Beacon Editorials (ok, I just noticed that almost everyone is reacting to these...)

I do hope everyone in this class has been keeping up with the Beacon editorials these past few prints. To summarize for those who haven't, a few weeks ago a very ill-informed individual composed a lengthy, inflammatory piece that "humorously" attacked animal rights activists and those that follow a veg*n diet. The responses were articulate, based in ethics and logic and common sense reasoning (Teddy B's, of this E&A class, was commendable).

The third installation of this exchange reflects the affect the response letters had on the original author. The person who penned the initial editorial was forced to consider the details that "legitimize" his position on animal rights. His writing showed actual research (with numbers an' figures an' everythin') and consideration for his opinion. I'm glad someone made him think. The newest piece weakly uses, of all things, the U.S. economy to defend us eating animals.

I think the argument that the various meat industries are such substantial contributors to the economy is bogus and flawed. I can see connections between perpetuating the "need" for the meat industry for economic reasons and that of the world's dependency on fossil fuels. I suppose change will come in the form of a disaster, natural or otherwise. Oddly enough, fossil fuel and the meat industry are tied together in other ways. With environmental damage from the meat industry, the "meat industry" part is ignored and our attention goes to the damage incurred. The eco revolution is fighting the end-product, the polution and damage, and not fully focusing in on all contributors. We will never be successful if we can't fight the source of the problems! Maybe that's too tangential of an argument...

I am most concerned that this individual represents the masses. My worry is not even (entirely) rooted in animal consumption, but rather in unconscientious consumption. Thoughtless consumption qualifies as a pandemic, victimizing all Earth species. Sweatshops thrive, slash&burn agriculture is prevalent, and factory farm food is in our homes. The interconnectedness of these issues is undenyable, but apparently overlook-able.