Obama is smooth...

[zulusierra]

So what? I've tried dog and deep-fried silkworms in Korea...

Dogs and silkworms are not the same. Dog's are man's best friend. You don't eat your friends.

I'm not saying the dog you ate was beaten before it was slaughtered, but I"ve seen documentaries showing how they beat them in order to release adrenaline and other stress hormones which supposedly makes the flavor better. The conditions before death are pretty grim as well.

I would not eat a dog, chimp, dolphin, whale, or any other highly evolved, intelligent, social animal unless I absolutely had to. I did eat a whole bunch of weird stuff the year I lived in Japan, tho...

[mildcigar_2001]

So is there a reason behind your belief... reason so persuasive, clear and concise that it allows one to write off a whole population as morally deficient on the basis of their culinary choices?

It is a question of morals. If you don't know why eating a dog is wrong, I can't explain it to you.

[robertlouis]

Dogs and silkworms are not the same. Dog's are man's best friend. You don't eat your friends.

I'm not saying the dog you ate was beaten before it was slaughtered, but I"ve seen documentaries showing how they beat them in order to release adrenaline and other stress hormones which supposedly makes the flavor better. The conditions before death are pretty grim as well.

I would not eat a dog, chimp, dolphin, whale, or any other highly evolved, intelligent, social animal unless I absolutely had to. I did eat a whole bunch of weird stuff the year I lived in Japan, tho...

Do you eat pork? Pigs are also highly evolved social animals with acute intelligence not much below that of dogs.

And if you do eat meat are you concerned about the insanitary and factory conditions in which food animals are kept? Do you only eat free range eggs and chickens? Most US beef is pumped full of artificial hormones? Veal? Foie Gras? There are simply too many ways in which we in the west are too ready to condemn others' food practices without considering the horrors and scandals that underlie our own food industries.

The only people who can have an entirely clear conscience in this debate are vegetarians and vegans. Spurious relativism doesn't cut it.

[buttslinger]

It is a question of morals. If you don't know why eating a dog is wrong, I can't explain it to you.

What about abortion, cigar...is that cool with you?

[mildcigar_2001]

What about abortion, cigar...is that cool with you?

Nope.

The practice of abortion is dark stain on this country. As morally repugnant as the practice of slavery was in the 19th Century.

[robertlouis]

Nope.

The practice of abortion is dark stain on this country. As morally repugnant as the practice of slavery was in the 19th Century.

Would you go as far as Santorum and insist on rape victims carrying to term?

[trish]

It is a question of morals. If you don't know why...., I can't explain it to you.

If you can't explain it, then you don't know why.

[robertlouis]

If you can't explain it, then you don't know why.

Correct, Trish. It's a question of moral relativism, more like. What gives mildcigar or anyone else the right to assume that his morals are somehow inherently superior to those of another culture?

[zulusierra]

Do you eat pork? Pigs are also highly evolved social animals with acute intelligence not much below that of dogs.

And if you do eat meat are you concerned about the insanitary and factory conditions in which food animals are kept? Do you only eat free range eggs and chickens? Most US beef is pumped full of artificial hormones? Veal? Foie Gras? There are simply too many ways in which we in the west are too ready to condemn others' food practices without considering the horrors and scandals that underlie our own food industries.

The only people who can have an entirely clear conscience in this debate are vegetarians and vegans. Spurious relativism doesn't cut it.

Maybe you've never been blessed to experience the loyalty and affection of a good dog. If not, you are missing out on one of natures finest gifts. A pig won't defend my wife and child to the death, comfort a sick child in a hospital, or be a blind persons eyes.

You are correct about the horrible state of western food production.
Yes, I have been to abattoirs to get bovine eyes for research purposes. I think everyone should see where their food comes from at least once in their lives. It is nasty. It is inhumane. The conditions that the illegal immigrants are forced to work (actually they are treated like slaves) in are appalling and dangerous. I have no problem with eating meat or slaughtering animals, it is the inhumane conditions I have a problem with. There are ways to make it more ethical but that will not happen in my country.

One does not have to eschew meat to have a clear conscience. If you ethically hunt (in my area deer and pig and turkey to name a few) and fish you get the best of all worlds. The animal lives its life naturally, is hormone free and lean, and as long as the hunter does his part is dead before it realizes anything happened. Also, with a minimum amount of land, chicken, bees, and goats become viable options to raise yourself. I am not where I can subsist like this right now but am working on it.

[mildcigar_2001]

Correct, Trish. It's a question of moral relativism, more like. What gives mildcigar or anyone else the right to assume that his morals are somehow inherently superior to those of another culture?

That is idiotic. Of course some cultures are superior to other cultures. If you don't believe me, follow the below link to see what some of our muslim brothers have been up to recently:

http://www.care2.com/causes/150-afgh...ng-school.html


We should Christianize and civilize most of the muslim world.