My point in responding to ry4wn, was validating the fact that fish and seafood are part of the Standard Macrobiotic Diet, for those who so choose. Standard use fish are: carp, cod, flounder, haddock, halibut, herring, scrod, smelt, snapper, sole, trout, other white-meat fish, dried fish, small dried fish (Iriko).
Infrequent use seafood are: cherrystone clams, littleneck clams, other clams, crab, lobster, octopus, oysters, shrimp.
Infrequent use fish are: bluefish, salmon, sardines, swordfish, tuna, other blue-skinned and red-meat varieties.
Yes, all macrobiotic people who eat fish and seafood, eat it at the expense of an individual fish or sea animal giving up its life. Everyone eating the Standard American Diet who eats hamburgers at McDonald's or has meat on the table every night does it at the expense of a farm animal giving up its life. Naboru Muramota says in the book, Healing Ourselves, to thank the carp for giving up its life for you. Carp being one flesh food that can effect miraculous healing.
In the world, there are numerous instances of nature and the food chain, where virtually every animal is stalked and killed by another, only for food. This is where the animal kingdom is superior to humans, because only man is capable of divising the means of inhumane death of other humans, and animals, by torture, and for perverse pleasure.
One of the main tenets, or it should be, of macrobiotic practitioners is "blessed are the peacemakers". Everyone is not at the same level of development. Some have arrived at a point where they wish to eat no animal food at all. Others haven't, and mentioning lobster or any of the allowed fish and seafood that is part of the Standard Macrobiotic Diet is acceptable in these forums.
It doesn't say much for long time macros or strictly plant eaters to constantly be criticizing other macrobiotic people following the standard diet. I guess those who must indulge in reactive criticism, haven't yet learned how to get along with their fellow man or have respect for the individual choices of others. Each person's body and condition is different and some may need the protein that comes from fish and seafood, others may not. Some may be able to tolerate large amounts of soy foods, others may not. Not too long ago, a macrobiotic poster was diagnosed with severe osteoporosis and instructed to consume Iriko, small dried fish, for an abundant source of calcium.
There are a lot of battles to choose in this world, some noble, some not so noble. I think choosing to battle over small details with other macrobiotic people is ignoble, when there are serious causes in the world needing our attention as a cohesive group.
Here is one website with links that could use the help of macrobiotic people, of like minds, working together, to solve the world's problems, rather than fighting with each other and berating each other over inconsequential matters. I'd like to see more macrobiotic people walking their talk.
www.themeatrix.com
Nancy