Everyone eats death. It's utterly arrogant to think otherwise. Just because a fruit doesn't have a cute eyes and a curly tail doesn't change the fact that it's the vessel for the offspring of a tree and by eating, unless you plant the seeds therein, you are robbing those seeds of their chance to survive, that's to say nothing of eating root vegetables and leaves. Also, all things experience the world, whether or not it's the same way we do, (the idea that one needs a central nervous system akin to ours to experience discomfort or pain is another example of human arrogance), and on that note, since plants are so completely the opposite of people, and most so-called “sentient” life in general, whose to say they aren't conscious in some way we don't understand? If that's absurd, then it is no more absurd to think that the oldest living things on this planet have not developed in there millions upon millions of years have not developed exceedingly complex systems of interaction with the world. And as far as the less theoretical topics go, unless you are buying only local produce/growing your own produce, you're part of a system that does as much damage to the ecosystem and kills more living things than anyone who eats a steak. If you eat fruit or vegetables that are not in season locally, you're contributing to a system that sees massive, gas-chugging 18-wheelers driving thousands on thousands of miles on the daily, killing needlessly countless squirrels, birds, snakes, ruminants like deer and moose and elk, bears foxes, dogs, cats, turtles, and yes, even insects, not to mention the epic pollution involved, and the fact that those trucks are fed by that most destructive of industries: Oil. Get off your high horse, because until you eat only local and in season, or grow your own food, you are as much a hypocrite as anyone else who claims to be ethically/environmentally responsible/superior for whatever reason, or those who feign despair over the treatment of farm animals. Also, it's a lot easier than you think to find ethically raised livestock or raise your own, or to buy only wild game, or, better, to hunt for yourself. At least, it's pretty easy in my town. That said, the city is surrounded by farmland, so maybe it's easier for us than others.
