Mark Zuckerberg is pursuing a new "personal challenge," as
he calls it. "The only meat I'm eating is from animals I've killed
myself," says the Facebook founder and CEO. Only Zuckerberg himself can
explain what this is really about. He sent Fortune an email detailing his
thoughts:
"This year, my personal challenge is around being thankful for
the food I have to eat. I think many people forget that a living being has to
die for you to eat meat, so my goal revolves around not letting myself forget
that and being thankful for what I have. This year I've basically become a
vegetarian since the only meat I'm eating is from animals I've killed myself.
So far, this has been a good experience. I'm eating a lot healthier foods and
I've learned a lot about sustainable farming and raising of animals.
I started thinking about this last year when I had a pig roast at my
house. A bunch of people told me that even though they loved eating pork, they
really didn't want to think about the fact that the pig used to be alive. That
just seemed irresponsible to me. I don't have an issue with anything people
choose to eat, but I do think they should take responsibility and be thankful
for what they eat rather than trying to ignore where it came from."
1. "It's easy to take the food we eat
for granted when we can eat good things every day," says the 27-year-old
Internet billionaire. In Zuckerberg's letter, he talks about his purpose and
thought toward his personal challenge. What do you think about his challenge
and thought? If you have the ability to do what he is doing now, what will you
feel after eating the meat you kill?
My opinion:
#1
In Zuckerberg's letter, he mentioned his friends' attitude toward
the food they ate. I think this may be one of the triggers that he sets up this
challenge. People always focus on the outcome, ignoring the process. We only
see the meat that have already been processed or refined, but how about its
original shape? We may feel that those animals are soiled or smell bad when
they are alive. I agree with what Zuckerberg says, we should not neglect those
animals that die for us. Maybe Zuckerberg also expiates his sin by killing what
he eats. Since meat is delicious, it's hard for many of us to become a
vegetarian; Mark is no exception. However, he will sincerely feel grateful for
those animals after seeing how they suffer and die for him to eat meat.
Once I saw a short but shocking film. The scene was in a
slaughterhouse. One of the feeder cattle appeared on the screen, and then the
bloody cattle which were flayed slowly passed in front of the cow that was
still alive. The poor living cow was extremely scared. After seeing those dead
cattle, it knew that the next one would be itself. The living cow started to
struggle and moo frenziedly. Then, the scene suddenly came to an American woman
who was gobbling down a huge beef burger; it's the end of the short film. The
process we human beings kill those animals is so merciless that I feel ill on
the spot. And I couldn't eat anything that was made of beef in the following months.
I can't imagine that I'll kill an animal with my own hands. If I really do so,
I think I'll become a real vegetarian. Like Ken's mother, I can't endure the
screaming of animals when they are slaughtered.
#2
In task 7, I have mentioned my goal of participating in child
sponsorship program, but I may not have the ability to reach this goal now.
After all, 700 NT dollars a month is not small money for a college student. So,
I have another goal to finish during my four years in university. Like Ken, I
would like to be a volunteer during summer vacation. Yet, I will not do it
abroad because I want to help people in my own country first. When I was still
in senior high, I usually went on street and collected invoice for charity. But
now I would like to help those who are in need personally. There's a saying,
"Growing up in happiness, one often fails to appreciate what happiness
really means." Through volunteering, I can not only learn how to get along
well with others but also treasure what I have in hand.
As for Ken's goal, his first step is to become financial
independence. This may be every college students' goal. Since we are grown-ups,
we'll feel small when asking money from our parents. Besides, if we earn money
of our own, we can use the money more freely. By the way, it's amazing to know
that Ken has an Indian pen pal. That Indian friend must have a positive effect
on you, which makes you choose to do volunteer work in his hometown.
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