> In a sense my question is rhetorical, there is no right or wrong answer,
> but I am interested to hear people's opinions and rationale. Is it
> better to renounce your power and fight against the ills inside the
> system from the outside of the system? Or: Should you embrace the
> power you have and use it to influence and effect change from within the
> system.
The power is illusion, like the control an alcoholic believes alcohol
will give them. Just as you cannot create a more sober society by
drinking more, you cannot bring about true change by becoming an
oppressor. And if you are not a top notch oppressor, your power will
be severely limited.
I am a believer in both. I think we should create the communities
that we would like to live in now. And I think that outside of those
communities, we need to use the power of democracy to bring about
change in the system. Because, until the system of oppression falls,
it is the system under which we must live, whether sheltered by our
own communities or not.
Stephen
>From [EMAIL PROTECTED] Mon Sep 16 13:49:11 1996
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Subject: Re: non-vegetarianism and environmental interest
In-reply-to: Your message of "Mon, 16 Sep 1996 13:22:34 EDT."
<c=US%a=_%p=J?[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Date: Mon, 16 Sep 1996 11:29:17 -0700
From: "Stephen R. Figgins" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
I just have to reply to some of what people are writing about the
"luxury of choosing a vegetarian diet." There seems to be an
assumption here that meat is cheaper than vegetarian foods. In
actuality, in many places in the world, choosing to eat meat is the
luxury.
While it is true that the homeless and starving should probably eat
anything they can get their hands on, whether it is meat or whatever.
It seems to me that if we weren't feeding tons and tons of food to
animals for slaughter we would have sooooo much food available that we
could feed millions of impoverished people for next to nothing.
Okay... there are places where eating meat is a more ecological
choice, northern climes where growing seasons are short. But just
about anyone who can afford to buy food, can afford to buy food for a
vegetarian diet, and spend less money than someone who was buying
meat.
And then there is the assumption that if we were suddenly to be tossed
in the wilderness we would have to eat meat... well, I think it would
be much much easier to gather food for a vegetarian diet than expend
the energy hunting down animals. I think you would find yourself
eating by necessity a largely vegetarian diet.
What stupid stupid arguements for eating meat. And what a stupid
arguement against advocating a vegetarian diet for those who have the
ability to choose. And it does not address at all the attitudes that
lead us to such a horrible meat industry, massive environmental
damage, and a completely unhealthy habit.
Stephen
