Comments on: Veggies and Meat http://kentonwhitman.com/2006/10/29/veggies-and-meat/ Zen-Inspired Self Development Sat, 13 Mar 2010 22:38:09 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: Isaac http://kentonwhitman.com/2006/10/29/veggies-and-meat/comment-page-1/#comment-33516 Isaac Wed, 03 Dec 2008 18:52:02 +0000 http://kentonwhitman.com/blog/2006/10/29/veggies-and-meat/#comment-33516 I loved this article. I find it interesting that there is such a vast quantity of life all around us and yet we insist on dividing it into what is "alive" and what has "life". Most people would say a tree is alive but would not entertain the notion that it has life. They might make the argument that it cannot think, communicate or make decisions and so therefore it does not have life as we do, but this is only a convention and doesnt really hold up if you really look at a tree. In order for it to live and grow it must gather information and make decisions constantly. It must grow roots not only for support and balance but also to obtain nutrients and water from the soil. It must deploy its leaves in a way to collect the most sunlight possible, and its branches to put those leaves in that position. It must communicate with its surroundings in order to gather information and make these decisions. You might say the enviroment made those choices for the tree, but is it any different from the way we make "choices"? Even science has shown that the cells in a tree communicate with each other in the same way the neurons and cells in our brains communicate in order to perform tasks. While there is no specific location for a trees brain the tree on a whole acts like a brain. A tree is born, it lives and grows, it can be harmed and scarred, it feeds and expells waste, it reproduces, it dies. The only real difference between you and a tree is that you think your existence means more or is somehow better or more important, while the tree just exists. I loved this article. I find it interesting that there is such a vast quantity of life all around us and yet we insist on dividing it into what is “alive” and what has “life”.
Most people would say a tree is alive but would not entertain the notion that it has life. They might make the argument that it cannot think, communicate or make decisions and so therefore it does not have life as we do, but this is only a convention and doesnt really hold up if you really look at a tree.
In order for it to live and grow it must gather information and make decisions constantly. It must grow roots not only for support and balance but also to obtain nutrients and water from the soil. It must deploy its leaves in a way to collect the most sunlight possible, and its branches to put those leaves in that position. It must communicate with its surroundings in order to gather information and make these decisions. You might say the enviroment made those choices for the tree, but is it any different from the way we make “choices”?
Even science has shown that the cells in a tree communicate with each other in the same way the neurons and cells in our brains communicate in order to perform tasks. While there is no specific location for a trees brain the tree on a whole acts like a brain.
A tree is born, it lives and grows, it can be harmed and scarred, it feeds and expells waste, it reproduces, it dies. The only real difference between you and a tree is that you think your existence means more or is somehow better or more important, while the tree just exists.

]]> By: AuthorMomWithDogs http://kentonwhitman.com/2006/10/29/veggies-and-meat/comment-page-1/#comment-12806 AuthorMomWithDogs Mon, 31 Dec 2007 12:35:53 +0000 http://kentonwhitman.com/blog/2006/10/29/veggies-and-meat/#comment-12806 A sticky wicket if ever there was one... As an avid organic gardener, I also see my vegetables and fruits as very much alive/ a life. As a pre-med student (many lifetimes ago) I know that our teeth, our stomach acids and the length of our intestines point to meat as being one of the significant foods our bodies were designed to eat. I long ago found the argument about not eating anything with eyes as lacking. I often see those people wearing or using leather goods or other animal byproducts without recognizing that duality. I share your view that it's not just what we eat or don't eat. It's how we love and raise what we eat. For me, as well, it's an issue of cruelty and sustainability. I feed my family for most of the year on an 1/8 acre garden. A sticky wicket if ever there was one… As an avid organic gardener, I also see my vegetables and fruits as very much alive/ a life. As a pre-med student (many lifetimes ago) I know that our teeth, our stomach acids and the length of our intestines point to meat as being one of the significant foods our bodies were designed to eat.

I long ago found the argument about not eating anything with eyes as lacking. I often see those people wearing or using leather goods or other animal byproducts without recognizing that duality. I share your view that it’s not just what we eat or don’t eat. It’s how we love and raise what we eat.

For me, as well, it’s an issue of cruelty and sustainability. I feed my family for most of the year on an 1/8 acre garden.

]]> By: Kenton Whitman http://kentonwhitman.com/2006/10/29/veggies-and-meat/comment-page-1/#comment-12275 Kenton Whitman Sat, 22 Dec 2007 14:29:53 +0000 http://kentonwhitman.com/blog/2006/10/29/veggies-and-meat/#comment-12275 Greetings Peter, As we begin to discover more and more of our similarities to other animals (I'm referring to observations of nature which show animals engaging in what many consider to be 'human' behavior -- the result of which is that more and more humans might feel a more direct connection to these animals), perhaps people will take more notice of the perspective you are sharing here. We could definitely use some awareness and compassion when deciding what we eat (and how to treat it during its life). Thanks for adding this perspective. Sweetwater, Kenton Greetings Peter,

As we begin to discover more and more of our similarities to other animals (I’m referring to observations of nature which show animals engaging in what many consider to be ‘human’ behavior — the result of which is that more and more humans might feel a more direct connection to these animals), perhaps people will take more notice of the perspective you are sharing here. We could definitely use some awareness and compassion when deciding what we eat (and how to treat it during its life). Thanks for adding this perspective.

Sweetwater,
Kenton

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