Why Vegetarianism?

To start, I must confess all of the following writings to be of only opinion. More precise, my opinion. I will at times quote, and even hint at writings of other philosophers and authors, however, all my writings are of course my interpritation and application of their works.

That said, I will now begin to communicate what began my journey in vegetarianism. It was hardly something even related to vegetarianism, and not something I was looking for. It was a quote from an assigned college reading. It was also written by one of the foremost advocates of animal rights, Peter Singer. In his book Famine, Affluence, and Morality Singer rights;

The philosopher will not find it any easier then anyone else to alter his attitudes and way of life to the extent that, if I am right, is involved in doing everything that we ought to be doing. At the very least, though, one can make a start. The philosopher who does so will have to sacrifice some of the benefits of the consumer society, but he can find compensation in the satisfaction of a way of life in which theory and practice, if not yet in harmony, are at least coming together.Peter Singer

I read ths quote several times and wondered, if I, as a philosophy student and just as a person, really did apply the princeiples that I had spoken. Being an egalitarian I believed all people were equal, and should be treated as such. Why not animals? This is a question that I could not find an answer to. I put the assignment away when it was finished and went about my business. I never did let it go though. I continued to ask myself that same question. Am I really practicing the ideal that I preach?

It was another year before I began to eliminate meat from my diet. The transition in my diet, and more important, the changes in the habits of my life, were slow. I would not say I feel any better physically, nor would I say I feel any worse, but I do feel that I feel more like the true egalitarian I strive to be. I by no means feel that egalitarianism is the only reason I forgoe meat, it was for me, however the begining.