once told me that the reason for the
tibetans preference for beef was based on the theory that if one steer
should die, many people can eat with that one life lost. If you eat a
plate of shrimp, many lives are lost and only one person can eat.

OK, OK. No hard feelings, for Chrissake. Or Buddha's sake -- as
the case may be.

I can sympathize with, and respect your stance on veal. When I was
30 years old, veal was my favorite meat. I had it for lunch at least
once a week. One day I was driving through the countryside with a
cousin. We passed a large pasture and there were a number of young
calves tied to posts. I asked him was going on. He explained to me
how veal is grown.

From that day to this, I have not eaten veal. There are some things
that civilized people should not do.


.

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