All of the arguments to prove man's superiority cannot shatter this hard fact: In suffering, the animals are our equals-----(once again, I'm too lazy to go upstairs to get the name of the author of this quote, but if anyone wants it, I'll be happy to.)

As for bowing your heads and thanking the animal for giving its life before you chow down on it, uh........................unless it jumped off a bridge after turning to you and stating, "Hey, when I'm gone feel free to chomp away," that point seems rather mute, doesn't it? Get it? That animal had absolutely no choice in the matter, so who are you thanking? Given the choice I sincerely believe that animal would not have wanted to die a horrifying painful death.

There's a book, "The Slaughter of Terrified Beasts" that deals with this issue. Never read it and never plan to, as just the description is enough for me. I've heard bits and pieces and that's enough.

My feeling is that if God had wanted us to eat, wear etc, animals, he would not have created them as he did us. Get it??? Brains, nervous systems just like ours that feel pain. The SAME pain. Any pet owner out there knows that their pet feels love, gives love, feels fear, feels pain. The SAME pain, the SAME terror. Why would a LOVING God create beautiful beasts that feel every bit as much as we do, to have them killed for us to eat/wear/etc? No one has ever been able to give me a good reason. No, he created plants for these purposes.

I don't expect everyone on this planet to ever feel the way I do. I see this world as being as screwed up on this issue as it is screwed up on just about any issue. Hopefully, there IS an afterlife, or a "New System" right here on earth at some point or whatever kind of spirit world you believe in (hell, I don't even know which I believe in, but anything's gotta be better than this!) And I believe that in THAT perfect world everyone will understand, innately, what I've just said, what so many others believe, and which we are often called "Animal Wacktivists" for.

Before anyone stops giving to PETA, etc. I suggest finding out more about them. I've never heard that they don't want us to keep cats and dogs as pets, at least, it is not a part of their mission statement. More likely it is espoused by a few people who identify themselves as members of PETA, meaning that they have sent PETA money and maybe even only ONCE, and who have taken it upon themselves to use PETA's name in connection with some of their more radical ideas or actions. I suggest contacting their office directly if you want their take on this, as I have read and heard them in interviews defending just this type of misrepresentation.

This is what helps keep me alive in the meantime. The belief that in the next place, "...the lion will lay down with the lamb." Or whatever the quote is.

PS: I wrote this in the"quick reply" box at the bottom of the page so it came up as "Re: Fayreody." It's not directed at you or anyone. Just my thoughts on the topic in general. Damn stupid box!