Holy cow, defiled human
During centuries of European catholicism, human beings were routinely and atrociously tortured. The Museo della Tortura e di Criminologia Medievale in San Gimignano, Italy, attests to the extraordinary ingenuity with which torture devices and methods were contrived to adequately purge the victim’s sin.
The Enlightenment (certainly not the Reformation) brought a gradual end to these practices. People came to sense the horror and injustice they were perpetrating.
As a final act, the holocaust was shocking in scale and intent. Yet, the fact that it did shock the Western world is itself evidence that human sensibilities had evolved from darker days.
Our grandchildren will look back, appalled, at the scale and horror of our treatment of other sentient animals for the sole purpose of consuming their meat. The devastating impact of factory farming, both on the environment and on human health, will be so inescapably manifest that they will find our collective obstinance incomprehensible.
What will be inescapable for our grandchildren is escapable today. The writing is on the wall. Any honest, cognizant human can see where we are headed if we don’t change course.
You don’t have to wait for the right government. You don’t have to wait for a tax credit. You don’t have to wait for the Jones. You just have to make a small step.
Today. Stop eating meat. Stop for a day per week, or stop entirely. Stop only some meats, or stop all. Don’t get hung up on the particulars. Just start today. Whatever change you make will have an impact.
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