The best of the (Slovakian) Tatras pt. 2

The best of the (Slovakian) Tatras pt. 1

Nothing wrong with veggie dogs

The choices that we vegetarians and vegans have made are often questioned by individuals who eat meat. Issues are often raised to try to undermine the validity of our choices, to expose them as either "hypocritical" or just plain wrong. Some of these are typical, others less so. Sitting firmly in the second category is one I've heard several times in the past year or so: That eating soy-based (and other) meat alternatives proves that we need meat. How? Because (according to the argument) the very existence of these substitutes means that we obviously have a craving for meat, a craving that has to be fulfilled. The same people have gone on to say that they just don't understand how someone who has given up meat would want to be reminded of the flavor in the first place.

I don't really see what the big deal is. Part of the reason that these products exist is to provide us with the nutritional value of meat, albeit without the nasty side effects of animal fats, and without the ethical fallout related to making millions of sentient beings suffer and die. So is it strange for vegetarians to continue eating hot dogs, even if they are veggie hot dogs? At this point it's important to ask oneself why people consume meat alternatives. If it's only because they hate the taste of meat, then yes, eating veggie dogs could be viewed as somewhat paradoxical. If, however, they stopped eating meat for ethical or health reasons, then buying these products should not be viewed as strange. Many of us in North and South America, Europe, and many other parts of the world, have grown up eating certain meat-based dishes. I, like many vegans, only started to have a problem with the taste of meat when I began (rightfully) associating it with what it represents - the suffering and murder of innocent beings. These days, when I buy meat substitutes, it's because I want to be reminded of some of the food I grew up with, without having to partake in the actual death cycle of the meat industry. There is nothing wrong with that.

In fact, the way I see it, the more pant-based versions of traditionally meat-based dishes there are, the better. It's not easy to get people to switch over to a completely meat-free diet. The addiction to meat is often a powerful one, but the addiction to one's traditions (of which food is a big part) can be even more powerful. The more cruelty-free versions of traditional food there are, the better the chances of a smooth transition for someone who wants to leave all the negativity of the meat industry behind.

Paris, je t'aime (or something like that)

10 photos of my trip to Paris. I got to know the city a bit better this time around and got to like it quite a bit as well.

Caged hunting

Caged hunting is the practice of hunting wild animals in a controlled environment, where the number of killed animals is controlled by the organizers/owners of the park. People who support caged hunting claim that it is a sustainable activity, and defend it by saying that, paradoxically, it allows the survival of certain species, which may have otherwise been fully eliminated by uncontrolled hunting.

There are several reasons to avoid engaging in activities such as caged hunting. First off, as far as ethically reprehensible behavior goes, hunting animals for sport is pretty high on the scale. While we promote vegetarianism, there is, at least, an argument to be made for consuming the flesh of living beings in that it provides humans with sustenance. Caged hunting is simply a cruel sport which causes animals to suffer and die for the benefit of a trophy, or the simple "thrill of the kill".

Detractors will say that there is nothing wrong with hunting other animals, and that other animals hunt each other all the time. Our response to this is that other animals hunt because they have no choice. This is the way they are programmed to function, to go on instinct. The reason we were given the power of choice is to be able to choose between good/ethical behavior and bad/unethical behavior. We should use this to choose an ethical, compassionate path. Hunting animals is unethical because it causes unnecessary death and suffering. While death and suffering are an integral part of life, the conscious decision to partake in activities which encourage more death and suffering is unequivocally a step in the wrong direction.

The arguments in support of caged hunting are ultimately flawed, if only because they strive to defend an activity which consciously creates a vicious cycle of death. Even if a certain percentage of the animals are set aside (not killed) in order to maintain the "sustainability" of the activity, the fact remains that most of the animals are raised to be hunted and killed. In this context, the word "sustainability" is laughable, as it is simply used to justify the endless killing cycle. If the owners/supporters honestly cared about these animals, they would fight, like many do in Africa, Asia, and other parts of the world, to set up (and police) animal refuges and nature reserves, which would be as controlled as the caged hunting parks, but without the needless murder. Unfortunately, the fact of the matter is that the supporters of caged hunting don’t care about the lives of these animals, and just want to mask their clients’ blood lust (and their own lust for money, since hunting wild animals is an expensive activity) with pretty words and excuses.

The Comforts of Home - Time After Time (Cyndi Lauper cover)

The good old days? Yeah, I suppose so. I still think that apart from the Miles Davis version, this is the best cover of Cyndi Lauper's 'Time after Time'. And not only because I was in the band.

from the "my next tattoo" files...