How it all started

PRELUDE 1 This was originally posted on another blog of mine, which never quite took off, about my decision to stop eating meat (which did take off).

PRELUDE 2 I have a personal policy of avoiding spam at all costs. You won’t get bulk-forwarded messages from me often, if at all.

I was very close to ignoring that policy just now.

I finally decided to create this blog to spread the word. If you’re reading this, sorry for wasting your time with this prelude, please read on.

I have just read a message from a friend of mine, containing the following link. Please be aware though, the video is extremely violent. I have no problem in saying this: I had tears in my eyes about 2/3 into the video, and I can’t remember the last time I had cried. It is extremely violent.

http://www.goveg.com/swf/255-mym.swf

Quoting the movie “Seven”,

Wanting people to listen, you can’t just tap them on the shoulder anymore. You have to hit them with a sledgehammer, and then you’ll notice you’ve got their strict attention.

That’s exactly how I feel at this moment. Hit by a sledgehammer for 13 long minutes.

It got my strict attention.

Did I have no idea this was going on before I saw the video? I couldn’t say I hadn’t and keep a straight face. It is just different when you see it, I guess.

I won’t get into the brutality of the video. If you saw it, I don’t need to explain my reasons. If you didn’t, because you decided not to after my warning, I understand perfectly. I’ll explain in short – I want the abuse on animals to stop.

It is a bold statement. I am completely aware that it is very hard for an individual to have the necessary influence. But even if nobody else in the world shared them, the mere fact that I have these values will make me act in a congruent way.

And I don’t want to be a part of that.

As such, the least I can do is to be selfish and start becoming aware of ways in which I am a part of that, and then to start looking for ways to solve the problem.

The obvious one is becoming a vegetarian.

I just made a (very) quick research. Apparently I had a lot of preconceptions. Even misconceptions, actually. Like in terms of nutrition, for example, there are no shortcomings at all in following a vegetarian diet. Have a look, Wikipedia is as always a good start:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vegetarianism

Check out GoVeg for a more biased source. I’m not saying I don’t trust the info on the site, I’m just bringing up the awareness on the fact that everything on it will say “Go Veg”.

http://www.goveg.com

I can only see advantages. I am used to predisposition – I have a pretty reasonable ability of remaining impartial even after being struck emotionally, like in this situation. Still, I can only see advantages.

Well, folks, I’ll be doing some more research very soon. But unless I find some unshakable evidence otherwise, I believe I hit a turning point today.

Becoming a vegetarian, in my head, is no longer a matter of self-discipline turning into a routine turning into a habit.

It is now a matter of core values.

Think about this. I’ll keep you posted.