This is way better than the end of The Omnivore's Dilemma

[rebeccmeister]

I wish I had read this article when it first came out instead of just now, but it provides a really nice contrast to the fourth section of The Omnivore's Dilemma, which was my least favorite part of the book.

Comments

[crume.livejournal.com]

Thank you for that link.

[boolean263.livejournal.com]

That's certainly an interesting read! It's really fascinating how his experimentation with hunting his own food causes him to reflect on so many things, like the death of his ex-girlfriend's father under his care.

I'm also having trouble articulating how I feel about it. I don't think he's a brute, not consciously. He makes good points about how close it brings you to the cycle of life -- and to your food, in a way that buying slabs of something on styrofoam doesn't. Yet, for some reason it makes me uneasy, and I can't really describe why.

I've done some experimentation with eating more vegetarian meals, not for the animal cruelty aspect but for the environmental impact. I find it difficult, but then I find feeding myself difficult these days anyway. I'm a conflicted man when it comes to my principles. (: I like shopping at the grocery store right across the street, because it's within walking distance. But there isn't much selection in there, much less of any vegetarian food. The next nearest grocery store I'm aware of is nearly 4km away, and I try to avoid shopping there because it's styled as a Wal-Mart competitor, with a slim selection of huge-run products that have no relation, even remotely, to groceries. The food selection is better, though, somewhat. But then, even if I don't look for vegetarian food components, I don't shop very well. I don't buy much because I feel guilty buying it -- whether it's meat, or non-locally-grown produce -- and thus my meals aren't always adequately substantial, particularly for a runner's increased dietary needs.

For whatever it's worth, beef is not a part of my diet (except on rare occasions when it would be rude to decline and I don't feel like evangelizing). I don't think I'd be able to eat meat at all if I knew more about its treatment on its way to my plate, and especially if I did what that author did and experimented with killing my own meat.

[faisdodo.livejournal.com]

god, that article was excellent.

i need to read the omnivore's dilemma.