"The ban on meat that you get in vegetarianism is only an extreme form of dietary ban, "Norma presses on";and a dietary ban is a quick, simple way for an elite group to define itself." (1074)
    When someone wants to get their point across or their voice to be heard, they usually make a bold statement or go on some form of a strike. Whether it's workers who want a change so they refuse to go to work. Or people who decide that animals have rights and are disappointed with how they are treated and decide to refuse eating meat. By definition, a vegetarian is "a person who does not eat meat, and sometimes other animal products, especially for moral, religious, or health reasons." It is said that 7.3 million people in the US follow a vegetarian based diet. Out of those around 1 million people consume no animal products at all. When you believe in something, you will go to extreme methods to prove your point or show your support. I personally could not imagine not consuming any animal products at all. I applaud the people who do this, because it takes a lot of self-control and restraint I can imagine. Vegetarians have defined themselves by not eating any meat and they have definitely defined themselves. "If slaughterhouses had glass walls, everyone would be a vegetarian."(Brainyquote)

"Ghandi is not a good example. His vegetarianism was hardly committed. He was a vegetarian because of the promise he made to his mother. He may have kept his promise, but he regretted and resented it. Don't you think that mothers have a good influence on their children?"(1075)
      Do mothers really know best? They say that Ghandi wasn't a good vegetarian, because he was only one due to a promise he made to his mother. This is something that happens often even today. We do things to please our parents and don't really stop to think if that will make us truly happy. Most teenagers will say they only go to church, because their parents make them. If they had a choice most of them would say they would rather sleep in on Sunday morning. Is it a bad thing that our parents force us to do things we don't always want to do ? Most of the time our parents have the best intentions for us and are forcing us to do things that will end up benefitting us in the future. If we had it our way, growing up most kids would decide not to go to school everyday of the week if we didn't have to. However, our parents always made us go. If it had not been for our parents stressing how important getting an education is, we wouldn't be able to get into schools like UT, Rice, or Baylor. So in the end, I think our parents do know best and are telling us to do something for our own good!

"By equating the cause of animal welfare with genuine liberation movements such as black liberation, women's liberation, or gay liberation, Singer on one hand presents in an implausible guise the quite valid concern to prevent cruelty to animals."(1108)
    Some would argue that comparing animal treatment with human suffering is unacceptable and are two completely different things, but are they? In both cases they were hurt by the hand of people who felt they were better than them or had more authority. Neither animal suffering or human suffering is deserved or acceptable. When comparing animal welfare to things like humans' rights, it causes us to question our treatment of animals. It shows how serious the matter is and that something needs to be done about it. After watching "Earthlings" I have a new respect for animals and their feelings. It has also caused disappointment towards americans who know what is going on in slaughterhouses and turn their head to it. The people who work in them are sick and the way they treat the animals in inhumane and embarrassing. Knowing how animals are treated before they are killed for my next meal causes me to second guess eating that burger from Whataburger! 

"There are innumerable differences of detail between racism and sexism, as well, but both are considered to be forms of oppression." (1110)

    How different is racism from sexism ? Both racism and sexism affect millions of people worldwide everyday. Women are paid less not because of ability, but just because they are women. Minorities are looked down on and their abilities are questioned not because they are incapable, but because of the color of their skin. This is a sad reality that happens everywhere even without us noticing sometimes. When we speak of CEO's or bosses we usually use male pronouns. This is not because women aren't capable, but because that it just a stigma that comes along with success. Although both areas have improved tremendously considering where they started, we still have a long way to go. One day women and men will be paid equally and people will be judged based off of ability not skin color.