I'm currently making a can of sweet peas, a bowl of chicken soup, and whatever else I can find as a midnight "snack." In high school, I ate double quarter pounders or triple Wendy's burgers as between meal snacks. Speaking of which, I may throw on some clothes and make use of the late hours at Wendy's. I have to sponge the fat off first, but I need quick protein, as I've been deficient today.
As for animal life in general, I obviously value it less than human life, but I am as guilty as anyone of emotional reactions to furry creatures. I also try not to kill spiders, lizards, and other such invaders in my home if I can help it. Ants, roaches, and termites are exceptions. And my irrational fear of snakes makes me just want them as far away as possible. If they must be killed to achieve that, fine.
I'm also fool enough that I just might rush into a burning building for most anyone's pet, possibly including a snake or some such if I thought I could get it out without risk from the animal. Still, that's something of an emotional attachment, even if by proxy. I'm not sure if it's my concern for the animal, or for the bond a person has formed with it.
I do tend to do well at approaching unfamiliar animals, and understanding their habits. I find myself forming those emotional bonds easily enough, but aside from myself, I wouldn't put them before any other person. And part of that is probably my delusions of immortality that probably won't go away until I've rather more than 22 years.
As for food animals, I don't particularly like to see the act of killing them, and would prefer it be done as painlessly as possible. But if I had to, I can see myself killing them for food or protection. It's more a matter of respecting their lives, which doesn't seem to occur much in our industrialized processes. I can almost sympathize with the artist from that perspective, as she obviously feels their deaths serve a greater purpose. Still, I would tend to only kill an animal for biological needs, and I am repulsed by what she did on an emotional level, if not so thoroughly on a logical one. |
