I can honestly say that, being vegetarian - I would be vegan if it were not for my doctor insisting my blood level was dangerously low - for almost thirty years, I have set myself certain stringent principles, which I live by definitively. I have nothing to reproach myself for, regarding any contribution I might make to the suffering of animals, because I do not. A true vegetarian will not eat any item with gelatine in it, regardless of whether they like it or not - how do you find out if you like the liquid which is produced by boiling animal bones? If I use milk, rarely, it is soya.
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I understand what you mean, Louise. I try ethical as I can but it's not easy. The organic beef / milk I buy from Asda may be organic, however I cannot vouch for the happiness of the cows prior to slaughter. Anything produced will be done with budget in mind and I do have some concerns. But what can I do? Eat nothing? I cannot monitor the conditions of every farm. I can but try to buy slightly higher quality produce which will be produced in (hopefully) less unpleasant conditions.
I will not eat meat that is 1) Not organic or 2) of unknown origin. I won't eat mince, only steak / chunks. I don't eat gelatin full stop, not will I take gelatin capsules. The idea of eating boiled up eyes and hooves is revolting! I don't think I would want to kill the cow myself, therefore I am like most people in that I rely on someone else to do that side of things. I was vegetarian for 12 years but became very ill and have been better since I have been omnivorous. I don't like eggs and won't eat them in cakes or anything. I don't like fish therefore buy the vegetarian gluccosamine tablets for my joints from Holland & Baarrett even though they are 3-4 x more expensive than the standard ones.
As for Basso, I think someone or something higher than me will decide his fate. I am sure some of the most famous people on Earth are the least known in Heaven. Who knows, maybe Basso will share the same vat of burning oil as Jimmy Savile? I am sure anyone jumping to Basso's defence would point out his charitable work, but let's not forget that Savile did charitable work too, although in hindsight it seems that it was insincere and, ultimately, a means to a vile end.
It's very hard to be fully vegetarian / vegan. I have a Zegna wallet which is very suave and stylish, but it is lambskin. Some poor lamb died to make my £240 wallet. But then would the lamb not have been killed anyway? Is the skin not a by product? People think about your purse! Look at your shoes! What are they made from?
I have my views on Basso, too. I think he has few, if any, redeeming features, apart from being so terrible with that growling voice and aggressive persona, so dreadful as to seem almost like a caricature! He is ridiculous! I wonder who is worse? Basso, or Savile? I would say Savile, ever so slightly, for he inflicted suffering on children that will have remained with them throughout their lives. Humans are slightly up the pecking order than animals. Savile's victims were the marginalised, the unloved, the problematic. They wouldn't have have had more of a voice than the animals, but likely will have had more of a capacity for remembrance. At least when the animals are dead, they are dead. That's not to say if Savile had gone killing children it wouldn't have been any better, because of course it would have been worse. I think Basso ranks along with Bernard Matthews (a turkey farmer who died a few years back). He was quite repulsive too!