Against Meat by Jonathan Safran Foer

Against Meat by Jonathan Safran Foer
Summary
Foer became a vegetarian at an early age, and he loathed eating meat. His parents had cautioned him against torturing or inflicting pain on family members, friends, upholstered furniture and farm animals. Foer could not face up to facts that eating meat means a threat to farm animals until his adolescence years. It came on him that every time he eats meat, a farm animal will have been killed. As a small kid, on some occasions, Foer would shift between being a vegetarian and an omnivore and vice versa (Foer, 2009). Foer’s main point in his article is that humans tend to torture and inflict pain on farm animals in the name of butchering them for meat.
The move to become a pure vegetarian intensified when he neared fatherhood. Immediately after meeting the love of his life who would later become the mother of his kids, Foer decided to settle as a vegetarian. He had to choose on behalf of his children. In his article, Foer reveals the suffering that cows and chickens have to go through in the quest to feed humanity. Chickens are cramped, blinded, suffer internal bleeding, and their legs and necks are also broken or twisted (Foer, 2009). Cows, on the other hand, are skinned and butchered while still conscious. In a nutshell, Foer does not like how animals are treated and tortured.
Humans love to eat meat because it probably tastes good but at times, they tend to ignore the implications of their dietary choices. He plainly accepts that the meal of a vegetarian cannot be “as rich as a diet that includes a meal” (Foer, 2009).

Motivated by the story of his grandmother during the 1st world war, Foer and his wife decided to raise their children as vegetarians. His grandmother had been offered a piece of meat, but she refused to eat despite suffering from extreme hunger and starvation. All through his article, Foer expresses his dissatisfaction with how animals are tortured and yet humans have an option of becoming vegetarians.
Response
The debate regarding the question on whether it is morally justified to kill farm animals for meat has been ongoing for a very long time now. It would be limiting to ask all people to become vegetarians because the agricultural sector may not be in a position to feed everyone. Instead, it will be more reasonable to permit everyone to follow their hearts when it comes to making food choices. Our families do not have the right to dictate our dietary decisions whatsoever. However, they are permitted to offer nutritional advice.
I would like to concur with Foer regarding the manner in which farm animals are tortured in the name of feeding humans. If an animal has to be butchered for meat, the killing should be very fast and swift to ensure that they inflict the least pain. Additionally, those who decide to eat meat should limit their diet to ensure that the average number of animals who have to suffer under the hands of the cruel butchers are reduced. In fact, there are many diverse diets which can provide the same nutrients as meat. Instead, humans should consider exploring these substitutes.
In conclusion, Foer put through a very valid argument that is worth revisiting. Animals suffer at the hands of butchers, and it is high time we stop this form of torture. We cannot all be vegetarians, but we can at least limit the number of animals who have to die in the quest to feed humankind. If we have kill farm animals for meat, they should be killed fast and swiftly to limit the pain that they have to endure.
ReferenceFoer, J. (2009). Why Jonathan Safran Foer Chose to Give Up Meat. Nytimes.com. Retrieved 11 February 2018, from http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/11/magazine/11foer-t.html