a thought on the "fish isn't meat" argument

I've been thinking about this one lately. My mom is back on her "but fish ISN'T meat!!!" quest again, and I've been trying to come up with where this idea could have come from. I know it's not JUST my mom that feels this way, so I can't exactly say "it's just Mom being weird" either.

My best guess is that this comes from the Catholic "don't eat meat on fridays, but fish is okay" rule that's been around for just about forever. And it would seem to me that the most logical way to go about solving this would be to get the Catholic church to change their "fish fridays." I'm not exactly up to taking on Rome singlehanded, but might anyone know if there are any organizations already in place that are working on this? It would seem to me that with vegetarian/veganism becoming SO popular, the timing ought to be about ideal... and I can't have been the first person to think of this, so I was wondering if anyone knew who to check with?
love,
mom

 

That's also how it is in Judaism. I'm on the dining services committee for my college and almost everyone self identifies as vegetarian- and all eat fish. There are plenty of Jewish vegetarians (not pesca-vegetarians) and vegans, but there's a disconnect there. I don't really see it as a problem though. Why dwell on what people call themselves and what other people eat? It's their own choice. That's not attacking you, homeschoolmama, but just the general anger I seem to find in the vegetarian community when people eat fish who self identify as vegetarian.

And on the Catholic Church, fat chance at them changing their views. Many churches won't even offer gluten-free wafers for people who could become seriously ill if they eat the wafer.

 

mom,
I see exsactly what you talking about. I dont eat fish, but my family doesnt get it, and I was brought up in a heavy catholic area. I think it sounds like quite a mountain to move though. My catholic friends have enough trouble sticking to just fish they all could die. (sarcasum totally) and as set in its ways as the catholic church is it could be a huge task to even get them to listen. (as well as most other churchs not being biased here)

 

SilverClover - I know... my son & I can't take communion with the rest of our church because of the bread. And we're NOT Catholic! (We're working on this one - fortunately I'm in a position where I can help change things I see in the church)

I think the reason this one bothers me so much is that SO many people around here get truly hostile when I insist that no, I DON'T eat fish and yes, it IS meat. I have a few friends who say they're vegetarian & eat the occasional fish and they don't bother me nearly as much as my friends who swear up & down that I should just give up this "fish are meat too nonsense" and agree with "everyone else" about this. From what I've heard it sounds like this is a pretty local problem, but it's EVERYWHERE up here... maybe it's because I'm in fishin' country?
love,
mom

 

Obviously you are not going to change anyone's mind about fish being meat, so why waste all that energy fighting. What about playing a different angle if you want your mom to stop eating fish. Instead point out all the mercury she is most likely consuming from the fish.

 

fish is meat. so is shellfish, because you are eating the MEAT off a living being. i dont eat them because i'm a buddhist

they have brains doncha know
so do cows

 

Yeah ya know it usually doesn't bother me when people say they're vegetarians and eat some fish every now and then (cuz it is good for you) but I have one friend who says he's a vegetarian and every time I've hung out with him he's gotten some form of fish to eat... I'm sorry but if you're eating fish all the time you aren't a vegetarian! I don't really understand how its any different... when I tell people I'm a vegetarian they ask if I eat fish... doesn't make any sense to me really when you think about it.

On the other hand, my boyfriend likes to point out that other sea animals are more like bugs, not animals, like crabs, scallops, shrimp... if you're eating that stuff then whatever. I personally don't like seafood but eating bugs is less harmful than eating an animal I guess.

My boyfriend says all this fish thing is cuz of a Nirvana song that says fish don't have feelings...

 

Haha it was a joke

 

I thought that people who ate fish are called pectotarians? or something begining with P... Its similar to that anyway...

And lol to the Nirvana comment

 

The only fish I eat is the fish I catch myself!

 

Is Fish forbidden in all forms of being a vegetarian?

 

it's not "forbidden"... but in terms of definition, yes there are no forms of vegetarianism that include fish.

fish = animal
vegetarian = no eat animal

 

I am a vegatarian who only eats red meat. I dont eat fish or chciken though so I am a vegatarian.


Now why does that bother some people? Is it because people always need someone to look down on? Are we just feeling all high and mighty because our life choice is the only correct choice (yeah right)? What is it that makes veggies so anal about what people choose to call themselves?

 

I dont think they were looking down on anyone - I thought it was that HomeSchoolMama was getting alot of trouble from various people for not eating fish...

I mean I get loads of critisism from people that dont agree with being vegetarian...

 

I don't look down on someone who eats meat (Christ, I ate meat until a couple of days ago!) but it is strange for someone to call themselves vegetarians when they eat meat. That's kind of like someone who calls themselves Christians but they don't believe in a god. It's a contradiction.

Peace and love