The first time I was asked this I was completely taken back and chuckled a little after recovering from my confusion. On a subsequent visit I built up the courage to ask, "don't you mean: what kind of meat would you like?" I was told, "we have been asked not to refer to this as meat but as a protein source."
Interesting. I believe that is a confession that, for whatever reason, the word protein is more politically correct than meat.
So what do you think? Is UC Irvine being a little over the top here? Is this type of goofy behavior perceived at the other universities or jobs you are familiar with? (I didn't say the behavior is bad or wrong, just that stuff like this sounds silly.)
I guess no one has to feel bad about the slaughter of protein, eh?
ReplyDeleteSeparating ourselves from real life doesn't help anyone. I think it's a shame we do not hold real wakes, with preparing the bodies in homes for the kids to see. I also think it's a shame we are so far from our food source that animals are now only viewed as a form of protein.
Soylent Green is human flesh!
rameumptom, interesting points and reference to Soylent Green.
ReplyDeleteAnd yes, I believe for many humans it is really easy to eat meat as long as you didn't have to witness the animal being slaughtered. As long as we are kept at a distance "from our food source", as you say, we feel more comfortable. I won't argue with that at all.
I think the problem stems from the fact that in modern America, the only animals we come in contact with are pets, so we tend to think of food sources as pets. And since no one wants to kill Old Yeller, people become uncomfortable with eating meat.
ReplyDeleteIt might be advantageous for everyone in America to go fishing or hunting at least once and kill, clean, and eat a "protein source". Since vegetarians are generally more healthy than the average American, causing a few more people to be unwilling to eat "protein" probably wouldn't hurt.
I've noticed that college campuses tend to be hotbeds for vegetarians and vegans. I wonder if that happens because young people are just discovering how "protein" is placed on their plate or if it's simply an effect of the generally liberal climate.
ReplyDeleteNick said: "Since vegetarians are generally more healthy than the average American"
ReplyDeleteI think this an important point. I am not a vegetarian, nor do I think I could be if I tried, nor do I think it is the morally right thing to do.
However, in this country I see vegetarians given a hard time for their lifestyle. People always make fun of them. Look, these people are healthier and will live longer than the rest of us, on average, so i think in some sense the wrong group is getting picked on here.
"college campuses tend to be hotbeds for vegetarians and vegans"
ReplyDeletePersonally, I think this has more to do with young people being curious about alternative lifestyles. I think people testing out stuff like vegetarianism isn't just prevalent in colleges, but also prevalent among young people.
I bet f you rounded up a bunch of people in their teens and twenties who are not enrolled in collage you would find vegetarianism to be higher than the older population.
So the trendy co-ed gyms should be referred to as 'protein markets'? =:)
ReplyDeleteOur neighbors moved to Germany for a few years. There the protein sources are less processed at the markets. They were closer to the animal when they purchased their protein. They came back as vegetarians and continue as such to this day.
"Our neighbors moved to Germany for a few years."
ReplyDeleteI would be interested how vegetarianism varies from country to country.
"in this country I see vegetarians given a hard time for their lifestyle"
ReplyDeleteMy experience, which is concentrated in academic settings, is that most people will make an honest effort to accommodate other people's dietary restrictions. Every Monday our department has has a pizza lunch for the colloquium speaker and the grad students. We have two vegetarians and one vegan (that I know of) in the department, but every week we have at least 1 vegetarian and 1 vegan pizza, despite the fact that the people in question often don't show up. And that would be a problem except some of us that do eat meat have grown to like pizza with vegan crust (no eggs or butter) and non-dairy cheese (it's really not as bad as you would think).
Interestingly, I have found that people generally regard the fact that I don't drink alcohol the same way they would if I didn't eat meat, so I feel I have a little insight into living life with "protein".
"Interestingly, I have found that people generally regard the fact that I don't drink alcohol the same way they would if I didn't eat meat, so I feel I have a little insight into living life with "protein"."
ReplyDeleteI have heard that the vegetarian nutrition is not good for pregnant women and children, but alcohol neither ; so I think it should not be confused. Otherwise knowing that for our ancestors it should have been very difficult to survive during the winter (in Europe for example)without eating meat (and wearing furs), it seems that it should be natural to us to eat some ; and the fact to acknowledge that beasts do not have a soul does help to eat their flesh I think. But it is true that vegetarian foods do not taste too bad sometime.
I did leave a comment for “Good talk on cheating…”