Herbivore

I went home this weekend to bring back my parent's car that I took to school for my injury.  We has salmon for dinner at my Papa's house, which led to the conversation with my parents that I've been somewhat dreading.  I originally began my vegetarian endeavor with eating fish (AKA a pescatarian).  However, I've decided that I am not going to eat fish while I'm at school because, is killing a fish really any different than killing a chicken or a cow or a pig?  The thing is I am still planning on eating fish when my dad makes it at home.  I don't want to be any more difficult for him to cook for than I already am.  Although on the outside my parents are very understanding about my decision not to eat meat, I know that on the inside my dad is judging me and doesn't understand it at all and my mom is just confused as to my reasonings and my stances and my feelings about the subject.  Am I going against my beliefs if I eat fish sometimes?  Fish isn't in the meat category on the food pyramid and Catholics can eat it on Fridays during lent.  Uhg I'm just so confused.  

I have prepared my own little speech for when the frequent question of "why are you a vegetarian?" arises.  I think that it is a bit on the long side though, so I'll condense it when I am actually saying it to someone.  But here is the long version of my stance on the situation at the moment:

Being a vegetarian is....
1. Better for the animals.
Personally, I think that there is absolutely no reason why we should kill a living, breathing creature solely for our own personal benefits.  It's just not necessary when you can get the exact same nutrients from other foods.  

2.Better for the environment.
If you know me well enough, you probably know that I am all for helping/saving the environment whenever possible.  A Vegetarian diet reduces the destruction of tropical rainforests and wildlife habitats.  It reduces waste and devastation of the earth's resources. it also reduces pollution in the land and waters and reduces the production of carbon dioxide. 
Fun Fact:  Aside from the gutted rainforests, up to 5000 gallons of water for is required to raise one pound of beef. According to the US Department of Agriculture statistics, one acre of land can grow 20,000 pounds of potatoes. That same acre of land, when used to grow cattle feed, can produce less than 165 pounds of edible cow flesh.

3. Better for your health.
 According to the American Dietetic Association, vegetarians have a reduced risk of heart disease, obesity, colon cancer, adult-onset diabetes, osteoporosis, gout, gallstones, kidney stones, lung cancer, and breast cancer. A low fat vegetarian diet, combined with regular exercise, helps reduce blood pressure and can control, or even eliminate, non-insulin dependent diabetes.

It's funny how people are completely fine with eating a pig or a cow but if you suggested eating a dog or a horse they would FREAK OUT.  They would probably say that doing so would be wrong and inhumane.  Why?  How is it any different eating a cow than eating a horse?  Just throwing that out there...

So there you have it.  Those are my reasons.  Now are you convinced that you should be a vegetarian too? hahaha I'm just kidding.  I am not here to convert anyone or anything.