Today I am writing on food and in particular meat versus vegetables. I am fascinated with food and its many complexities.

Yesterday as I was writing music on the computer, I received a link in email that said if I watch "this video" I'll never want to eat meat again. So I took a break and watched the video with my usual suspicion and cynicism toward anything on the internet. I proceeded to watch the disgusting slaughter of various animals from chickens to cattle to pigs and finally to turkeys. I watched a sick display of poor conditions, uncaring practices, and a gleeful joy at the suffering of animals. I found myself in shock as I saw the destruction and pain that was inflicted on countless animals for the sake of beef, pork, and poultry on the dinner table. I visually witnessed the sick depradation of innocent animals from newborns to maturity. I realized as I watched this video how much our heads are "in the sand" when we eat meat. As I finished the video, I decided to become a vegetarian!

Yet in the emotional aftermath of thinking about the video, I realize that I probably watched the worst most inhumane examples of animal treatment. Often we see the extreme and accept that as the norm. Videos are made to elicit an emotional reaction.

In truth, however, there is probably not a perfect, clean and painless method to slaughter an animal. Everytime we eat meat of any kind, an animal was killed for it. The hunting and killing of animals is not exactly a new thing in culture. Man has survived and grown through dominion of the animals as instructed by Biblical law. At the same time, only the most hardened uncaring human would not react to the harsh treatment dealt to animals. Rarely have I seen a human not react positively to a little puppy or a kitten, and a baby goat is always playful and heart-warming.

Yet I am a hunter and a meat eater. I am a better eater than a hunter but have shot a few deer in my life. I love meat of all kinds and anticipate with great excitement many meals of delicious, delectable meat. There is a part of me that refuses to allow the propaganda of an internet video to determine my menu for the future. If I want to eat meat, it is my right to do so regardless of the circumstances of how it ended up on my plate.

On the other hand, perhaps a meal of vegatables without meat is actually beneficial to the body. Certainly a meal of broccoli, asparagus, salad, potatos, and corn is healthy and has enough variety to meet the needs of our taste buds. What tastes better than a newly grilled corn on the cob, or celery dipped in peanut butter? How about some fruit with that meal including blueberries and strawberries and perhaps tomatoes in your salad? All of this sounds appetizing to me.

So in conclusion, I have decided to take a few months and avoid meat when possible and emphasize fruits and vegetables in my diet. Please understand I am not an animal rights activist and am not generally a political liberal; however, I can certainly see some health and even emotional benefits to avoiding meat for awhile anyway.

I will keep my readers informed as to my reactions to a diet without meat. Having gone through an all protein diet filled full of meat, I am looking forward to experiencing no meat.