Before I start this essay, let me first introduce whom I am. My name is Adam Layish. For the most part, I am just like any other 16-year-old teenager. I go to school on a daily basis, I hang out with my friends, and I stress out about homework. I am different from most teenagers because I am a vegetarian, and I have been a vegetarian for ten years. For most of my friends, this is just an interesting fact about me. To me however, me being a vegetarian mean so much more to me then that. I was born Jewish, and right now I am still technically Jewish. However, being Jewish really means nothing to me. All of my beliefs revolve around my love for animals, and for me animals are more important then people.

Right now I am a vegetarian, and I have been a vegetarian for ten years. Most people are happy about eating meat, and a lot of my friends have tried to convince me to eat meat again. I will never forget one of the times when I almost ate meat. I was trying to lose weight, and my friend told me that the best way to lose weight was to eat meat. I didn't listen to him at first, but eventually he almost convinced me to try it. We went to the gas station, and there were the hot dogs rolling around in the glass that looked so tasty. But I was disgusted. I thought to myself, I would rather weigh 500 pounds then give up the thing I believed in most. I know I made the right decision that day.

One of the biggest laws in you are not allowed to kill. Well, let me restate that, you are not allowed to kill another human being. So as long as you don't kill another person you are fine. Well, that part is partially wrong as well. You are only allowed to kill animals the kosher way, which usually involved cutting their throat. They are supposed to die painlessly. I suppose the is better if you are going to eat meat anyway because the poor animal that means nothing to the human eating it won't feel as much pain, but you are still ending another innocent creatures life. I think it is funny how religion where life I so important contradicts itself so much.

While I am still on the topic of Judaism, let me talk about the Holocaust. More than 6 million Jews were killed during the Holocaust. Yes, I have feelings, and I do think that the Holocaust was a terrible thing, and so many people died. But, I find it funny how people cry every year to remember the Holocaust, but that dinner they eat a chicken. I certainly feel bad for those many people that died, but I feel no compassion whatsoever for everyone else who cry's every single year because they are hypocrites. There are so many other examples where this is true, such as the September 11th attacks on the World Trade Centers. But to me there is a Holocaust every day, but the only difference is they take place in slaughterhouses and different animals are killed.

There are so many amazing animal rights organizations out there, and they are all amazing. They help save the lives of so many animals each year. I love PETA's naked protests, and when the ALF breaks into farms and takes all those poor, cramped up, starving chickens, and nurses them back to good health.

There is so much more to animals rights then what I mentioned in the above paragraphs. Meat eating is obviously the most well known issue, that not even putting a dent in the issue of animal rights. Everything from Elephants in the Circus, people hunting and fishing, and seal clubbing are day-to-day problems that animals must face. It breaks my heart that all creatures are not equal.

I am proud to be a vegetarian, but it is still not enough for me. I want to become a vegan. I hate it that everyone in my family eats meat and dairy, so it is hard enough being a vegetarian, but being a vegan is not in the cards for me right now. When I move out, I will become a vegan because I will be able to control what goes in the house, and I hope everyone follows my footsteps to help make a difference.