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Kent sent me this and thought it would make a good link for Monday’s mix-up post. However, it ticked me off so much I couldn’t wait that long to post it.
Governor proclaims meat free day, for the health of Michigan.
Once again, the myth that all meat is unhealthy gets pushed onto us. NO mention of finding SAFE MEAT; meat that is GOOD FOR US because the animals are being fed what they were MEANT to eat and because they’re out on PASTURE where they can soak up Vitamin D from the sun and roam around grazing on nature’s salad bar.
Sorry for all the CAPS but that’s what I do when I’m irritated.
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{ 18 comments… read them below or add one }
Ignorance and pressure!!!
Lots of my FaceBook Friends are declaring tomorrow “meat eaters day.” For West Michiganders – http://www.mlive.com/business/west-michigan/index.ssf/2010/03/granholm_proclaims_michigan_ag.html
“Byron Center Meats’ MeatIn promotion will offer all comers two free quarter-pound beef patties while supplies last from 7 to 10 a.m. at its store, 8375 Freeland Ave. “Meat Man Mike,” also known as Byron Center Meats’ Mike DeVries, said he’s expecting hundreds of people to turn out for their free meat, which normally retails for about $1.50.”
What about people who are already taking meat out of their diet because of observing Lent. She of all people should know that already.
While you may not like the underlying reasons for the meat out, for the environment it is a great idea to encourage a meat free day once a week. Meat is not very sustainable when we feel we have to have it 3 times a day 7 days a week… specially when it is conventional factory farmed junk meat. It is also a great idea for budget reasons. I support meat outs.
This inappropriate use of government is acted out of ignorance. I just finished reading The Vegetarian Myth. Many of the reasons that the governor gives for the meat-out are completely debunked in that book. Unless, of course, it is a factory-farmed meat-out. I try to do that every day.
Kelly, the way you titled this post cracked me up. I love the parentheses.
This ticks me off too, Kelly. I think I will go and eat those leftover strips of grassfed bacon from breakfast in protest!
Well, I guess I will, during this time of Lent, eat some yummy grass-fed meat, or possibly some of the venison I have in my freezer, tomorrow! I really, really HATE it that our government is so ignorant about so many things, and they take our money and play with it any way they wish. What business is it of granholm’s or any politician (or should I say pollution for that is what they do, pollute us in so many ways) for to decide for ME what is good for me? THIS JUST MAKES MY BLOOD BOIL! ::::smack, smack::::: that’s the sound of me smacking my lips eating my yummy MEAT tomorrow! haha
There are a lot of studies on meat being unhealthy and meat being essential to our diets. It all comes down a personal choice. While I do not think that our (I’m from Michigan) governor should have used her power to tell everyone to stop eating meat for one day, I do feel that giving up meat for one day isn’t a big deal. Factory farming is wrong, and is destructive to our environment. I think it would be great if the rest of America would recognize that and start eating less meat while supporting the local, grass fed/organic farms, instead of letting the our corrupted, money-grubbing government decide what disease infested and poorly treated dead animal you put on your plate. I am a proud vegan and have never felt more healthy than I do now. I do not try to choke my personal preference down the throat of meat-eaters, but when asked, I will educate.
Because Michigan doesn’t have enough more pressing issues to deal with…
Okay! So I read the link and decided to call the Govenor. I am not quite sure who I talked to, but she said that, “she would tell the Govenor.” I tried to explain the difference between CAFO meat and Grass-fed pastured meat and how the pathogens she seems to be so concerned about, do not come from grass-fed meat but from the CAFOs. I would encourage everyone to call. The phone number is right on Kelly’s link.
Thanks Kelly. I believe it is time for all of us to take on the responsibility and importance of being a Citizen. Our leaders can obviously not filter through all the information on their own. They need our help!!
Kathy D.
Why is everyone getting choked up over ONE DAY of no meat? I agree that farm meat is better but you don’t have to eat it EVERY day. I don’t eat meat at all anymore and I grew up with meat being the main course and then vegetables as side dishes. Now I choose to be more creative with vegetables, for example, and feel better for it. You maybe could be happy that the Michigan Governor is even mentioning the hormones, antibiotics, etc. that are being added to the food. Most people don’t even KNOW about it! Then they can choose with more information to eat the good farm meat or factory or no meat. The ignorance is in the NOT KNOWING.
charlene: Because it’s yet another example of a meaningless gesture at best, a hectoring finger-wag more typically, and ultiimately nudging/pushing more toward more bans, regulation etc. that will reduce our freedom of choice even more while doing nothing to improve food safety and health?
Kelly, on a related note, I wanted to make sure you saw this great blog post by Julie Murphree on meat, agriculture and Christianity:
http://juliemurphree.org/?p=1524
Tiffany,
I do agree with you about having a couple days/dinners without meat. We do that, but the fact that our governor came out and said to be healthy we need to lay off meat, sends a poor message to the general public about the health of meat. However, if we look at this another way, the general public is probably eating crappy meat anyway, from huge processing plants/”farms”, like Mandy was talking about, so it probably IS healthier for them to lay off that junk. (and maybe it might put a strain on those huge factory places!—–yay)
Sue E.
Kathy, good move to call the governor’s office!!
Sue, exactly – it’s not that not eating meat a couple days a week is that big a deal during Lent or whenever to be frugal (or not eating it at all if it’s factory farmed meat!) – in Weston Price’s book some cultures thrived who only had access to meat ONE day a week, although I believe they ate eggs, bone broth and animal fats in between. But it’s the suggestion that all meat is bad that has me riled.
Damaged Justice, I thought that article was confusing. It sounded to me like she was defending factory farmed meats…?
Kelly
Kelly – I didn’t think so, but when I went back to read it again, the post and the whole blog are gone
Perhaps a shift in perspective will unruffle your feathers. I’m sure having a no-hormone, grass-fed meat only day is just too long to be able to put on a banner.
People often need to be educated in levels, first let them be aware of the hormones are in their meat and then realize what those factory farms look like, then perhaps they’ll go searching for a better way to have their meat and eat it too. So maybe you could look at it as a victory, it will be one day in MIchigan where less farmed, hormone laced meat will be eaten, that’s gotta be a good thing!
So what’s worse to you a vegetarian or hormone- factory farmed meat eater?
because Michigan doesn’t have more pressing matters…
So true.