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**Naomi** · 03-10-2011, 07:16 PM

Thanks! I really appreciate it! I look forward to many great, happy conversations with you in the future! Sorry I misunderstood about PW - I do know that you think very highly of her but I didn't get it. Blush

***Darrell*** · 03-10-2011, 08:11 PM

I can't say I've known animal abuse to be more rife amongst fundamentalists than among the rest of the world in general. I've seen some fundies do it. I've seen some non-fundies and non-Christians do it as well.

For the tender-hearted animal lover, I'd advise you never to travel to the third world. In America, a combination of movies and displaced maternal and paternal emotions have led to a humanization and assignment of near-human status of everything from household pets to dangerous wild predators. Where I grew up dogs were rarely even given names and killing one was not considered to be cause for any particular emotional display unless it was disappointment at the loss of a good hunting hound.

Here we seem to be convinced that steaks are born on a Styrofoam platter in the meat aisle of the supermarket. I'd recommend that all carnivores try killing their own food at least once. It creates a certain respect for the journey from field or pond to your plate.

**Naomi** · 03-10-2011, 08:19 PM

Isn't there almost always a difference between slaughter and torture, though? I don't particularly want to watch animals be killed for food (and I don't eat them of my own initiative), but I kind of feel like that's different from intentionally causing pain, for fun.

***Darrell*** · (This post was last modified: 03-10-2011 10:13 PM by Darrell.)

(03-10-2011 08:19 PM)Naomi Wrote: Isn't there almost always a difference between slaughter and torture, though? I don't particularly want to watch animals be killed for food (and I don't eat them of my own initiative), but I kind of feel like that's different from intentionally causing pain, for fun.

Oh, there's a definite difference.

I just think that it helps to define the difference to come to grips with the reality of killing animals for food so we can better understand legitimate vs. illegitimate treatment of animals.

Not giving an animal every human-level comfort and emotional consideration isn't the same thing as torturing them. I shouldn't kick a harmless sheep. I shouldn't kick Aunt May. But I'll slice up the former for dinner and the latter...not so much. I guess (if I had a point) that would be it.

greg · 03-11-2011, 02:01 PM

Darrell - Loved the comment about "steaks being born on a styrofoam platter" For so many "carnivores" there is a real disconnect between what they are consuming and "how" it got there. Your suggestion about "killing their own food once" is a good one, but for many reasons won't get alot of takers.

I have 3 nice white-tailed deer, who cooperated with me this past deer season, in my freezer, and quite a few river caught fish. I appreciate and am thankful to live in a place where I can provide at least some of the food my family consumes. Almost always, after taking a nice deer, as I stand there and admire the beautiful animal, I whisper a quiet thanks to the animal, and a prayer to God for His bountiful blessings.