May 27, 2011

Animal Slaughter



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?
2. In recent years, Zuckerberg sets out challenges for self-improvement. Have you ever set out a challenge or a goal for yourself? If your answer is yes, then talk about it. How the challenge changes or affects you? If not, then set out a goal for yourself. What do you expect the outcome will be after finishing the goal?


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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