Why I am not a vegan

[Unbound]

I think it might be a good idea to step back and take a deep breath. I have just read a lot of name-calling.

I will say this: being vegetarian is difficult in this world for so many reasons. I feel that I must be so much more patient, allowing, tolerant, careful of my words and wording, and generally on guard all the time from being attacked by the mass population still ingrained in the system of raising animals for food.

At the same time I deal with the suffering because I am here and can't get away from it.

Putting aside for a moment the idea of having compassion for animals, I just don't see much compassion for vegetarians here at all. It's all about having compassion for those who choose to eat meat, and their free will, and how they handle it.

I, for one, would like to see a little empathy and understanding for the vegetarian point of view. I feel I have gone so far out of my way (which is good) to understand and "hear" and discuss with intention to really listen, all of the opinions here on this thread and others like it, from viewpoints that are not my own current ones.

I would love a little love here.

I have all the respect in the world for the intention and path of vegetarians, I seriously have no issues at all with it and I support it for whomever feels it is most appropriate for them. This whole discussion from my side has never been about "meat-eating vs vegetarianism" although I know that is the focus of the thread, it has been about acceptance of different paths. I can see clearly that my path will never be "accepted" in this thread and I will continue to be accused of murder, but that doesn't mean I think the same towards vegetarians. I have only ever used the "plants are sentient" example as a way to establish an equality of ideas but there is no equality of ideas, there is emotions and dogma.

I praise your love, compassion and choices to eat what feels most appropriate to you, I do not praise the attacks upon my character. (Which I know you, personally are not doing, but I am speaking generally, of course...)