I guess what I'm plugging into as I read the ideas above, is that there''s a
sense of belonging that you might feel if you were to (try to) re-join the masses of deluded people who believe chicken breasts are health food, and believe Snickers pie is a great "reward" after a tough day.
In reality, you can probably never un-know what you already know. Dead animal with some seasonings is still a horrible act of violence. If you are that kinda person who wants to sit around a table and act genteel while putting chicken carcass into your pie hole, hey, no one can stop you, but for someone who already "gets it", that just seems like an act of foolishness.
There are lots of other horrible things you could do instead, if you like to feel a sense of belonging in mainstream America! You could:
1. Consume as many material goods as possible -- use lots of cheap, disposable razors; eat off of paper plates, and drink out of styrofoam cups; replace things often, just because you feel like it. Buy stuff with lots of packaging.
2. Leave the heaviest carbon footprint imaginable -- drive around for the heck of it. Go places you don't need to go. Travel by plane, train or automobile, so long as you can participate in the ritual slaying of planet earth.
3. Look down on people for the fun of it, because that's our national pastime. Find lots of scapegoated groups, and think of why you and your peers are better than they are.
Great sense of belonging to be had, without even eating any fatty, salty, sugary foods.
I'm kinda joking, of course. I mean, I DO think it's about sense of belonging. But I can't even imagine wanting to have a sense of belonging with people who are less evolved on things like nutrition, kindness, environmentalism, etc.
This whole post is (obviously) loaded with my personal values, and as these are "personal" values, certainly no one shares my exact perspective, which is fine! No one has to agree with me.
EDITED TO ADD:
I have a quirky sense of humor! Everything I say is kinda off the cuff, and yeah, a little sarcastic, but please everyone, know that I want everyone to feel happy and confident about what they're doing. It's not a competition!