I dont get it--noone is forcing anyone to actually eat meat, so why do we look down on others or feel bad when they do?
We get defenisve when others point out how girls dont wear hijab, or how spending $$$$ for weddings is wasteful and not necessary.
lol. Because we're hypocrites. We try to show our greater superiority by how strictly we follow the observed 'rules' of the religion when our hearts are far from pious.
In my opinion, morality, spirituality, is not defined by what you eat. It's by how you've lived your life and acted towards yourself and everyone around you.
So do I eat non-halal food? Yes, all the time. And I love it. I love Japanese food, chinese food, Spanish tapas, Ethopian, French, Moroccan... you name the country's cuisine, I'll give it a shot.
But I respect the preferences of others, and never impose my choices on others. If my cousins who do eat halal are coming over for dinner, it's halal meat all the way as per their preference. I think the values of 'respect' are what many of us forget to practice on a regular basis.