In regards to eating meat

[Monica]

Someone with an unbalanced view

According to whom? who gets to decide that the person's view is unbalanced?

which is clouding this person's mind and makes him/her to go to the extreme

Can you give an example of anyone going to an 'extreme' in this thread?

when sharing that view with others, such as infringing.

Speaking only of a discussion forum wherein everyone is there voluntarily of their own free will, Is honestly sharing one's views, even though they might be unpopular, infringing on other-selves?

being disrespectful towards other selves.

Is calling someone a name like zealot or fanatic disrespectful?

It depends on what this person does.

If the person hears the cries of the oppressed, and sincerely thought there might be a chance to trigger some compassion in some spiritually oriented people, and thus speaks honestly, openly, and passionately, begging for compassion for the oppressed brothers and sisters, is that extremist?

Would you agree that tone is something that is very difficult to assess, when we have only typed words on a computer screen, and lack being able to see facial expressions or hear the tone of voice?

Yes.

Would you agree that we all sometimes misperceive tone, because of our own preconceived ideas, biases, and distortions?

Yes.

Then how can you be so sure that you have detected disrespect in someone tone? since you have only their written words... Is it possible you were simply wrong in your perception of their tone?

What do you think is actually causing the separation?

Among many things, disrespect.

Can you provide an example of this disrespect?

How can the vegetarians be true to their convictions?

By being vegetarians.

Apparently I have failed to convey what is driving many vegetarians.

It isn't enough to just be vegetarians ourselves, when our younger brothers and sisters are being oppressed, to the point of torture and slaughter, by the millions each day.

Therefore, our convictions require that we do what we can to raise awareness among those who are contributing to this torture and slaughter.

How, then, do we honor our own convictions, while still honoring the free will of our 3D other-selves, who, in our view, are violating the will of our 2D other-selves?

To be honest with you: I perceive the above kind of statements as an "attack". They do make me to go into a defensive mode. I am consciously aware of that. But I want to be honest with you, that I personally don't find the above kind of statements helpful in this discusssion.

Then you have perceived incorrectly, for it wasn't my intention to 'attack' you in any way!! It was simply an honest question.

You have spoken of disrespect, and you have spoken of your desire for peace and harmony in this thread.

So I ask you an honest question: Would you prefer that the vegetarians give up our convictions, in order to have peace and harmony?

Would you prefer that we censor ourselves, like we do at the grocery store and at Christmas dinner?

Are we asking too much, to ask that we be accepted for who we are, including our convictions?

Are we expecting too much, to hope that we might be able to speak openly and honestly, in a discussion about this topic, in a forum dedicated to the tenets of the Law of One, including Acceptance of other-selves? Are we wrong to hope that we might be accepted without censoring our deepest convictions?

Are peace and harmony more important than honoring our own personal convictions? If that is the only way the meat-eaters will accept us - if we surrender our convictions and keep our mouths shut - then would you prefer that we do that?

Honest questions, Ankh.

In my opinion, the harmony is restored by respect.

This has been proven false. This thread has been fraught with disharmony, regardless of how 'nice' and respectful the vegetarians were. Some vegetarians, including myself, apologized almost to the point of groveling, for having the audacity to express our viewpoints.

It didn't help at all.

Can you consider, Ankh, that the meat-eaters won't accept the vegetarians no matter how nice and respectful they are, as long as they continue to express their convictions?

Can you consider, Ankh, that it is the meat-eaters' lack of acceptance of the vegetarians' convictions, that is causing the discord?

This lack of acceptance is displayed in plain sight, for all to see. I have asked several times whether any meat-eater has increased their compassion of vegetarians because of this discussion. Two people came forth privately, but none have come forth publicly.

The vegetarians cannot express who they are, without being ridiculed, judged, and labeled. As a stark example, I just poured out my heart and soul in my last post. I almost begged for compassion, if not understanding.

So far, you are the only one who has answered. And you chose to completely ignore all the important points I made, in favor of being offended by the honest question I asked of you.

I am starting to understand it now, Monica. In my own view it wouldn't present any problems, if not these opinions were so passionately disseminated to a point where I personally have been *afraid* of speaking here, in the past. I know I am not alone on this.

This is a single thread, among hundreds, in a single forum, among thousands on the internet.

In contrast, we vegetarians are 'afraid' of speaking openly and honestly, on a daily basis, with virtually everyone we meet.

We are censored, in everyday life, all the time.

I'm sorry you felt restricted, Ankh, but there is really no comparison between the minor restriction you felt, and the major restriction and censorship we must endure, on a daily basis.

One example: some days ago, a member asked about something in this thread, and you, among others, gave advices to this member. So I thought - why not? And I made a post, *quoting* this member. But instantly, there was reply by you, diminishing what I had to say. I wish that we all would be able to play along here, nicely, while respecting each other.

So your example is that I posted my opinion?

???

Since when is posting an opinion somehow wrong? Is it because you didn't like my opinion?

May I respectfully remind you of forum guideline #1:

1) Respect. Compassion. Loving-kindness. Empathy. Trust. Goodwill. Desire to serve. Embracing each other. Opening our heart. Participants are asked to keep the thought in the forefront of their minds at all times that each on this forum IS the Creator. Please keep communication respectful at all times and in all ways. The participant may disagree to the bone with an idea without personally attacking the author of the idea. Please remember that we are all here to expand our knowledge, deepen our understanding, and support one another by reflecting our divinity to each other. We are One being -- we are not here to forget the real.

How could one person's opinion 'diminish' another person's opinion?

I cannot be accused of violating this guideline. I have bent over backwards to consistently insist that no one analyze anyone personally on this thread, despite the countless times others have tried to make it personal.

Just now, you made it personal.

Are you speaking to me personally now, or just in general?

Except for when I addressed you by name, I was referring to anyone in general.

Can you have compassion for our dilemma?

I admit: I have problems with compassion when I am lectured, taught, and informed like I was a kid standing in front of a teacher. If you wish to teach, Monica, you have to learn.

I find this antagonistic. I have always been willing to learn, in many various discussions on this forum.

In the area of animal cruelty, however, I happen to have more knowledge about the topic than many of the meat-eaters here. I will not censor myself or pretend to know less than I do. I won't "dumb myself down" just to be accepted.

If you are unable or unwilling to accept that I happen to have some knowledge about the topic, then just who is it that is refusing to learn from others?

I am happy to learn from you and from anyone else, Ankh, about a lot of things. But I'm not likely to learn much about how to help save the animals, from those who eat animals.

I believe that you would do much more effective teaching, if you could find a method of how to convey your conviction with an understanding and compassion towards whom you are speaking with.

So now you are saying I lack compassion?

I just bared my soul to you, Ankh. I almost begged for compassion from you and the others, and you told me you were unable to give it.

And then you tell me I lack compassion?

THAT would also solve your polarity question, in my fallible opinion.

My polarity question??

WOW. I am stunned.

So now you are questioning my polarity??

You have not only made this personal, but now presume to analyze my polarity???

The questions that I have now is: how shall we play along with each other in this thread? As I said, this is probably a most disharmonious thread in this forum. Why do you think it is so? What does it depend on? What is the reason for that? And how shall we solve it?

Well, for starters, how about having an objective discussion about the topic, without making it personal? How about not analyzing someone's polarity, as if you had the right to do that, or even could do that?