I think every American should kill....

[many a good man]

I think every person who eats meat that they buy from a restaurant or grocery store should kill a living animal themselves. Just once in their lives witness the life go out of it, then skin and clean it, feeling the warm flesh and hot blood on their fingertips. I think it would give them a greater appreciation for life in general and how we fit into the great scheme of things.


I think everyone who buys a shirt or pair of sneakers made in a third world sweatshop should work for one twelve or sixteen hour day in one of them. They should take their place in the assembly line at the crack of dawn along side the poor women and children who work there every day. Then go home at night to a hovel that lacks running water and sanitation. Then cook a pot of beans or rice with the firewood you collected. I think it would give people a much greater appreciation of the real costs that go into the material goods we buy with which to clothe ourselves and decorate our houses.


I think every American who drives a car or lives in a comfortable house that is heated in the winter and cooled in the summer should go to Iraq and kill two people. One should be an enemy insurgent who earlier shot and killed your best friend who was standing next to you seconds before. Then you should accidentally kill an innocent six year old child, watching her burning body slowly bleed to death while she screams in agony. I think it would give you a much greater appreciation for the luxuries we enjoy and its consequences on other living things.


I think if we did these things we would develop a greater understanding of how our actions affect the world we live in. I think we would pay closer attention to the policies made by our leaders in business and government. Maybe it would move us to inform ourselves better and participate more actively in the process. Maybe we would then work together to build a better world. What do you think?

[tx_dem41]

1. What do I think?

I think you're a homeless vegetarian that walks around naked.

Am I right?

[many a good man]

17. Wrong on all counts

I eat plenty of meat, I own a little townhouse in the suburbs and wear clothes most of the time.

I've killed and eaten wild animals. I don't think its wrong to kill to eat, just wrong to kill thoughtlessly. Most people find it easier ignore the ramifications of their actions and make fun of anyone who brings attention to it.

I find people living in our modern society are so far removed from reality that they mindlessly allow things to happen without thinking of the consequences.

[Mythsaje]

2. I grew up on a farm

so I've killed my share of animals. I do know what's entailed.

As far as your other points...

I've done hard work for little pay...I can imagine what it's like in the sweatshops. Doesn't change the fact that I need comfortable shoes that I can afford.

As far as killing Iraqis...if there comes a day I am forced to kill someone, it's not going to be at the request of the gooberment. It will be because I have no other choice.

[Deja Q]

5. We all benefit from shoes...

Let's all make shoes and clothe each other.

Modern "society" of so-called "individualism" merrily dumps the idea of a participatory society in favor of "dog eat dog".

Damn right I'm not happy or in utter agreeance with it. It is the antithesis of ANY "culture of life" to be or encourage dog-eat-dog. It makes us no better than animals ourselves.

Edit: Spelling and grammar, and a mild clarification.

[Warpy]

14. I've seen a lot of death and I've worked 12 hour shifts

with little reward, so thanks very much, but I know what kind of misery goes into much of what I own and use.

Having said that, I use as little as possible. I'm vegetarian. I buy wool off the critter, scour it, spin it, and make my own sweaters, rugs and other household items. I sew my own clothing on a 1910 Singer. I have replaced the lights in my house with fluorescents. I heat with wood. I cool with an evaporative cooler. I am a pacifist who will damage an attacker just badly enough that I can get away, but I'd rather convince him I'm crazy so he'll leave me alone. I own a computer because my rotten health has made me practically a shutin and the box provides me with social contact.

I'd think posters here would save the lectures for smug, self absorbed Repuglicans who have a sense of entitlement to everything on the face of the earth. The rest of us have already realized that we don't.

[bush_is_wacko]

21. this about says it for me.

I don't need to kill an animal. I've watched loved ones die. I don't need to work in a sweatshop. I've worked for Rethuglicans. I don't need to kill an Iraqi OR anyone else to realize killing is wrong. I appreciate the value of ALL people in this world. Humanity should damn well know by now that wars are a waste of time, lives, and money. Humans have the ability to hold themselves to a higher standard. Those who don't will eventually pay the price for their decisions.

I am prepared now to deal with an altered reality. If the world cannot save itself from these evil demons I will be prepared to live the same way my ancestors lived. In fact, I will embrace that life with the same passion I embrace the life I have now. We ARE capable of sustaining ourselves without the ameneties these smug bastards think they gave us and if they make the world uninhabitable I am prepared to accept my fate along with the rest. I have done my best to make the world a better place. I have only God to answer to for the things I have either forgotten to do or was too busy to do, or didn't feel comfortable doing.

Spell check doesn't work right now and I don't care if I made a few spelling errors anyway. Everyone has a few faults.

[many a good man]

25. "we are capable"

What's stopping us?

Many of us don't need to kill to learn these lessons and work for a more humane, sustainable, and just world. We have to work harder to get more on board. What does it take to get them to realize that they are mindlessly contributing to a world they would find utterly revolting if only they took the time to stop and think about it?

[bush_is_wacko]

29. I don't know the answer to your question but I am willing to keep

attempting to get the truth out there for as long as it takes. I have, however, recently seen a fairly large surge in the number of people willing to approach me and talk about these things. That gives me hope for humanity.

I don't have liberal tattooed on my forehead or anything but apparently my personality says it loud and clear cause a whole lot of people lately have been making a connection with me. Many seem very timid at first, but the minute I start acknowledging the validity of their fears and questions they get over it.

I have had several people at work approach me and even more at coffee shops and other public venues. Sheeple ARE waking up. We just have to remember everyone has a different breaking point. Some can tolerate a lot more than others before they hit bottom. Our country has lied to us so much we are like a bunch of addicts attempting to recover. Fear IS addicting, that is WHY bushitler uses it so often.

[Deja Q]

3. So mosquitoes don't count?

:shrug:

[lonestarnot]

4. Used to watch beheaded chickens fly up on barn roof as granny rung

their necks...does this count?

[Warpy]

15. My granny was a wringer, not a chopper

They'd flop for a few seconds, then when they were still, she'd do the chopping and hang them up on the clothesline over the garden, drain them out over the soil growing the veggies. It was tidier that way and produced enormous veggies.

She'd then honor them by being a truly amazing cook.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

6. there is a way to kill animals with respect

offering prayers for their spirit and thanking them for their sacrifice. This is how many people practicing Native American spirituality do it, and it is the basis for kosher and hilal.

[many a good man]

20. The importance of respect

I was taught to hunt by some Native Americans and you are so right. The belief is that if you don't show them respect they won't come back and sacrifice themselves again so you can eat. Then we'll all starve.

[maxsolomon]

7. where did you get your hairshirt tailored?

i should become a murderer so i can have a heated house without guilt?

how about this RATIONAL suggestion, instead, courtesy of Adbusters: every american high school student goes to live in a third world country for a summer?

change takes time.

[wtmusic]

9. Peace Corps

If W had worked in the Peace Corps for two years the world would be a much better place right now.

[stellanoir]

8. "I think every American should kill...."

their televisions.

[lonestarnot]

10. nice... me too! Did that once with a clicker.

[stellanoir]

12. I've a friend who got sick of the crap

his kid was watching so he took the TV out to the backyard and shot it.

[lonestarnot]

35. LOL... a little extreme...

[Phentex]

16. that's what I thought the post would say

when I opened it up.

[DS1]

11. This was such a waste of time

I'm off to go blast me some ragheads :eyes:

[seabeyond]

13. i think

not everyone thinks like you

[undergroundpanther]

18. I think everyone who is

High horse Vegitarian has to realize we cannot live on this earth without creating death.This reality is FLAWED it is sick injust sad and it is unfixable Life feeds on Death..Death feeds on life..
Killing animals to eat is NOT the problem.

However CRUELTY is.

CRUELTY is in factory farming..Every person needs to see how baby calves are raised on blood.Every person needs to see how pigs driven insane by being locked up in filth. Everyone needs to see chickens so crowded in chicken houses they can't turn around.
Everyone needs to see baby calves chained knee deep in poop on a diet that causes diareaah for making veal.

This is CRUELTY to animals.. Cruelty for profit.

Than these sanme people need to go to a home farm where the animals are treated well,given free range,fed good food until they are killed for our food..in a swift non cruel way.


Compare the two types of animal handling.

Meat eating will never go away. But cruelty being tolerated by people unaware of what goes on in factory factory farms can do something to stop CRUELTY ..

[many a good man]

23. See post #17 above

I agree with you on all counts. I think if we were more mindful of what actually goes into the things we eat and buy we might demand changes in the way things are done. Whether we realize it or not it deeply affects us.

[banjosareunderrated]

19. i'm confused

a tomato plant grows, respirates oxygen and carbon dioxide, consciously moves toward the sun, reproduces, needs vitamins and minerals and water, doesn't like temperature extremes, and dies when it gets old. Yet it's "less" of a form of life than a cow??

I'm very uncomfortable favoring life forms just because they're mobile and make noise. When you pick that tomato, the plant is screaming whether you hear it or not. Why are humans somehow the ones to judge which forms of life are worthy of life and some aren't? A celery stalk has just as much right to life as a fish.


On edit--to torches, sorry i misunderstood your first post. i read your response and i get your point. sorry for assuming.

[alphafemale]

24. ....uhhh. Sure.

:eyes:

[banjosareunderrated]

26. yeah, you're right.

plants have no problem being ripped to shreds and having their ovaries torn off. what was i thinking? :silly:

[many a good man]

28. Do plants have spirits?

My spirituality has been pretty well crushed since 911 but I know what you mean by plants, but with a slightly different twist. All things in Creation were created by the Creator. The Creator put a little bit of its own spirit in everything (including inanimate objects like rocks). Just like when you create a painting or write something, a little bit of yourself goes into it. These things were all put here for us to use. All must pass away. If you disrespect Creation you are disrespecting the Creator. We must stop mindlessly destroying Creation or we'll wind up destroying ourselves.

But I guess that's a topic for a different forum. ;-)

[banjosareunderrated]

31. I couldn't agree more.

:thumbsup:

all things matter equally. It's not our place to assign more value to this and less value to that. that's treading very dangerous ground.

Again, sorry for reading more into your first post than was there. Have a great day!

:hi:

[high density]

22. I think every irrational person

that wants me to go over to Iraq and kill two people because I live in a house that has oil heat in the winter should come up to Maine and freeze to death.

[many a good man]

27. Today in Iraq

someone's buddy was killed with an IED, an insurgent was killed and an innocent life taken.

I don't think we're over there to defend our country from attack or to defend our Constitution. We're aggressively "protecting" our lifeline to cheap oil.

I don't want you to freeze to death. You don't have to kill Iraqis yourself as long as you help us join in the struggle to end it.

I am an amateur and literary devices are probably best left to the professionals! I didn't mean to offend, just had something to get off my chest.

[rndmprsn]

30. i have no doubt that if ppl were forced to do this...

in order to eat they might learn a valuable lesson, but the great majority would slaughter animals nontheless...if you get hungry enough you'll do just about anything.

[Cleita]

32. Or we might become more calloused.

There was a line in Xena, Warrior Princess, when Gabrielle killed her first victim, and she became very emotional and guilty feeling, Xena said to her, "The first one is always the hardest."

[Name removed]

33. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[many a good man]

34. Please don't take this to be inflammatory, but maybe YOU need a

"Holiday In Cambodia"

So you been to school for a year or two
And you know you've seen it all
In daddy's car thinkin' you'll go far
Back east your type don't crawl
Play ethnicky jazz to parade your snazz
On your five grand stereo
Braggin that you know how the niggers feel cold
And the slums got so much soul

It's time to taste what you most fear
Right Guard will not help you here
Brace yourself, my dear

It's a holiday in Cambodia
It's tough kid, but it's life
It's a holiday in Cambodia
Don't forget to pack a wife

Your a star-belly sneech you suck like a leech
You want everyone to act like you
Kiss ass while you bitch so you can get rich
But your boss gets richer on you
Well you'll work harder with a gun in your back
For a bowl of rice a day
Slave for soldiers til you starve
Then your head skewered on a stake
Now you can go where people are one
Now you can go where they get things done
What you need my son:

Is a holiday in Cambodia
Where people dress in black
A holiday in Cambodia
Where you'll kiss ass or crack

Pol Pot, Pol Pot, Pol Pot, Pol Pot

And it's a holiday in Cambodia
Where you'll do what you're told
A holiday in Cambodia
Where the slums got so much soul

Dead Kennedys
:hug:

[ArkDem]

36. ......................

gib·ber·ish ( P ) Pronunciation Key (jbr-sh)
n.
1. Unintelligible or nonsensical talk or writing.

a. Highly technical or esoteric language.
b. Unnecessarily pretentious or vague language.

[SammyWinstonJack]

37. You first.

Because I drive a car, you think I need to go to Iraq and kill two people? Are you insane? :crazy: