Let’s take a gander at a timesonline piece titled, Cute animals are just as delicious as ugly ones.

Antonia Senior is the writer, and apparent carnivore, judging by the statement, “But I’d eat a seal sausage roll.”

The premise, of course, is why does the majority of society put animals into different moral categories according to their perceived level of cuteness?

It is Canada’s annual seal cull again, and the animal rights protesters are preparing their traditional response. Yet they are strangely silent about the rat genocide in South Georgia…The EU has banned the import of seal produce, much to the fury of some Canadians. Why ban seal skins and not fur? How can the home of foie gras and veal crates complain about smoked seal loin?

I ask these same questions daily.  Moral categories.

Senior exposes the hypocrisy of this dominant viewpoint, and claims that “there are only two intellectually coherent positions on meat — extreme veganism or enthusiastic carnivorism.”  And, you can see how, in typical carnivore fashion, veganism gets labeled as “extreme,” while carnivorism is blithely labeled, “enthusiastic.”

Is it not “extreme” to kill other sentient beings for your own selfish, sensory pleasure?  I’m  quite sick of hearing how “extreme” my compassionate viewpoint is compared to the violent tendencies of steak and sushi lovers.

Senior continues in the article citing our evolutionary path and progress resultant from eating animals, and how we are now evolved to the point where some of us, at least, can make moral choices concerning the animals we eat.  It’s acknowledged that animals feel pain and misery.  It’s acknowledged they suffer as commodities.

If you eat meat, dairy or fish, if you wear leather, fur or seal skins, you cannot pretend that the animals that offered up these goods did it willingly. The cow tethered to the milking robot, or the caged, clipped-beak chicken squeezing out eggs, is not having fun.

But the author’s point is all about honesty.  How honest are you being with yourself when choosing what animals to kill for suiting your particular lifestyle?

Buying the odd slab of organic meat does not absolve you from the harsh reality of killing animals for your table. The choice boils down to how nice you are, and how brutal your view of the world is.

By this reasoning, doesn’t it sound as if a vegetarian is just a dishonest carnivore?

via timesonline.com

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As an aside, the next time you wonder why vegans seem so frustrated about our beliefs- just read the comments on these types of articles.  Omnivores love to say that all vegans are high and mighty folks that finger wag, which is a reason they don’t respect our position.  This is perfect example of the “non-confrontational” discourse that us vegans face when talking to a high percentage of meat-eaters-

What then about the poor, defenceless, innocent pea – killed while still in his pod, after a life of growing immersed in manure?  This kind of “ethical” argument about food is a sign of the sissification of our society, a process that is completely unknown to nature not to mention wildlife itself.  Or maybe we should launch re-education campaigns against predators? Convince lions (they have feelings, maybe they can follow an argument?) to eat soyburgers, persuade spiders to eat leaves instead of other insects… – comment on article from Pietro B.

Yes, folks.  Caring about needless killing and promoting non-violence is now called “sissification.”  At least Pietro got one thing right, maybe we should launch a re-education campaign.  We’ll start with compassion.