I never said it was bad, but if we consider the massive amount of unnecessary, processed slaughter of sentient beings, which
definitely feel pain, suffering, and emotions, is not entirely necessary on the scale that is currently popular in Western countries. Compare this to countries like India, which sustains a very large population on a mostly vegetarian diet. Meat and Dairy companies have a vested interest in perpetuating mass consumption of meat.
Quote:
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Originally Posted by Henry David Thoreau
“One farmer says to me, 'You cannot live on vegetable food solely, for it furnishes nothing to make bones with;'
and so he religiously devotes a part of his day to supplying his system with the raw material of bones;
walking all the while he talks behind his oxen, which, with vegetable-made bones,
jerk him and his lumbering plow along in spite of every obstacle.”
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I grew up on a cattle farm; I bonded with animals regularly and sent them off to slaughter. I felt off about it then, and feel off about it now, as I can't really avoid thinking about the being the meat came from whenever I eat it. Paying attention to that association has naturally led to a decreased consumption of meat, and generally have less digestive problems. But I still eat meat a few times a month, which is why I mentioned decreasing for most meat-eating Americans. It certainly couldn't hurt.
All this being said, I acknowledge that our shift to become omnivores started back when we were ape-like beings that were opportunistic eaters, and ate insects and grubs, so. It was on natural that as our ancestors migrated away from the stable crescent of Africa, into colder regions, the opportunistic eating trend is probably the only thing that allowed our ancestors to survive long periods of freezing cold. That being said, our evolutionary line has also been supported by cannibalism and rape, as a necessity, no doubt, so that's the other side of the coin.