i just can't help myself . . . yet another food rant

Last night as I was reading random books at 2am trying to settle to one, I read a passage that stuck with me all night through my dreams and into this morning.  I’m not quoting here and I don’t want to name the book, but it basically said: you are not a real yogi if you eat meat.  And really you shouldn’t eat any animal products either, but I guess you can be a yogi if you still eat cheese.  Judgment much?   On one hand, I get you.  Vegans and veggies, I get you, harm none, do unto others, ahimsa, yes.  What we do to animals in this country in the name of the all mighty dollar is disgusting. Factory farms, slaughter houses, veal, it’s awful.  Unfortunately, most of the people in our country will continue to turn a blind eye because filet mignon just tastes too good.  Can you have your meat and be a yogi too?  In order to eat something you do have to kill it, and that means harming it.  But just because my broccoli can’t moo, doesn’t mean it’s not alive.  In yoga philosophy, I am the same as the broccoli. We share the same prana and are from the same light.  And to be alive in this world, we have to eat something.  So what’s a yogi to do?  As yogis, as people walking the path toward enlightenment, we have an obligation to change our society.  Maybe one day, many hundreds of years from now, in a star trek like utopian future, the people of the world will no longer eat meat.  But that is not happening in my life time.  I’m not going to get Joebob from Meridian, Mississippi to stop eating his steak.  But I might be able to talk Joebob into only eating meat produced by organic farmers.  Here’s the real deal my sweet friends; vegetarian and vegans, you guys are not going to change the way animals are treated in this country.  I applaud you, being a true veggie is an awesome lifestyle choice, but the people in charge of the horrible factory farms don’t care that you don’t eat meat.  Plenty of people do, and as long as Americans continue to buy our meat from wal-mart, the factory farms will continue to abuse animals.  It’s the conscientious carnivore, someone who does in fact eat meat and dairy, but who makes the commitment to only buy organic, only grass fed, only free range, no compromise.  Those people will change the way we treat our animals in this country.  If you are veggie, awesome, keep rocking it, but if you want to eat meat and dairy, you best step up children.  Don’t tell me meat from whole foods is too expensive, buy less of it. don’t tell me organic milk isn’t worth twice as much as regular milk, my milk comes from cows that live on a farm, a real one, with grass and frolicking with other cows and yes it costs $8 a gallon.  Worth it.    Eat veggie once or twice a week, and do your research.  Stop buying meat from the big guys, just stop.  Tell everyone.  Your mother-in-law, the guy at the bus stop, your postman.   Wanna go out to eat?  Call them and ask them where they get their meat.  If no one will tell you, don’t go eat there.   As always, I’d love to hear your thoughts, veggie, carnies, farmers, let’s fix this.