Kate Bush - Eat the Beets.

[Adey]

We all know that KB is a vegetarian.

I was wondering what other board members thought about this and their own (non) meat eating proclivities.
I have to say straight up, that I am a dedicated meat eater and enjoy doing so, but I respect the views of the veggie.

My wife is vegetarian, and has eaten no meat for the last 15 years. She is also active in some pressure groups, most notably " Compassion in World Farming ".
I've even been known to help out with some of her activities; by providing transport to various towns on street collection days. Obviously I have been exposed to a lot of their literature, and have come to appreciate their stance on issues such as Veal Crates and Battery Hen egg production. I have come to realise two things:
that animals destined for the table can be treated apallingly in our so called civilised society, and that it is possible to eat meat and animal products responsibly. I now eat free range animal products exclusively, and prices for this type of product have dropped considerably as the market has developed.

It is interesting that Compassion in World Farming have many members from the arts - acting and music in particular. Despite her beliefs, I am not aware of any connection that KB may have with like minded organisations, or of any campaigning she may have done in respect of vegetarianism or animal welfare.
With all due respect to Mrs McCartney, God forbid that KB should release a range of meat free food stuffs - much as I admire her, I couldn't get excited about Kate Bush Cumberland Sausages or even a dish prepared from The Kate Bush Vegetarian Cookbook - mince pies excepted of course.

Do any of you folks have comments about these issues or may have been inclined towards vegetarianism in the light of KB's beliefs?

[Sven Golly]

Adey said:

My wife is vegetarian, and has eaten no meat for the last 15 years.

I had the same issue with my ex-wife. 'Twas only on me birthday.

Seriously, however, I agree with being good stewards with all of our resources. I don't think Kate being a vegetarian should do more than make her fans think about the issue. That lifestyle must accompany a well grounded belief system.

I myself am a carnivor. I have not only reconcilled this to be an appropriate lifestyle, but look to nature as a model. However, the evolutionary arguemnt should apply to our thinking as well as our ability to have dominion over the natural resources of this planet. It should behove business to take care of the products they intend to sell. Being good stewards of the land and it's creatures should be everyone's concern. Responsibile use of your funds, such as Adey has shown, is the duty of every consumer.

We can not all hunt and garden to feed our families. Businesses should find ways to provide for consumers responsibly. If they do not, we should keep the light of scrutiny shining on their activities.

So I am content with a diet that includes meat. If taken to the extreme, plants are living things as well. I can't eat rocks. ;D

[Al Truest]

I appreciate points made by the both of you, Adey and Sven. The lifestyle that is mentioned, however, impacts much of what artists such as Kate like to address - human behavior. Birth control, territory rights, wanton greed, and gluttony are a few examples of how blood lust is fed by our voracious appetites.

[~ Rocket's Tail ~]

I was vegetarian for quite a while, until about a year ago. I didn't avoid meat because of animal rights or anything (though I do believe that animals have their rights: I believe in good practice), but because I just couldn't eat it. For whatever reason, it just didn't appeal at all. And even now, some days I feel fine about eating meat, and other times I don't.

I do make sure we only buy meat which has been produced appropriately however - for instance, my mum only buys free range eggs. I've asked her not to buy Ribena, as GlaxoSmithKline, the company who distributes it, supports Huntingdon Life Sciences. As I said, I'm not an animal rights activist, but I do believe in good practice, and the way HLS treats animals is not something I intend to support.

[strabley]

I was going to start a thread like this quite some time ago but I was too afraid that I'd be the only one on the board who was a flesh eating monster. ;D Turns out we all are, eh? I don't have a moral problem with eating meat, it is ingrained in human nature. I understand and admire those who try to reach a higher level of concsiousness by eating a more enlightened diet. I have all the respect in the world for vegetarians. But I gotta run, I'm late for the pig roast.

I WANT TO EAT YOUR BRAINS!!