OK Zevi let me rephrase this….we were given the right to eat meat because the Torah said so. Period. The commentary that explain why the change help us understand why this is so. However it is there black and white and I would think that if Hashem wanted to tell us it’s OK but we shouldn’t then the wording would have been different. So in short there is no Halacha basis for not eating either but we have a good source for being allowed.
The fact Man was kicked out had nothing to do with the fact we can or can not eat meat. Rather it was an emphasis that it was the only time when man and animal coexisted in perfect harmony with each other. Once we were out of Gan Eden it all went down hill from there.
Why is there such an emphasis on ritualistic slaughter….simple you are what you eat. How man goes about using animals affects the type of person that he is. If I take a gun and blow off the head of the cow, damages my neshamah as much as the cow. So by doing things in a prescribed way we are more than elevating ourselves by doing the rotzon of Hashem we are also being merciful is how we reach the end means. By looking for the best cut of meat to buy for shabbos each day brings the kedusha of Shabbos into the week. When I eat meat, I make a bracha which then goes into the meat and elevates it kedusha. When my body breaks down the proteins and uses it in my body I benefit from the kedushas as well. ( I will discuss the treatment of animals later since that is a different aspect and needs to be dealt with separately) Plus just be looking through the mishnah brurah and the lives of our Rabbonim and Gedolim lead their lives show how important meat can be in our daily and shabbos/yom tov meals.
Besides there are many instances in Halacha where there is a strong emphasis on our behavior which makes things much harder for us. If all mitzvohs were easy then there wouldn’t be the reward that awaits for us by fulfilling them. Besides even according to your logic this doesn’t give a halchig reason to not eat meat. It is again just an opinion.
Now if the pre-Noach generation were closer to Hashem why were they destroyed? Why were we given the Torah and not them? Plus the fact that there is a minhag to not name a baby after someone born pre mabul (besides Noach and Adom) kind of makes me wonder.
And yes I/we can say, yes Noach saved the animals and therefore gets to eat them. Because the purpose of animals in this world are to be used as a tool to help us serve Hashem. They pull our wagons, give us milk, skins for leather and religious service (sefrei torah, teffilin, etc)and to be slaughtered so that we could bring korbonos to bring us closer to Hashem. So for what ever reason Hashem deemed it so, after the mabul, we were also allowed to put them on our dinner table and eat them. Which is an halchig fact. Besides you logic would have a problem with the kosher animals he saved only to shect them soon after he came out.
Next, I did a google search and found a lot of mudslinging propaganda based on findings that these eco-peta groups put together. I question the validity of it and then looked into Kosher places. (I have also spoken to people who have worked in Kosher shlacht houses as well) I was pretty content with what I found and based on what I have seen first hand and those who I have spoken to, there weren’t any problems like you mentioned. I did not check all but I wonder if you have ever seen these places first hand or just relying on the “facts” from people with an agenda to stop people from eating meat.
As far looking at sickness, I think you forgot to include the consumption of white flour and refined sugar. When you look back to when products like white bread and coke were introduced you will also see everything from cancer to obesity on the rise. The Western civilization of fast food is horrible and saddly if you go to any kosher store you will find more garbage food than what is good for you. Nothing to do with meat, I’m talking about the many types of junk food that makes up isles and isles of our stores. Hashem meant for things to be eaten in moderation. Studies of vegetarian diets have shown to be healthy but also when meat was eaten in moderation with a balanced diet, they were just as healthy. So when you want to make the change for all mankind think about whole grains, non-hydrogenated fats and less sugar as well.
As far as our future, well guess what I have bitochon and not only do I want a better place for my children I have seen it become just that. My kids have a better diet then I had, they are more active since we make it point for them to be and they live in a cleaner and healthier world.