Primal Hunting?

A friendly free roaming horse!

“If I hunt, kill and prepare my own meat, would that be okay to eat?”

I’d be rich if I had a dollar for every time I heard this.  Yes, I know that people have been hunting from the beginning of time or that meat eating is “part of a culture”, but isn’t it time that we keep our focus on the future?  Eating animals is not what it used to be.  People still hunt, but for the most part, modern methods have made meat-eating extremely convenient.

So two days ago, someone said to me, “I believe it’s okay to eat meat, but I don’t believe it’s okay to torture the animals.”

To which I responded, “Your desire to eat meat creates the demand for torture.”

And he said, “But I didn’t torture the animal.  I would never do that.”

There was only one thing for me to reply, “You already have.  As long as there is demand for meat, there is demand for torture, because the animals are raised to be killed for a meal.”

The guy that said this to me was trying to find out my “vegan views” on hunting, whether or not I agreed with it because I am vegan.  I have two things to say about this.  Before being a vegan, I’m a nutritionist.  (Incidentally, it is because my background is nutrition that I agree with veganism; I believe it to be the most nutritionally sound choice.) Back in history, when almost all cultures hunted, animals were the main source of protein.  This is how it was.  Some vegans might get angry with me for saying this, but, it (at that time) is more important to have your protein element from an animal than to not have it at all.  Yeah, yeah, wild nuts and seeds…I know.  But reality for most people, unfortunately, is that they looked to the animals for the next meal.  So one has to ask, “Would it be better to be protein deficient or to eat animal protein if nothing else was available?”  (What a wreck I would have been back then–think I would’ve been a pioneer at discovering plant-based sources of protein?  LOL)  Secondly, in modern times, I don’t agree with this “hunting is a primal human instinct” thing.  We have so many options available to us, other than muscle tissue, meat-eating isn’t “necessary” anymore.  Besides, non-animal protein is so much easier on the body.  Sounds like a win-win-win situation.  Better for my health, better for the animals, and better for my peace of mind.

This conversation, as you can imagine, went in circles.  It is very difficult for me to express my views without being offensive to someone of the opposite views.   I rarely take offense from meat-eaters…because I’ve heard it all.  And I know exactly how they feel–I’m an ex meat-eater myself…don’t forget it.  But somehow, no matter how logical I try to be about veganism (sometimes leaving the “compassion” out of it since some may love how “uncompassionate” they can be in response) people still pose the arguement that meat can be eaten “compassionately” with less torture.  It makes me wonder how one can justify compassionate killing.  This dude wanted to switch to more “humane” methods, like organics.  Gasing to death, a “quick slit” or a euthanasia shot.  It better for the animals, so it seems, but this is merely an illusion…because in the end, a life is still taken without asking.  Uh, do you really want to eat the residuals of euthanasia shot or gas?  Creepy.

He also claims to hate PeTA because they’re “crazy”.  Well, I’m a member and I’m not crazy.  Maybe crazy for losing a few marbles cuz I’m such a goofball, but I would never dump red paint to get my point across.  There are nut-jobs in every group.  But dumping red paint and being so unnecessarily outrageous is just immature, if you ask me.  Everyone is an activist how he or she sees necessary.  But just because there are a number of crazy vegans, doesn’t mean we all are  :p

Yes, hunting has gone on for a long time.  But as time goes by, it gives us a chance to adjust, improve and evolve ourselves.  But imagine hundreds of years ago, hunting was a means for survival.  That was the primary form of protein available.  We have obtained so much more knowledge since then.  And I feel that a person’s actions should be in line with beliefs.  You can’t say you’re against torturing animals and then go and eat a chicken sandwich…

Veganism can be an ethical choice.  It can be a choice to better your health.  For me, it’s both.  Quite honestly, as I told this meat-eating, PeTA-hating guy, don’t look to me for all the perfect answers on veganism…do some of your own research if you’re really that interested.  As for me, I’m not interested in feeding on a dead body.   Not my thing.  I also think it’s gross to eat the body fluid of somebody else, whether it be a cow, goat or whomever.  And it’s also unappealing to eat the ovulation products of a bird…..just my opinion.  That’s mostly why I’m vegan.  For the animals, I luv them too–veganism is so much more than people perceive it to be.

All things aside, whether you choose to agree or disagree with me, it just felt good to say what I needed to say.  I’m slightly ornery with people at times, but this is understandable.  I’m sure meat-eaters are with me too.  But hey, for once I wish people like him could seem a little more open at possibilities in life–even though he doesn’t agree.  I don’t mind that we disagree.  Don’t bring up the topic if you’re only gonna bash what I have to say.  Then what’s the point of asking my opinion?