Ignorance is bliss. I find this statement and the mentality that follows it to be one of the most bewildering phenomena in today’s society. Maybe it is because I’ve always been one to search for the truth that it seems so odd to me, but the thought that one would rather not know the truth when given the option is confusing.

Being a vegetarian, I do not push my beliefs on others but when somebody asks me why I choose to live this way I give my reasons. I tell them that going vegetarian eliminates over a metric ton of carbon emissions being sent into the atmosphere through energy used in raising the animals, killing them, preparing, storing and shipping the meat each year. I tell them that cattle produce methane and the massive populations of them that we breed for consumption emit more greenhouse gases than the emissions from auto-transportation. I tell them that the average life expectancy for vegetarians is longer than those who consume meat, and they are generally healthier and aren’t as overweight. I tell them that I don’t support the raising of animals for the sole purpose to kill and eat them. I tell them that I believe they have a right to live just as much as you and I. Almost every time I give my answer to the question “Why are you a vegetarian?” Though, I am stopped by the one who asked the question because they would “rather not know”.

Why is this? The only reason I could possibly think of why someone would rather not hear information is because they know the information given would make them question themselves and people would rather assume they are always in the right. When it gets to the point where they feel their resolve slipping, instead of doing the logical thing and looking at their actions and changing what they feel to be wrong, they retreat into tradition and block out information. They justify their actions by choosing to not know the pro’s and con’s and, in turn, choose to be ignorant.

There are of course those people who step up to the plate and give what seem to be valid reasons why they choose to eat meat. They listen to the opposite side and choose to stick to their own decision and one cannot be faulted for this. They are both valid choices as long as one makes the choice based on accurate information delivering valid points.

This is just an example that seems to pop up often in my personal life, but it is much broader than the issue of whether or not to eat meat. It is a common flaw in the human mind to retreat to ignorance when faced with any moral dilemma.

When people’s faith in their religion is questioned by empirical scientific evidence, many choose to just ignore the information or to avoid it. This question often arises; why is the recreational use of marijuana in this country illegal when smoking cigarettes and drinking alcohol are legal? Smoking cigarettes kills 450,000 people a year in America and alcohol kills 75,000 a year while the numbers are significantly lower for marijuana, and the majority of the deaths are related to illegal dealing and smuggling (which could be eliminated by legalizing its distribution). On this issue people once again tend to hide from the logic or create false claims. When people use religious claims to defend laws against abortion and are asked about the “separation between church and state”, many turn a blind eye.

Why is it so hard for people to consider that they might not always be right? When shopping for toilet paper and there are two brands side-by-side; one is from all recycled paper, the other is made from trees ripped down and turned into a product used once and flushed, why do some people not even consider the pro’s and con’s? When people attend local rodeos and circuses, in which the animals are abused during training, just so they can amuse people for an hour or so, why do they look down upon the people who offer information against it?

Information is meant for your benefit, for all our benefits. It is meant to help us make rational decisions and yet people disregard it frequently because they don’t want to feel questioned or ashamed if they have made the “wrong” choice. Be one of the people who thinks about the outcome of their decisions, whether they be good or bad. When somebody questions you about your decisions, have the ability to stand up for yourself and back up your claims. Ignorance may be bliss to some, but knowledge is power to all.

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