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Is Meat Murder?

Entries may be a little edited for clarity or brevity. The views expressed do not necessarily reflect those of PakPositive.

By Faraz Talat

Being a meat-lover and a dedicated follower of Atkins all-protein diet program, I may not be the best person to preach this issue. But even I’m beginning to feel the sting of moral consciousness.

With every passing year, our world changes dramatically. Centuries ago, killing people for land and gold was no taboo. When that was rectified, the problem of mistreatment of women remained. With the passage of time, inhumane practices like satti were banned and many others like torture and hunting are now severely frowned upon, if not completely eradicated from the society.

People who whine about the fur trade in the fashion industry have no problem ignoring the fact they eat meat nearly everyday. Is THAT meat grown on trees? Or is that procured by means which they call murder.

The halal (for Muslims) or kosher (for Jews) meat is produced in a horrifically excruciating way that most of us tend to ignore. The animal is slowly bled to death. It’s neck is cut up till the vertebral column, leaving the spinal cord intact to transmit pain impulses for as long as the animal remains alive.

Having learnt ways to grow, process and even manufacture an abundance of healthy, nutritious food with a great variety to choose from, why is it that we insist on consuming that which is procured from the pain and suffering of animals?

Posted: February 10th, 2010
  • http://profiles.yahoo.com/u/GOSN5RACYEAY2QQ2DTKQ5KOY2U Goraya

    Dear Faraz,
    Your questions are to some extent genuine but this is an end less debate. Somethings to enhance ur knowledge
    Plants are equally living things and they feel pain even. They have sensors etc.SO next step is to stop eating plant products is it really possible?
    Now about meat it’s very simple that be humane and as per my scientific knowledge they religious way of slaughtering is less painful than cutting throat at once ,it seems good in theory what u talk about but real side is different.We breed animals for food purpose just like plants both are living things and if we really need to go for any of these we should adopt least pain giving techniques and we should consume as per need not excessive. becoming a vegeterian can be a choice like most of the times I avoid meat but animal rights activism is a very old debate just google it you would very clear answers to your question from Religious , economic and other points .

    It’s not just religion who teaches to eat Animals it has a history of need and demand. this is a complete food chain not just about humans .In this cycle we all are dependent on each other we eat others and we are food for others at the same time. What about other species of our animal kingdom who eat other animals.We are from Same kngdom but difference is that we r most developed but still we are unable to go out of this food chain .But excess of everything is bad.

  • Anonymous

    I appreciate the feedback. You seem misinformed in some areas, so I’ll clarify this further:

    -Yes, plants are responsive to various stimuli, but nociception (pain) isn’t one of them. It’s been scientifically proven. Pain is a defense mechanism afforded only by the species with most sophisticated nervous systems.

    -You BELIEVE that the halal way of slaughtering does not cause the animal to feel pain, but anyone with the slightest knowledge of anatomy and physiology would say otherwise. Besides, goats don’t struggle and bleat loudly because they DON’T feel any pain.

    -You’re absolutely right about the need and demand…but not in this era. We have a wide variety of nutritious, protein-rich, vegetarian foods to fill our energy needs these days. Plus fruits/vegetables are less expensive and more energy-efficient than meat.

  • Goraya

    Dear Faraz,

    Your questions are to some extent genuine but this is an end less debate. Somethings to enhance ur knowledge
    Plants are equally living things and they feel pain even. They have sensors etc.SO next step is to stop eating plant products is it really possible?

    Now about meat it’s very simple that be humane and as per my scientific knowledge they religious way of slaughtering is less painful than cutting throat at once ,it seems good in theory what u talk about but real side is different.We breed animals for food purpose just like plants both are living things and if we really need to go for any of these we should adopt least pain giving techniques and we should consume as per need not excessive. becoming a vegeterian can be a choice like most of the times I avoid meat but animal rights activism is a very old debate just google it you would very clear answers to your question from Religious , economic and other points .

    It’s not just religion who teaches to eat Animals it has a history of need and demand. this is a complete food chain not just about humans .In this cycle we all are dependent on each other we eat others and we are food for others at the same time. What about other species of our animal kingdom who eat other animals.We are from Same kngdom but difference is that we r most developed but still we are unable to go out of this food chain .But excess of everything is bad.

  • Faraz

    I appreciate the feedback. You seem misinformed in some areas, so I’ll clarify this further:

    -Yes, plants are responsive to various stimuli, but nociception (pain) isn’t one of them. It’s been scientifically proven. Pain is a defense mechanism afforded only by the species with most sophisticated nervous systems.

    -You BELIEVE that the halal way of slaughtering does not cause the animal to feel pain, but anyone with the slightest knowledge of anatomy and physiology would say otherwise. Besides, goats don’t struggle and bleat loudly because they DON’T feel any pain.

    -You’re absolutely right about the need and demand…but not in this era. We have a wide variety of nutritious, protein-rich, vegetarian foods to fill our energy needs these days. Plus fruits/vegetables are less expensive and more energy-efficient than meat.

  • Ali

    With all due respect to your opinion, I believe you are misinformed and quite impressed with the limited knowledge available to all of us from our (human) research. There is also another source of knowledge which I believe is from the creator of this universe on which I trust more simply because our knowledge is limited, what we learned in early days of science has created huge issues for all life on this planet e.g. pollution. Now we see that what was right then is horrible for tomorrow. On the other hand animals we eat still are in abundance ever since. So yes, I would follow the system and trust the knowledge provided by the Great Creator of this whole planet more than some people who are still learning and know not all but very little.

  • MeatEatingisnotNatural

    Faraz Talat..u r totally awesome for bringing this debate to fore..
    Checkout “Eating Animals” by Joanathan Safran
    and “Animal Kind” by Jean Kazez
    Why Do We Love Dogs (or Horses), Eat Pigs and Wear Cows? by Dr. Melanie Joy
    First two books are available for illegal online download in torrent sites..plz buy them,if u hav meet a paradigm change by reading them and switch to a moral vegetarian lifestyle.
    I see denial in this forum debate..by hiding under Creator’s words etc..poor substitute for using your head..
    Like Melanie Joy says carnists’ defense mechanism is the THREE Ns – Meat eating is Normal,Natural & Necessary
    All of them all BS and a self-defense mechanism to hide their brutal&barbaric choice to be a carnist.
    I’m posting all relevant links here so that people can make a conscious educated effort at reforming themselves and switch to an ethical&healthy living devoid of meat.
    http://bitchmagazine.org/post/the-biotic-woman-a-conversation-about-carnism-with-melanie-joy-pt-2
    http://bitchmagazine.org/post/the-biotic-woman-a-conversation-about-carnism-with-melanie-joy-pt-1

  • Ali 03008097198

    I see denial in this forum debate..by hiding under Creator’s words etc..poor substitute for using your head..
    Like Melanie Joy says carnists’ defense mechanism is the THREE Ns – Meat eating is Normal,Natural & Necessary

    03008097198
    03008097199

  • Faraz

    Ali,

    I think I’m sufficiently informed. I’m a medical doctor.

    There’s nothing in meat that we cannot derive from plant-based foods. Mushrooms and Tofu taste almost exactly like meat, and they can provide as much protein as we need. No the “N” for “Necessary” is no longer applicable.

    “Natural” is only the way we perceive things. Or are you trying to imply that vegetarians are “unnatural”?

  • Hassas

    I totally agree with Faraz’s view. I would also go by the source of knowledge which I believe is from the creator of this universe on which I trust more simply because our knowledge of the men is limited.

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