Kimberly LaFleur

Rocky River, OH

Kimberly signed the petition | about 3 years ago

Please join me in congratulating our new President and Vice President.
Kimberly signed the petition | about 3 years ago

put the LOVE back in Valentine's Day
Kimberly signed the petition | about 3 years ago

Shop Fair Trade
Kimberly signed the petition | about 3 years ago

Ask for Fair Trade Coffee at Starbucks
Kimberly commented on the article | about 3 years ago

A Sip of Raw Milk

I agree with Paul that Alex's comments should not be removed. Though I may not agree with him, I do think (as I said above) that his voice should be heard.
Kimberly signed the petition | about 3 years ago

Eat at least 10% organic foods.
Kimberly commented on the article | about 3 years ago

A Sip of Raw Milk

In response to Alex:

I have no intention of trying to change your mind or force you to drink milk, raw or otherwise. I respect your choice and your commitment to your values. You can call me Libertarian if you wish. If I am, then the founders of our country were also. Since when is liberty a bad thing? If the law stated that the people could not drink any milk because it is unethical or unhealthy, at least it would be consistent and perhaps logical. But the law doesn't say that. In most states the law says that we can buy milk produced from cows that are only a commodity kept pent up, pumped full of antibiotics and hormones, fed unnatural diets and then the milk is processed in a way that devoids of it healthy bacteria and enzymes and might possibly even make it unhealthy, but we cannot buy raw milk from small farmers that we believe is good for us and our families. Do I equate drinking raw milk from healthy cows that are well cared for to racial discrimination? No. Our country is based on the idea that all men are created equal. But if dairy farming is something you feel is unethical, I praise your efforts to change the system. I only hope that you spend as much time fighting against processed milk from big agriculture and big business as you do raw milk from the family farmer. I get the feeling that you see no difference between the two. I have seen the family farms, how they treat their cows (and yes their babies) and feel strongly that there is a difference ... not only in the care of the animals, but also in the healthful benefits of the milk in it's unprocessed form. If you would have the government tell me I can't drink raw milk, I assume you would also have them tell everyone they can't eat meat or eggs. And then what's next? Perhaps I could give no meat products to my dogs, even though in nature that is what they would eat (are my dogs unethical too?). One could even say I am keeping my dogs enslaved because they rarely go outside of a three block radius (many pastures for dairy farms are this size). Maybe some would have the government tell me I can't have pets. Have you ever considered what someone else might have the government tell you what you can't do? Did you know that many pharmaceutical and supplement companies would like you to not be able to post testimonials on the internet about the healthful benefits of natural foods? Or to post about bad effects from medications? But it is supposedly a free country, and you are entitled to your opinion and to give voice to that opinion - for now. And for that I am thankful.
Kimberly signed the petition | about 3 years ago

Support Local Farmers
Kimberly signed the petition | about 3 years ago

Urge the Department of Agriculture to act now to save bees
Kimberly commented on the article | about 3 years ago

A Sip of Raw Milk

In response to Carrie Sickler:I can tell you're a person who truly cares about the health and well-being of both animals and people, and I applaud you for that. I too love animals and have adopted many from shelters. However, I am not a vegetarian and I love raw milk. When I drink it, I am MUCH less hungry and have little to no desire for junk food. IMHO, I sense this is because I'm finally getting the nutrition I need. And what I love about being part of a herdshare (have to do that because purchasing raw milk is illegal in Ohio) is that my raw milk comes from a small dairy farm where the cows are well cared for. They are allowed to feed on pastures and are not pumped full of hormones and antibiotics. It is not necessary because they are healthy ... naturally. Even if you are against the dairy industry, you must realize it isn't going to go away. And allowing raw milk from small family-run farms to remain illegal only continues the promotion of highly industrialized dairy farms, where the cows are treated only as a commodity, not as a precious living creature. Small family dairy farms know their customers and their customers know them. Customers are free to see where their milk comes from. If they see poorly treated cows and bad living conditions, they will not want to buy the milk. While I'm not trying to change your mind about drinking milk, I do hope you'll consider that raw milk is more natural, and the farms that produce this way treat their animals well. And beyond that, I do not think it is the government's place to tell me or anyone else that I can't buy it. If you choose not to drink milk and try to promote that idea, I respect your belief and opinion and freedom to make that choice. However, I think as free Americans, we should all be able to choose for ourselves what we think is best and healthiest for ourselves and our families.