You guys are going to think I'm crazy, but I've actually thought a lot on this topic over the years.
I never liked justifying human behavior by identifying the same behavior in the animal kingdom
ie: we are meant to eat meat, look at what happens in nature
ie: we are meant to be gay, animals do it to
ie: we are supposed to bed every woman we meet, it happens in nature
ie: etc, etc, etc - you could justify just about anything with this type of argument as all types of behavior occurs in nature (cannibalism, incest, killing for pleasure, killing the weak, sex with all kinds of strange things, etc)
I'm not saying there isn't truth to some these analogies, but I believe them to be logical fallacies for the most part
So that out of the way, I started to think maybe, part of the human condition is understanding that we don't have to kill other sentient beings? We don't have to be meat eaters... We are intelligent enough to realize we don't have to take life, so why do we still do it?
Now the statement I just typed out ... is a fallacy in my opinion... only because it has been developed in a modern, wealthy, developed world where food is inexpensive and abundant... This doesn't even take into account the proliferation of tofu burgers, fresh vegetables, and all kinds of protein alternatives that are now very commonplace and inexpensive. You see, I thought that we (the human race) have a choice, and given that choice, we should take the higher road towards "oneness with the universe" if you will. We as Americans have the luxury of choice, but it does not mean it's our nature, or should or shouldn't be our nature.
The reality in many parts of the world is that people need to consume anything that is edible to survive. I imagine the thought of being a vegetarian doesn't even cross their minds, because getting anything to eat regardless of whether its meat or not is the only concern. In areas that are fertile with a climate that supports farming, people can subsist on vegetables, in areas that are not, people have to add other sorts of sustenance (meat). If you look at all the strange things that people eat around the world, do you think someone discovered these items because 1000 years ago, he or she, was a foodie, and wanted to expand his or her pallete? I'd wager, that most of these odd food items were discovered out of necessity as people ate whatever they could to keep from starving. Even in a fertile region, what do you do in times of famine or flood? You have to hunt or fish to survive.
So then I started thinking about hunting. Why, when food is plentiful and easily obtained in America, do some people feel the need to go out and kill something (obviously, in poor countries they have to for survival). Do they just love to kill? Is it the hunt? Where is the attraction? I think to some degree there is some pleasure taken in the process of tracking, and capturing prey. For some the pleasure may be in the physical display of the dominance of the human race. What I am getting at, is everyone has their own reasons, and I won't try to understand them all. Personally, I like playing darts, basketball, football, target shooting, etc. I like doing things that require skill. Hunting takes skill, knowledge of your prey and the area you are hunting, etc etc. I take some enjoyment from that process. Putting meat on the table (that I would have otherwise gotten from a grocery store) is a bonus. It is something that is going to occur anyway, why don't I take responsibility for it, in a manner that is both humane and sustainable?
So I started to pull the thread a little further... I also realized that hunting and fishing is a way of life. Like any way of life, if it is not passed down, it will be forgotten. There was a time when every man had to know how to hunt, fish, and grow crops, amongst many other skills to survive. Over time, this has become less and less the case in our country thanks to the conveniences of a modern world. That being said, I personally believe, that a way of life, that is essential for the survival of the human race (hunting, fishing, farming), should not be forgotten. So, besides being a method for putting food on the table, or spending time with your kids, hunting and fishing provides an opportunity to pass on that way of life to the next generation.
The last part of this thought process for me, you already seem well aware of. The food industry today is disgusting (even in America... imagine what it is like in countries like China). Long story short, hunting and fishing (when done properly), is much more humane and sustainable than what is going on in the food industry. That being said, the food industry is a necessary evil to support a developing civilization (we can't all be farmers, hunters, and fishermen), but it can be made better.
When I first responded to your topic, I said great post. That doesn't mean I disagree or agree with you. I liked your post because it was well thought out, and it was a topic that I have thought about as well. I don't pretend to have the right answer(s). I don't think anyone does. There's an old saying, If you already know everything, you can't learn anything. I believe dialogue like this, with altering viewpoints, is what allows us to get closer to the right answer. We may never know what the right answer is, but I believe we can all gain a fuller understanding through the conversation.
