Quote:
Originally Posted by richie1
Nice post, frank. Very well stated. I support my daughters choice and admire her conviction. My ex-wife, on the other hand, is continuously pointing out every negative thing imaginable about my choice of continuing to eat meat. I would love it if the meat eaters would respect the vegetarians, but I would also love if some of the vegetarians (i.e. my ex) wouldn't be so judgemental of those of us who aren't.
To quote Rodney King: "Can't we all just get along"?
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If you met someone who eats dogs and cats, would you feel judgemental or would you just shrug and say, "Meh, to each her own?"
And if you *are* judgemental of people who eat dogs and cats, then why wouldn't you expect vegetarians to be judgemental of meat-eaters who eat other animal species, such as cows, pigs, and chickens?
If someone eats an animal who has died of natural causes, I wouldn't feel judgemental because the person didn't orchestrate that animal's death. However, when someone supports the killing of animals, especially when there are healthful ways to live without doing so, then I'm more likely to feel judgemental (even of myself).
Being free from critique and judgement certainly feels nice, and judgementalism *can* lead to horrible situations (when those who are judgemental decide to physically hurt people with whom they disagree), but judgementalism has also helped reduce or end numerous atrocities (slavery, child labor, capital punishment, etc.), and so I don't consider judgementalism to be a foe. Passing judgement on an action can be an inspiration for change.
And frankly, in my opinion eating animals is a lot worse than being judgemental.