A Happy Healthy Vegan
As a 63 year old vegan for the past 22 years I have heard all the pro and con arguments above as well as hundreds of others. This is not an issue for me; having made the decision years ago to no longer use and abuse any other animal for my personal pleasure. My choice is to walk a compassionate path through life that sees all living creatures having value in their own personal journeys. Suffering and compassion are the yin and yang of progressive as well as conservative thought regarding the treatment of all animals on earth; remembering that humans are animals too.
There is a mindset that develops from education over a period of time that includes personal experiences and relationships with both people and our non-human companions. It would be nice to see a larger number of people adopting a meat-free diet for whatever reason that befits their personal plan. But the long history of a culture that worships a meat centric meal is a lot to overcome in a short period of time. Perhaps one day, before we have destroyed our ability to sustain human life on this planet, there will become a realization that meat is not only unnecessary for our survival, but rather a significant motivation to move toward a plant-based diet.
For those who have already made up their minds on the matter of consuming flesh, the issue has been settled. For those who have retained an open mind to the concept, I invite you to do some basic research on the vegan lifestyle and learn what it means to live sustainably without harming other sentient life. There is another world of possibilities awaiting those who chose to take the road less traveled. The contrariant is often rewarded when armed with knowledge.
