Most people are on the world, not in it

That is what John Muir said and I tend to agree.

Animal planet has been airing commercials for a documentary called The Grizzly Man Diaries about a man who lives in the wild with grizzly bears for 10 or so years to document their existence much as Jane Goodall and the chimps. The difference here is that this man was killed by the grizzles he had lived along side for so long. That is the nature of working with any wild animal. They are never your friend or pet. I think this man must have understood this and been willing to make this trade with the bears if necessary.

Contrast this with an History Channel program about grizzly hunters who become the hunted. Given that there are interviews with the 'survivors' we can assume that the ending of their story is the opposite of the Grizzly Man's. These hunters do not see themselves as part of nature but that nature is there for their amusement alone. The bears serve merely as objects for sport, entertainment, and product. They are without personality, without rights and unworthy of respect.

This illustrates my issue with being a vegetarian. All things equal - that is, if we did not have to factor in the brutality of factory farming - I would have no problem eating the flesh of animals because I have no problem with them eating me. I don't see myself as being at the top of the food chain and don't see the need to take that spot hostage for the benefit of myself. I try to be in the world as an equally functioning component and not on the world searching for a way to set myself as its puppeteer.