Definitely a cult classic..

PETA, another group of extremist.

It is good to be on top of the food chain! I say this somewhat lightly but with respect too.

PETA does have some excellent points to make about inhumane slaughter house conditions. The meat industry is something we should all be concern about as it directly impacts public health.

There's an excellent book, Animals in Translation and it is like no other animal book because of it's author Temple Grandin. As an animal scientist who works with and for the meat industry she has made significant changes in the industry that have been beneficial to the business, the animals and the public.

Nature is not humane but we are thinking and empathetic beings as are I suspect many animals. We are animals too but we are not coyotes or crocs. Our thoughts go beyond mere survival.I think we owe the animals we consume a respectful and humane death especially when we live and flourish fed on their flesh.

Hunters in my experience are as a group are people who are in many ways the most humane and respectful of all meat eaters. I have never met a hunter personally who wants to wound or damage an animal. They want a clean quick kill shot. They harvest animals who live freely and most eat what they kill. They understand the relationship of a prey animal and the hunter in a way that a person who buys their meat in a nice clean super market never will.

Have you ever slaughtered an animal yourself? If not you should. I firmly beleive anyone who eats meat should have that experience at least once. If you are concerned about the practices of large meat industry processing find a local butcher who works with and buys from local farmers. You are supporting local business and in most cases the animals are handled more humanely than on large meat lots.

Oh, one last point. There is growing scientific evidence that vegetables react to being pulled from the ground or cut up. Perhaps vegetables feel pain too. Will there be a new group People for the Ethical Treatment of Vegetables? If so what the hell are they going to eat?

Touchy feely or leave me alone?