I agree with the attitudes of the Native American Peoples and with
similar based societies. They had reverence for almost everything and
unlikely took anything for granted.
As far as man consuming meat for a millenia I don't necessarily
know that to be true. I do know if you look at Asian (Indian Continent and
thereabouts) Culture they have respected the Cows to the degree of actually
not killing and eating them and interestingly enough they haven't vanished
from the world from starvation. They only used the hides from Animals who
died naturally, although this concept might be very hard for westerners to
digest.
I concur that the majority of Humanity are omnivores however if one
made a short study of our intestinal systems it is obvious that it is
designed much more like the herbivores (long intestine, etc...) however it
is true that man can eat animals and digest them. As far as the western
countries needing animal meat or animal coats to survive is completely B.S.
We eat it out of habit, customs and other cultural reasons, definitely not
because we would starve otherwise.
I feel as humans we should try to care for the earth and it's
species rather than exploiting them for our own gains but I DO agree with
the Native American People and feel they had a real respect for the earth
but today this is not typically the situation and therefore is a mute
point. Sorry Laura.
Andy
>Andy Richker writes:
> I find it curious that cattlepeople or others
>>in a similar vein see nothing strange about caring and probably even liking
>>their herds and then killing them. I think it is bit of a shame that
>>especially these people who can practice such a positive interaction with
>>their land and animals end up having to exploit them for their own
>>livelihood. But I guess this is the nature of capitalism.
>
>I would disagree that this "contradiction" has anything to do with
>capitalism. I think it is very much a natural aspect of the relationship of
>humans with the animals that we use to meet our needs for food, clothing,
>etc. I would remind Andy of the respect/reverence that many Native American
>peoples had for the animals they hunted. This is characteristic of other
>more subsistance based cultures, as well. I don't think that the affection
>that some farmers feel for their livestock is much different. Humans have
>consumed meat for millenia--biologically, we are omnivorous. It is natural
>that people have developed ways of expressing our respect and appreciation
>for the animals that provide us sustenance.
>
>Kindest regards,
>
>Laura
>
>Laura Paine
>Department of Agronomy
>University of Wisconsin
>1575 Linden Drive
>Madison, WI 53706
>Phone: 608/262-6203
>Fax: 608/265-3437
>email: lkpaine@facstaff.wisc.edu