Holy cow! Has Iowa State University found a new topic to talk about or what? The veggie gang versus the meat-eaters posse seems to be the topic of discussion on our campus these past couple of weeks. This controversy has made people think about an issue that wouldn’t normally be on the top of their “deep thoughts” list.

It has made people want to take a stand on a hot topic that they might not have considered otherwise.

The letters to the Daily for the past two weeks are a prime example of people reflecting on an issue that hit home with them or simply annoyed them. It has also opened my eyes to contradictions.

For example, one of my classmates complained to me about my viewpoint on eating meat. By now, most people are aware that I am a supporter of meat-eaters. My classmate is a stout vegetarian and expresses her preaches on the subject often.

Even though I respect her viewpoint, I don’t understand how she can be for animal rights and healthy vegetarian lifestyles, yet still wear leather and eat fish.

Don’t you have to kill the animal for the leather? Don’t fish bleed when cut? Do I see contradiction in this argument? You bet.

The veggie gang versus the meat-eaters posse controversy is not the only place that I have heard or seen contradictions these days. They’re all over the place.

Another example of contradiction is when parents smoke a pack of cigarettes a day, yet tell their kids that if they ever smoke they will be grounded for life.

I could reason with this argument if the parents would quit smoking and then tell their kids that they have learned how bad smoking really was for their bodies. However, if you are a parent blowing smoke in the face of your child while you tell them to never smoke, then you are thrown into the category of the rest of the contradictory people of this world who shouldn’t be taken seriously or respected.

This reminds me of some people I know who think sex before marriage is a horrible sin, yet they will get naked with someone at a moment’s notice and think it’s OK. “As long as the actual act of ‘intercourse’ doesn’t occur, then it’s OK in the eyes of God” they say. Whatever! It sounds like another contradiction if you ask me.

There are always those individuals I’ve run into who will preach to me about drinking too much beer because it’s bad for my body and it alters my ability to reason, yet they will go and smoke a few joints and then drive a car.

I agree that beer is bad for my body, and it alters my ability to reason. However, I disagree with a pothead who tells me I’m bad because I like to drink an occasional beer and they’re not because marijuana doesn’t alter their reasoning, but rather, “It helps them to think on an even deeper level.” Last time I checked with my drug literature, pot altered the thought processes just as much as a cold one did. It also causes munchies and hallucinations. Wouldn’t it be bad for a person who does either of these things to get behind the wheel?

So folks, what I’m getting at here is that arguments aren’t always about who’s right or wrong, but more so, they are about consistency. If you are going to take the time to argue about something, then be consistent, or you will eventually come out looking like a fool.

I have demonstrated a lack of consistency in some of my arguments in the past, and yes, I have ended up looking like a total idiot. The best thing to do when this happens is to admit your fault, take the time to learn more about the issue and then continue to state your opinion about that topic. After all, it is opinions that make us who we are and the world a little more interesting.

So if you are arguing in support of animal rights, I would suggest that you not wear leather. If you tell your kids not to smoke, then I would suggest you not smoke yourself. If you think sex before marriage is a sin, then I would think twice before you preach to someone about it when you know you got naked with some hottie you picked up at the bar the night before.

As I am learning in my argumentation and debate class, arguments must be solid and supported. Use factual sources to support your claims. Whatever you do, think about things before you open up a can of worms you might not be able to digest. Don’t argue or preach to people about something and then do the opposite. You will gain little to no respect, and you will come out looking contradictory.

I know I will remain a supporter of the meat-eaters of America, and I will always have reasoning and support for my viewpoint.

Giddy-Up!

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Amy Hillman is a senior in journalism and mass communication.