The Swiss issue a bill of rights to plants

[Blackmage]

http://www.treehugger.com/files/2008/05/bill-of-rights-for-plants.php

So does that mean it's wrong to kill them and eat them as well?

[Akanari]

They did not issue a "Bill of Rights."

They were simply observing that living things deserve respect. Because they're living, and thus are quite like us. Seriously, we all have a common ancestor.

[Ming]

So I guess we're all supposed to just wither away and die then, since everything we eat is immoral.

[Blackmage]

I guess I just don't see where theres a moral difference between killing a plant and eating it vs killing and animal and eating it.

:edit:
and no I'm not trying to start a fight, I'm just explaining my views on to why I remain and omnivore.

[reaper]

The funny thing I learned watching the Alaska Experiment show is that we are all definitely omnivores. There was this chick in one of the camps who was vegan, but after not eating in almost a week she gave that right up.

Get hungry enough and you will kill anything you can find to keep yourself from starving to death. Maybe in 400,000 years or so we will evolve to a diet that doesn't need protein, but for now I say grill it up!

[Akuko]

I agree with Reaper and BM. I understand why some people choose not to eat meat, but I too choose to be an omnivore. I think we need to think of ways to replenish what we take away. Similar to "sustainable farming" techniques and how Wisconsin got back our timber wolves.

[Shandriz]

I don't think it's about telling people they can't eat plants. It's about telling people that cutting flowers for no reason isn't acceptable, or that smashing plant isn't right either. It's just like traditional beliefs about animals-- killing it for food is fine, if you're actually going to eat it, but killing animals for the fun of it, or abusing them, is not acceptable behaviour.

[Akanari]

I think Shandriz hit the nail on the head with that comparison.

Regardless, someone turned this into an omnivore vs. herbivore debate.

Sure, we can all be omnivores, it works, but we can also all be alcoholics, or sexual criminals, or murderers (I'm not comparing meat-eaters to murderers, don't freak out). However, we have a different society because everyone is not one of those, just like I believe we'd have a different society if most people didn't eat meat.

Also, I don't understand how meat = protein and vegetables = NOT protein. Every living thing is made of proteins, didn't everyone take Biology?

In regards to Reaper's example, we don't all live in Alaska and so don't all have to eat meat. It is easy to eat meat in our society because it's the social norm. Yes, survival could be a reason for eating meat, but the majority of people (in the United States) are not in dire straits.

[Shurikane]

Translation for the bill: "We caught too many people being assholes and chopping up random plants and trees everywhere, so we've had to make up a new law for you."

[Ming]

This explains why I hears millions of tiny screams every time I mow the lawn.