Response to Blog- Hating

This is a response to Shelby's blog in which she asks, If you envy someone, you dislike them for what they have. However, once you get what they had, would you hate yourself, since the possession was the reason for hating the other person?

I must say that this is an interesting question. I also must say that I don't think that the person would hate themselves for envying the person who had it first. I believe that there is a major selfish nature to humans. People aren't usually satisfied with what they have, we are restless creatures who are always wanting. If one is hungry, and then given something to eatm they are then thirsty, after both hunger and thirst are satisfied, it is then noted that one needs something else. I don't think there is any period of time where any one person is content. I think I am beginning to sound like an existentialist, but existentialism was the first branch of philosophy that I was ever introduced to so I am just going to run with it. I have talked about instant gratification and convenience alot in my blogs. I do believe that human nature is based on that because one, we are always wanting something, and two we have never learned delayed gratification. So to go back to the question, I do not think that there would be one ounce of guilt or hate on the side of the person who envied the other person. I think once the person got the thing that they wanted, they would be delighted with it for a few days (I am really being generous here) and then go on to start wanting something else that someone has and the cycle will repeat itself. I forgot which philosopher it was, but he talked about as a child always wanting to fill holes; holes like our belly button or our mouth so that is why we suck our thumb. We always need to be satisfied and due to this need for satisfaction, it will make us not feel guilt or hate towards ourselves when we get what we want. I also think it depends on what you actually do to get what you want and how much of a conscious you have as a person. With that said, my question is, what determines the capacity of our conscience? What determines how far we will go? 

My Vegetarian Challange

My challenge was to be a vegetarian for one week and I must say that it was hard for me. I went into this with a positive attitude but three days in I got really weary. I unfortunately failed my challenge, but am determined to do it again and succeed this time. I do not know what was hard about it, I just feel that maybe old habits die hard? I think one issue was that I like variety and the only thing that I had access to were garden burgers and vegetables. Other than that being a college student without a kitchen, I couldn't make tofurkey or anything of the sort. I mean for breakfast I would have cereal or oatmeal with fruit and that wasn't a problem. Even during the weekends I go for vegan sausage because they are more delicious than the regular sausage (plus the regular sausage contains pork which I can't eat).  Lunch for me was a bit of an issue but I got around the boring slump by changing my lunch between a garden-burger and peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, and a tasty elf parlor hummus sandwich. Dinner was my ultimate problem, what do I eat for protein? I know aramark has vegetarian options, but they have more of a non-vegetarian allure than a vegetarian one. What about the pizza you ask? I don't like the stuff, and even though there is plain cheese, there is pizza covered in bacon, chicken, and pepperoni right next to it. I did this challenge because I know a lot of people are passionate about their choice and I want to be open minded. I like to experience something and see things from other peoples point of view. As I said I failed this time around, but I am asking for feedback before I start this challenge over. How can I succeed with the vegetarian challenge and how can I keep my meals interesting?

Response to blog- Pride and needs

This is a response to Becky's blog in which she asks does our pride determine what we feel our needs are and the level of which we feel we deserve? After reading her blog and thinking about it I must say that this is an interesting question. I work really hard, I don't get sleep some nights, and at the end of the day all I want to do is cry because of the massive amount of homework I have to do. Nevertheless, I work hard and I believe that I should get recognition for it and I feel that I deserve to get good grades due to the amount of work I put into my academics. I think many of us think that we are constantly doing our best at something, even though there is no measure of what THE BEST is and that we all deserve something. We take pride in our work and our completed tasks and based on that  we determine that we NEED to be recognized, we NEED a trophy or a certificate, we NEED some sort of material thing that est reflects a job well done. I remember when I was little and I got A's in school my mom would treat me with a new toy or a night out on the town and so I worked had in school; this made me think that every time I  did something right or got a high score I deserved to be treated with something, I needed recognition. It wasn't until my mom brought the harsh reality to me that I should not work hard in school because of the end result, I should work hard in school for the experience that it is giving me and knowing that eventually that I will take knowledge away from my work and not a "night out on the town." I do think pride gets in the way when it comes to people thinking about what they deserve or what they need in order to feel satisfied with a completed task a move on to the next one. It shouldn't be the case, but it true that everyone needs motivation. You can't teach a old dog new tricks unless you have a bone.  And I feel that it is because of pride that people think they deserve something, or that they are entitled to something even if others may not believe it. I, however, am not saying this is completely a bad thing.  With that said, my question is in this modern time, what can we say the basic needs are now?

Enslaved to technology

This past Friday, I sat down at a desk and used a typewriter. It was weird to do so because I grew up in the ae of technology; the age of internet, cell phones, and caller ID. After using the typewriter I quickly called my sister and asked her how the heck did she use a typewriter when she was in school. Looking back at that moment and remembering our discussion yesterday about technology being a basic need, I realized that I have fallen into a technological trap. We have become so dependent on technology, that we can't distinguish it from a need. We live in the age of instant gratification and convenience. I even caught myself today asking my co-worker "How did we ever survive without texting." I admit that I am a slave to technology, that I either need the internet or the TV to keep me entertained or I wouldn't know what to do with myself. I know that I am not the only one who feels this way, but is it OK that we are slaves to technology?  I mean whatever happen to using a map instead of a GPS, playing outside or inside instead of playing video games, or reading the news paper and listening to the radio instead of instantly getting the news on our Iphones. Admit it the reason why we are so dependent on technology is because we are spoiled with it. If we never grew up with it, we would be able to do with out it. I look at the Amish people who do not expose themselves to technology and everything works out just fine for them. They are able to function in everyday society while not being enslaved by a computer or cellphone.  I would love to know what it is like to be free of the balls and chains that binds me to technology, but I find it so hard. With that said, my question is, is it OK that we are slaves to technology?

Response to Blog- Future of Food

This is a response to Sarah's blog where do you think the world is heading diet wise? OK so as I ave stated in one of my posts, I think we are heading towards the jetsons age where food comes in pill form and all you need is water. I mean look at the crap we have to consume, boil-in a-bag rice? instant mac and cheese? instant mashed potatoes? eleven year old Twinkies that are still edible? Like really? none of this stuff is good for us and that is why we have so much health issues and so many strong emotions about health care due to the fact that people are getting sick and it is the food that is killing us. It all revolves around convenience and money, which I think is sad. One fact that I read in Michael Pollan's The Omnivores Dilemma was that we spend so much on flat screen tv's, cars, big sound systems and other material things, but when it comes to our food we have to compromise? I mean yea real organic food is tough on the pocket and rare to come by because there isn't always a local farmers market around, but still people  compromise when it comes to food. It is the compromising that is going to lead to more "convenient" packaged food, and more health issues. I mean if we look at genetic engineering now a days, it is just getting worse and worse. I think the future of food is a bleak one unless we initiate change. We need to support local forms and fight for big industries to become transparent so we can see what is happening with our food. Unless we initiate change it won't happen. On that note, my question is, do you think that convenience and cheapness of food is something to consider even though you are compromising your health?

Envy

I have been thinking a lot lately about the topic that we are currently on,envy. This is something that I have heard a lot of because it is said everywhere that envy is one of the seven deadly sins and that one should always be content with what they have. In the bible it  says " Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that [is] thy neighbour's." This is the tenth commandment given to Moses by God. We should not envy or want anything that or neighbor has because we should enjoy what we have, even if it is less than our neighbors. This, however, is easier said, than done. No matter what other people have, someone else wants it and that I feel is the basis to why we have so much crime and betrayal in this world. No one is content and no one seems happy with their position, status, or even life. It seems like the basis of this world is to constantly outdo the other person because we must have what they have and we must be better than them. As far as envy goes, I want to pose a question, would you say that envy is this never ending cycle and that it is done unconsciously? Let me explain what I mean, we all see people with statuses we want, we see them with the life we want, and so we envy what they have and strive to be like them, we call these people role models just to put a little bit of icing on the fact that we secretly want their life. So as I asked before, would you say that envy is a never ending  cycle and is something that is done unconsciously sometimes?

Response to Blog- menaing of life for animals

This is response to Becky's post in which she asks the question, what is the meaning of life for animals. Well not to sound corny, but I believe that we are all apart of the circle of life. Animals are born, they grow and use their enviroment, they reproduce, then after a full life they return to the enviroment. In my future of food class, we looked at the cow and how it is a cycle of how it aids the enviroment. The sun contributes to the grass growing through the process of photosynthesis, the cow eats the grass, the cow fertilizes the grass with it's manure, which combines with the sun to grow the grass, which feeds the ow, etc. Animals contribute to the balance of the ecosystem, but I don't think that they know that themselves. I think they just do what they are naturally inclined to do. They hunt when they are hungry,reproduce when it is time, they graze, and they just exist in this symbiotic relationship with the environment and other animals. I don't think they are aware that they are doing what they are doing. They don't know that without their everyday function the earth would be in chaos. It is like us humans, we go on our daily tasks doing what we have to do,  not knowing that in some way or the other we saved someones life or contributed in some special way to the environment. So though animals are not aware that they are here to keep a particular balance, serve as food, or help the ecosystem, they do. With this said my question is, what would the world look like if everyone decided to be a vegetarian?

My Eating Morals and The One Week Challenge

Before I write I just want to write a discliaimer. In no way, am I bashing or mocking the vegetarian or vegan lifestyle. I for one respect people for their lifestyles that they hold and would never mean to force my view on any one.  I am just justifying and trying to bring to light why I choose toeat meat and my understanding of the vegetarian/vegan lifestyle.--------
   I for one love veggie burgers, vegetarian beans, and any natural whole grain food. I know that I myself couldn't be a vegetarian because I also LOVE chicken, turkey( yummm) and fish. You notice I didn't mention beef or pork because I am not a fan of the former and my religion prevents me from eating the latter.  I do eat goat occasionally , but all in all I am not a fan of red meat. I do believe a piece of meat is good for you now and then and a persons diet is all about balance. Everything I believe in extremes is bad for you. Too much meat makes you obese and gives you heart disease, not enough makes you lack essential nutrients like heme-iron that is only found in animals (non-heme is found in veggies but aren't absorbed as well as heme vegetables.)  I think there are two things people need to do in order to have a better life. The first thing is learn moderation, we have adapted this all or nothing attitude, and it is killing us. We have to realize that too much of one thing can have a negative side effect, for instance too much water gives us water poisoning.  After realizing that, next we need to make a choice to really reform the food industry, or in the future there will be no meat eaters or vegetarians, there will only be pill poppers due to genetically modified food in pill form (ever seen the jetsons?) If we take a step to help local farmers and kill industries that serves mystery food on a genetically modified bun, then I feel people would feel more safe about food. We can make the food industry become transparent, so they have no choice but to treat our meat with care and the food that we so heavily avoid now , would be OK to eat. I mean would people change their minds about eating meat if the food industry treated the animals better and took more care of them?  Like I stated before, I am all about health and nutrition and that is why I do pay the extra dollar for a chicken leg at a farmers market.My religion promotes vegetarianism, but doesn't require it and that isn't a choice I think I can make. I do have a challenge for myself though. For 1 week I will try to be a vegetarian, just to see if I can do it, just so I know that I am not being stubborn or close-minded to the idea of it. I don't know,  I feel like a lot of people stay away from meat because of the brutal conditions that the animals are subjected to. I mean is that the case?