I remember once when I was younger, one of the males in the family cut his hair. That's taboo in the Sikh faith, because uncut hair is supposed to be the physical manifestation of our inner convictions. I never quite understood the particularly dramatic reactions, such as the one displayed by my grandfather. I still don't - especially considering how the decision to wear an article of faith or subscribe to a particular religion is such a positively personal decision. Still, I sensed the disappointment; I can understand how it might have made my grandpa feel dispirited and saddened at the thought of someone close to him rejecting the tenets of a culture which has always been remarkably revolutionary and beautiful. A culture that has always stood up for the oppressed by defending women and those with lesser means. A culture which I find truly remarkable for so many reasons. However, wearing a turban/keeping one's hair is undeniably a personal decision.
Eating animals, however, is not a personal decision. A personal decision is divorced of the sort of ramifications and prerequisites that eating animals in this country currently necessitates. When you eat meat, we're not only considering that an animal had to die - we are considering how that animal had to suffer, physically and emotionally.
When my vegetarian friend - a close friend - abandoned his vegetarian diet, I felt a sorrow I hadn't felt before. I think I know how my grandpa felt.
Please reconsider.
7 comments:
Great post. As Oliver Wendell Holmes put it, "The right to swing my fist ends where the other man's nose begins."
I have been trying to wrap my head around what you wrote in the second paragraph, but it is puzzling me.
I eat meat because I like to. Nobody forced me to do it. It is a personal choice. Therefore, a personal decision. Does that not make sense ?
Being a Muslim and living here in Pakistan, If someone wants to keep a beard, that is a personal choice/decision, and I understand that. Similiarly, in Sikhism, with growing one's hair and wearing a turban.
Keeping that in mind, how come wanting to eat meat or not - how is that NOT a personal decision ?
You clearly aren't understanding my logic that a personal decision's ramifications are limited to the individual at hand.
That said, I understand that the manufacturing of animal products in Pakistan is much different in the US and I am, consequently, much less critical of it.
What I am getting from your post, is that our personal decisions have ripple-effect - that there are consequences felt by others. Does that make sense ? Maybe that's what you meant.
Maybe you are right. I guess I am too dense to understand this. I came across here randomly, I found it captivating, thanks.
Yes, Mohi. That is precisely what I mean. Thanks for stopping by my blog.
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