In a post made today, Becky asks if there can be found a solid reason for not being a vegetarian that does not lie within taste preference. Before answering this question, I would like to take a snap at a couple other of her points.
"I have a hard time comprehending the argument that, someone is too busy to be a vegetarian."
While I can see where Becky is coming from in terms of meal preparations, I can also see the flip side of this argument and tend to agree with it more. Taking a trip to the grocery store and searching for vegetarian options is often much longer than say someone who simply needs ground beef and a box of Hamburger Helper. It's not as simple as looking at a label of something and saying, "Alright, this seems vegetarian friendly!" Rather, I am often forced to look at ingredients and really check to make sure there are no animal products or byproducts. And in addition, vegetarians have to cook a wider variety of meals that are usually very extensive in order to get all the necessary nutrients. So yes, I think it is very time-consuming.
"The Peer pressure argument, is not valid by itself"
It most definitely is. Sarah made a good point in class today from Fast Food Nation which I have also read. Vegetarian options are very limited at many fast-food restaurants. Thus, when you are going out with your friends, often your preferences will sway the group. In addition, when a friend has you over for dinner, they will make sure to prepare something vegetarian for you and possibly everyone to consume. Purchasing and eating power shift in a vegetarian direction. On the other side, meat eating is heavily influenced by peer pressure. Why become a vegetarian when my family and friends all consume meat? Why pay more money for something I can get for a $1 at Burger King? The reasons are numerous, both close to and far from home.
Now with those points addressed, I will address the main question at hand about something other than taste preference deciding vegetarianism. First, I believe you could use any one of the above two as a very valid excuse. I hear them every single day from everyone around me.We don't see them as legitimate, but to the meat-eater they are.
One could also argue that you are selling them "liberal propaganda" in order to stop the consumption of animals and pervert the natural order. I hear this from my family mostly every other week. The facts aren't there! The facts are made up! People love the truth, but they hate the facts. And it makes ignorance a truly blissful cheeseburger to devour.
Another argument could be the many social and political ramifications we have discussed. The farming industry is heavily subsidized and provides a significant amount of jobs. And it's not just agriculture, but those who supply their products. If McDonald's went out of business next year due to a mass vegetarian movement, can you just imagine the economic and social chaos? It would be madness. Nobody would want that on their hands.
Now, sure, I'm playing the Devil's advocate here, but I think you see the point. As Jacob said, nothing is black and white. To say something is absolutely right or absolutely wrong is all a matter of preference and conviction. I wish more people had the conviction that animal consumption is wrong, but that's not the case. And until they do, the above arguments will continue to be argued. We can only hope that by offering solutions to these things that there will be a slow movement in the other direction.
Until then, I will continue to be a vegetarian and spread the knowledge this course has provided me with far and wide.
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