Animal-Killing

I met up with a couple of friends for drinks late one night and we start snacking on some deliciously meaty foods. Sure enough, there were vegetarians in the mix. Don't get me wrong, I respect people's life choices (can you sense the but coming? oh, it's coming!), but meat is so very, very delicious.... And I LOVE TO EAT.

And then one of the vegetarians said something akin to: "I think everyone should be forced to at least kill and prep an animal at some point before they're able to eat meat." In the moment I thought, "Heh, no problem!" I've never had to kill an animal before eating it, though. But over my trip in Colombia, I really started thinking about it and I don't know if I can do it, or, rather, if I would want to kill an animal just to eat it. I started big (cow), medium (chickens), and then small (fish). Even with fish, the thought of letting it flop around on land unable to "breathe" until it died seems ridiculously cruel just so I could eat it.

So, I'm at a crossroads. On the one hand, meat is so good. On the other hand, I really wouldn't want to kill any living thing just to eat it. And I guess I've compromised: I'll continue my meat-eating ways (so good) but also minimize it whenever possible, especially when I'm cooking at home. Honestly, if I wanted to be a full-fledged vegetarian (not even seafood), I can do it. I'm definitely living in an area that enables that lifestyle with super-delicious vegetarian cuisine. But I love the smell, texture, and flavor of meat-products too much to give it up altogether, even though hypocritically-speaking, I know I would be hard-pressed to kill the animal that lost its life for my brunch (sorry, Porky!).

So, friends, where do you stand on this whole vegetarian thing? I know my niece avoids meat-products for environmental reasons but continues to eat seafood (hopefully sustainable ones!); what about you?

My favorite meal while in Colombia just happened to be completely meatless from Boulevard Sesamo in Bogota. The meal came with a fruit drink, soup, salad bar, and this platter which was well-flavored and delicious(!) for 7,300-pesos (approximately $3.50-USD).