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I have been a non meat eater for about 25 years. I don't use the word vegetarian anymore because I think it puts a label on us for being extreme and isolationist. I am so not into this label at all. The fact is that I am an animal lover, work with animals for a living, and know how all of our animals raised for meat are treated, poorly at best. For those of us who are pet owners and lovers, we could never do this to our companions. A dog, cat, bird, or whatever species one shares their life with deserves the same respect and treatment as a non companion animal. I try to live a peaceful eco friendly way of life, and eating factory farmed meat is contradictory to this lifestyle.
My circle of friends include both meat eaters and non meat eaters, however we respect each others values. I also have friends that raise and slaughter their own animals but I still respect them for the value and respect that they place on what they are about to consume.
Ethically, I am opposed to any sort of violence both human and animal so I try very hard to avoid violence within reason. The world is a violent place, but there are ways to avoid violence without from a common sense perspective. I also realize that there is always going to be some sort of impact from my consumption, so I try to lessen it as best as I can. I cannot kill an animal, and I won't let someone else do it for me, so I avoid it all together.
For the last 25 years that I have been a non meat eater, I always hope that someone learns something from the choices that I have made. Education is the best the tool for convincing someone and I respect someone who just considers reducing their consumption of meat.
Olivia
Launched in August 2010, TheMetropreneur.com is a local online resource devoted to small business development and entrepreneurship. Its aim is to tell the stories of Central Ohio's business community, foster regional economic development and assist entrepreneurs with its resource-heavy focus.