For the past day, we've been hearing loud mooing from the pastures beyond the garden, a plaintive, sad sound similar to what we heard another day. I don't think this one will have a happy ending though.
I went out with binoculars, but I didn't see any of the young calves, including Socks. Spots and Stretch are missing from the herd too.
My daughter, trying to describe the sound, said, "It sounds like they're in a lot of pain."
She's right. Cows are good mothers, better than some humans I know. Even "organic" cows feel pain when their babies disappear.
It breaks my heart to think about what happens, to millions and millions and millions of cows each year. I try to be respectful of everyone's food choices, the way I wish others to be of mine, but it's hard when people I respect eat my friends. For me, compassion begins on my dinner plate. (So does environmentalism, but that's another story.)
Please, take this opportunity to explore life beyond beef. The Compassionate Cooks website has some excellent advice, recipes and articles.
Trust me, it's a lot better than living with the guilt. I tried that, for years, and when I finally became a full-time herbivore, the guilt disappeared and I could look my friends in the eye.
My cow friends, that is.
As Buddha says,
To become vegetarian is to step into the stream which leads to nirvana.
Nirvana, though, would be a lot better if Socks were around.
