What could a dirty, addictive, filthy habit condemned by most of society — smoking — have in common with a substance considered a prerequisite for human health—meat? Well, at one time smoking was viewed virtually the same as meat is today, a sometimes healthful, benign leisure activity, a customary part of everyday life.
If we went up to a smoker as relatively recent as the 1950s and told him or her that in 50 years they would be considered a pariah, forced to smoke outside away from others, ignorant and weak for continuing their filthy habit, and sure to contract a debilitating disease, they would have placed us under psychiatric observation.
Given the eerie parallels between smoking and meat-eating we may want to give consideration to the notion that we are in the 1950s when it comes to the practice of eating meat, diary, and eggs. That even though today as a majority we are accepting of the fact that consuming these foods is healthful, benign, and customary, that tomorrow that might not be the case. Rest assured though that recognizing this particular scenario today will put us in a better position to have a tomorrow.