Why I Support the Seal Hunt - Part 2

Charlie,  Thanks for your comments.  The interesting thing about the term "cute" is that it is not a "real" quality.  We humans assign it subjectively to some creatures and not to others.  In so doing we trash a way of life and a means of survival for humans some of who are "cute". 

"Cute" is the way we see something.  I don't like rats, in fact I hate rats.  I kind of think they are creepy.  Others think rats are "cute".  Which perception is correct?  A rat is an animal that is neither cute nor creepy.  It is simply a "different" animal with it's own look just as a bird, a deer, a cow, a pig or a seal.  

So ascribing cuteness is really not a rational point for or against the seal hunt.  I take it from your comment that you find it a poor justification for apposing the hunt anyway.  We agree on that!  For those who are somewhat affected by the "cuteness" argument, let it be well understood, none of the young seals are harvested today.  So the "cute" ones are not apart of the discussions anyway.   

Lisa,  Thanks for taking some time to think through the issue.  Many who aren't really affected by the lack of a seal hunt follow a path of least resistance or just let their emotions choose their responce.  However doing that leads to other problems eventually.

I saw a news report earlier today that showed that to purchase a chicken up north cost over $20.00.  I pay around half that.  I guess others may be paying even less.  So demanding that people of the north live like us and eat like us is filled with the inherent obligation that we make sure they can buy our food as cheaply as we can. 

Or they can continue to live off the land like they have been doing for centuries.  One thing I know without any doubt, seals are in great abundance so an anual harvest will not impact the integrity of the species.  But if it ever does, then I think the arguement changes.

Shane, 

You seem to have a tender place for animals and I am like you.  I like animals and do not like to kill any.  I am not one who clubs seals.  I have eaten seal meat a few times in the last 20 years.  You are correct about my status though.  I am not starving.  However, I do defend the right of those who hunt seals for their lively hood to continue doing so. 

There are three points I would make in response to your remarks. 

1. I think we both would agree the killing of any animal should be as humane and quick as possible and that any killing of animals is an unpleasant thing to watch. 

2. The way seals are killed is quick and humane.  In fact shooting seals would be less humane than clubbing.  Often shooting will lead to a seal escaping to die a slow death.  Most clubbings are very sudden and decisive. 

We allow shooting of moose and deer because we can't get close enough to club them.  This leads to some animals escaping with bullet wounds to die in the forest.  They become a wasted resource and their death is certainly not humane.  If we could, we would likely choose to club all larger animals rather than shoot them as it would be more humane.  Almost all clubbed animals die within seconds.

3. Clubbing is a means of killing that is used for other animals as well.  The reality is that we can't see other animals being killed as well as we can see the seal hunt.  They are done in the privacy of a slaughter house.

I understand that killing cows is done in a very similar way to clubbing seals.  It is unpleasant to talk about and certainly would look gruesome if we watched it.  We don't like to think of this when we are cooking up a T bone so we just don't.  The point is we don't just club seals.  We club other animals and we accept it because we believe it is humane and because we use them for food and clothing.

We need to be honest about the practice of killing seals.  It isn't rational to single out the way seals are killed as if this was the only animal we kill or as if it is not a humane way to do it.  At this time, there is no other way to kill seals more humanely even though it is still unpleasant to watch.  If there is another way developed sometime, I am sure the hunters would adopt the new process.

Terry,  Thanks for your affirmation that the line some activist cross is beyond reasonableness.  Our GG is great!  An amazing lady with dignity, understanding of what real oppression and poverty is and empathetic and compassionate toward underpriviledged people.  Who in their right mind could say anything insulting of her.

Sylvie,

Thanks for commenting again.  You have a balanced understanding of the issues I believe.  You stated that "People see to pick their battles".  That is true.  For whatever reasons they have picked the seal hunt and have managed to gain traction with that one. 

The photos and videos of young seals on the ice with their big eyes are great visuals to aid in promoting the cause.  It has raised a lot of money for the organizations so you have to think the annual hunt is like their annual fund raiser event. 

In point of fact, if the seal hunt were stopped completely, most anti-seal hunt activists would be desperately looking for another cause to promote that would raise the same kind of funding world wide.  Animals are being "used" for fund raising. 

The pitty is that it is being done at the expense of the lively hood of those people who can least afford it and most of whom are much poorer off than the all of the anti-seal hunt protesters.