Monday, 2 June 2008

Why I Decided to Become a Vegetarian

After holding vegetarianism in contempt for so long, I finally capitulated and became a vegetarian myeslf. I thought the day would never come. The conversion, I think, symbolizes the fundamental ideological and philosophical changes I have undergone in the last year or so - primarily a dramatic shift towards progressivism. I remain a libertarian at heart, but alas, I am young and naive, and my compassion has tilted my views towards the left.

It is compassion that is at the heart of my decision to go veggie. Compassion for the environment, primarily, which is greatly harmed by the meat industry, but also compassion for the countless animals who are treated inhumanely. Although I am aware that certain meat-raising practices are both humane and environmentally sustainable, I wish to go beyond assuaging my feeling of guilt, I wish to raise awareness to the cause, and I think that is done better through vegetarianism than through selective meat-eating.

So there you have it, my conversion in a nut-shell. Wish me luck.

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