Everything in Moderation

“Everything in Moderation”. You may have heard your parents, grandparents, or spiritual guru use this phrase in reference to refraining from engaging in extreme behavior. While it may not be a good idea to watch too much TV, get too much exercise, overstay your visit, or wear the same pair underwear for too long, do these words of wisdom really apply to all facets of life?

Where does moderation start or stop? What would be considered too extreme? Who actually determines what moderation is? And what does moderation really even mean?

When cruelty, manipulation, torture, or death are involved, how much moderation is tolerable? Although people may be trying to do the right thing by instituting “Meat free Mondays” or consuming “less dairy”, are these actions of moderation morally acceptable or beneficial to our minds, bodies, and souls?

Some people might think that it’s ok to confine, rob, rape, molest, beat, dismember or kill others in moderation, but those people are usually looking at the world through a set of steel bars. Or at minimum they’re probably short on Facebook friends and their neighbors try to keep a safe distance from them. However when it comes to animals, most people don’t realize that the animals they consume, wear, or otherwise use have experienced some or all of those gruesome forms of treatment prior to becoming the commodities available for purchase on the open market.

If people began following ethical slogans like “Molest Free Mondays” or “Flog Free Fridays”, but continued to molest and flog others on the other days of the week, would the “Everything in Moderation” phrase be applicable? I mean, we don’t want to be extremists right?

So if consuming animals involves the inherent mistreatment and eventual death of those beings, how is it moral to eat, wear, or use them “in moderation”? Is it justifiable because they are a different species of being and don’t have the ability to use computers or play musical instruments?

When we understand the energy that is stored in a beings body when it is sentenced to a lifetime of slavery and servitude, living in fear and unsanitary conditions, pumped full of chemicals and hormones, and eventually led to its undesired death, is that energy something we want to consume even “in moderation”? If we only listen to a little bit of Satanic music or watch a moderate amount of child pornography, does that not affect our mind, body, and soul in some way? What one person considers moderation can mean an entire lifetime for an animal.

While many people are able to live long, seemingly healthy lives while consuming animal products, they almost undoubtedly experience some negative physical effects from the acid-forming properties of the meat, dairy, or eggs. The human body is extremely resilient and can withstand quite a bit of abuse, but if we have the freedom to fill our bodies with live and vibrant fruit, vegetables, and other plant foods, why would we lean on the excuse of “everything in moderation” instead of steering towards the healthy sections of the supermarket? Because they “taste so good”? Do you mean once they are garnished with sauces made from plants and herbs? If our taste buds are more important than the lives of other beings, then maybe we should try experiencing some pain, fear, and suffering “in moderation” to at least level the playing field.

Maybe these ideas are too extreme. Maybe we should just turn our heads from reality and live “moderate” lifestyles supporting the occasional exploitation and infliction of pain on the animals. But for the rest of us who choose to have a conscious and hold respect for all life, “everything in moderation” is no excuse for animal abuse and not an acceptable reason to participate in cruelty to others.