In regards to eating meat

[Diana]

They are just totally in a state of disconnect, and this view is reinforced by many of our cherished institutions, and to a certain degree by a few (not all) anti-meat activists who seem to think it is just fine for humans to consume all manner of processed and petroleum-derived foodstuffs just so long as it isn't meat.

Could we please, for the sake of this discussion, assume that none of the vegetarians on this site are the anti-meat activists you describe, who are so militant that they will eat all manner of junk so long as it's not meat. I don't know a single person like that, and certainly no one here is proposing such preposterous behavior.

This discussion keeps coming to points like this, and I don't see the efficacy of it here. Aren't we trying to explore this issue and its "higher" implications? It has been repeatedly said that vegetarians are pointing the finger at meat-eaters saying it is "wrong." It's not wrong, as nothing is wrong, and no one has said it is wrong that I recall. It is a choice.

The disconnect comes from not being aware, and not making a conscious choice.

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Not to open this whole can of worms... but if plants were found to experience pain and suffering, would you advise not eating them as well?

This can of worms is already open and has been addressed at length in this thread .

Plants have an entirely different existence, which in some cases relies upon parts being eaten (fruit being the prime example). Much more on this in earlier posts.

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I would say it is the potential to evolve beyond our dualistic mindset... right/wrong, good/bad, black/white, democrat/republican, my team/your team, (the list goes on forever) which is the fulcrum upon which our peaceful and harmonious coexistence rests.

This seems to suggest to me that you view the peaceful and harmonious existence as only involving humans and humans. There are plants, animals, minerals, the planet earth itself; all manner of life to be in peaceful coexistence with.