It's strange...

how people can feel so much sympathy and love for cats, dogs and other animals that we adopt, whether they be tortoises, parrots or rabbits, yet happily eat cows, sheep, pigs and chickens. A lot of people really connect with domestic animals, they observe and appreciate their unique personalities, quirks and especially the companionship they give. These people believe that their pets do think and feel, and they really dislike seeing an animal being badly treated. I think it's wonderful to see the connection that can be built between humans and animals, but I also find it so odd that we (it was me too until recently) do not make the link between us and farm animals. Somehow these animals don't feel or think, and are not capable of building relationships or appreciating their lives. If that's what we think then yes it's fine for us to eat them. We need not think more about it.

I suppose we can also justify eating meat by saying it's the natural order of things. Lions eat buck and it's not pretty (I cringe at nature documentaries showing the hunt and kill). This is where I find myself struggling with what seems to be conflicting viewpoints, as someone who believes in nature and evolution (only) and places humans firmly amongst other living creatures, yet believing that human beings can strive for such high ideals and ethics through being aware and having the power to make truly liberated decisions (can we really? more confusion!).

The latter also seems to imply that yes we are ultimately better and above other animals? Well, I don't think it should be a question of superiority but simply one of difference. Each animal is uniquely and beautifully adapted to fit into its environment. A cat is not somehow deficient because it can't do maths, it is supremely athletic and agile, has lightening reflexes, insatiable curiousity, great eye-sight and hearing. How is it deficient for what it's meant to do? It's perfect. So how are we better? Especially when we don't use our natural abilities (like thinking, reflecting, compassion and caring).

There are a lot of things that are natural. It's suggested that rape, racism, war are natural, but that doesn't mean that those are principals we should strive for. I think on some reflection and especially, when we build understanding and empathy for others, we would wish to build a society that is not violent, but peaceful in all ways.