When Foer's Grandmother tells the story of how she survived the Holocaust, she tells of an instance when she was literally starving, about to die, and "a farmer, a Russian, God bless him, he saw [her] condition, and he went into his house and came out with a piece of meat. . ." Foer's response is "He saved your life" and, shockingly his Grandmother continues "I didn't eat it. . . It was pork. I wouldn't eat pork." (Foer's family is Kosher) "But not even to save your life?" asks Foer, bewildered. To which she replied simply, "if nothing matters, there's nothing to save." (17).
If nothing matters, there's nothing to save.
Foer began this book to answer a question: "what should I feed my son?" Both Foer and I have decided to keep our families vegetarian. It sounds foolish, to say something so definite so far off, but if and when I do have children, I want them to be compassionate. I want them to be thoughtful. I want them to care.
I want you to care too. "If we are all serious about ending factory farming, then. . . we know, at least, that this decision will help prevent deforestation, curb global warming, reduce pollution, save oil reserves, lessen the burden on rural America, decrease human rights abuses, improve public health, and help eliminate the most systematic animal abuse in world history" (257).
You can do that, and more, not just by becoming a vegetarian (though that would solve the problem rather easily), but by purchasing independently farmed meat and searching for safely caught fish, by shunning the cheap n' cruel system of factory farming. Foer (and I) come dangerously close to saying "You alone can change the world!" and I'd like to clarify, you can't. But the lovely thing is, you are not alone. You, the consumer, you have a family, friends, classmates, co-workers. Even if you cannot influence everyone, influence your children. Teach the next generation about the horrors of factory farms, and about the power of the consumer to be a force for good.
Those cows, chickens, turkeys, fish, crustaceans, and pigs are living, thinking, beautiful examples of life. I've said before how much pigs are like dogs, how they'll nuzzle and fetch, love and be loved. Why play favorites? Why resign ourselves to being cruel to some and kind to others? Isn't it easier to simply show compassion to all? There is a reason the golden rule plays a role in so many religions. It does good, and makes you feel good, all in one.
Ever lay in bed at night, reliving the events of the day in your head? I do, and I often have regrets. I regret things I said, things I did, even things I ate (we're talking a strict diet of noodles and bagels that is all my lazy teenage fault). But never, never have I ever regretted my decision to be a vegetarian, nor do I regret talking to people about it.
Education is a weapon against the evil of the world. If one is ignorant, there is nothing one can do to stop cruelty, corruption, or crimes against the planet. The issues don't exist to many, so they don't matter. Foer's book was written to find answers, educate, and promote thought. It has been my goal to do the same with this blog series.
So, with this final post on Eating Animals, I ask you to think. Think about what you have learned from these posts, about what the nation has yet to learn about its sick habits and unsustainable lifestyle. Think about animals, about suffering, about hope. Think about the planet, the government, your household. Think about what's for dinner tonight and for every night after. Think about eating animals, and then think about not eating animals. Think about love and safety and fresh air and all the things you have that billions of animals do not.
Think hard about the decisions you make. Educate yourself. Find out what matters to you and commit to it.
Because, "if nothing matters, there's nothing to save."
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