Your right, poor cow! My hunting post was mostly a joke, but with an edge of my philosophy. I agree hunters pull their weight in terms of environment and have respect for the skill of bow hunters. I've met many who trailed a wounded animal for miles though heavy brush out of a sense of duty... as a group, I generally like the bow hunters I've met. A thoughtful, respectful lot.
I'm a vegetarian but I don't force my view on my wife 'n kids.
When I was a kid, my Dad, my brother and I tracked an elk through knee-deep snow, finally after rounding a corner, a shot rings out. Some ^&^&% happened along on a road, saw OUR elk cross it and bagged it. Crap. That was disappointing for me then. I hunted when younger, but stopped when I got older for many reasons. The capper was when I bagged my first and only deer. It was a good shot, but I caused a terrible convulsive death of a beautiful animal (it was quick, though). I still hike, own firearms, camp and backpack (going camping this weekend as a matter of fact.) I've often said far more people would be vegetarians if they had to do their own killing. In that sense, it is a lot like war. War is a better idea for most people when someone else is being killed and doing the fighting.
I'm not pro-abortion, just pro-choice. Abortion is a pretty shameful way of doing birth control and I think from an ethical point of view, pro-life has the stronger position in the abstract. However, if our goal is to reduce suffering, bringing unwanted life into the world into the hands of teenagers when the very groups that support "life" DON'T have a plan to handle it after it arrives full-term is a sure-fire way to increase the suffering of everyone: the crime, the sickness, the loss of potential, and whatnot.
Even the plants I eat have some sense of existence. I won't argue they think but I doubt a carrot desires to be eaten any more than I do. It's hard to be a complete saint when you're hard-programmed to eat other things. I gave meat up due to the health aspects AND ethical problems I have with the practice of animal husbandry. But I do wear leather. So I am not absolutely clean. At least I recognize it and am seeking to reduce suffering. Okay, so I wear the skin off your steak once in a while. But I wear the same piece of skin for years. The steak once eaten is but a memory while the skin still serves me. That's weak but the best I can do. Usually I wear synthetics or plant derived cloth. I don't go fishing for sport anymore because there is suffering and I'm causing it. It gets in the way of my enjoyment. Still love the boat, but would rather pull innertubes.
Welcome back, BTW. And thanks, the meeting went well and my experimental recommendations were accepted. |
