Comments on: Bloody hands: bison harvest at Madroño Ranch

By: Brandi

Brandi — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 06:03:07 +0000

Heather, you wouldn’t be willing to share your prayer, would you? We are development workers in a coal-mining valley in Romania (my husband is from TX), and we have 9 university students here with us, in our study-abroad program. This morning we are gathering to “cut” (the Romanian translation) our Thanksgiving Day turkey. Blessings to you and joy in the journey, strength for the struggle….Brandi Bates (www.new-horizons.ro)

By: M Gaskill

M Gaskill — Sun, 20 Feb 2011 20:20:23 +0000

Everything eats, and everything gets eaten. It is not cruel, or wrong. It is the way of the world. Where it gets ugly, I believe, is when it becomes industrialized, remote, and driven solely by profit – i.e. our modern agricultural industry. Our ancestors knew and respected what they killed and ate, whether wild animal or livestock. They knew what went into their meals, and did not take any of it for granted. They knew that meat came from a living, breathing animal, not a plastic package in the store. I believe that makes all the difference. In the end, I do not think we can consider eating an animal any more wrong or cruel than eating a plant, and eat we must. What you are doing is bringing humanity back to the process. I could go on, but I won't, at least not here. Thanks for sharing the story.

By: Ellen Jockusch

Ellen Jockusch — Sat, 05 Feb 2011 03:52:05 +0000

What a writer you are, Martin. Riveting prose and, clearly, a riveting experience. You had your eyes and your hearts open, as you have so many times with things and people you love. I echo Tink: well done, my friends.

By: joyhowie

joyhowie — Fri, 04 Feb 2011 19:43:43 +0000

This was so moving to read, Martin (and Heather). Most species survive, at least in part, by taking the lives of unsuspecting, non-threatening animals (as well as those that suspect and/or threaten). That the two of you, along with your collection of Roberts and Not Roberts, are doing so with such deep awareness of life's rich complexities and unfathomable ambiguities is awe-inspiring to me. I am profoundly lucky to know you both. And I love you to pieces, too.

By: Tink

Tink — Fri, 04 Feb 2011 14:38:45 +0000

This is a fascinating post. I've always said I wouldn't eat meat if I had to participate in its death–but that's because I'm a moral coward (and a bad reader of Kant). Well done, Martin and Heather.

By: Heather and Martin

Heather and Martin — Fri, 04 Feb 2011 14:33:54 +0000

Thanks for the thoughtful comments, Patricia. It was not my intent to justify our actions, but merely (hopefully) to indicate that we're not undertaking them lightly. I certainly agree that one should always pay attention to that inner queasiness.

By: Patricia

Patricia — Fri, 04 Feb 2011 13:53:40 +0000

No matter how the harvesting is poetically expressed, it is still taking the life of an unsuspecting non-threatening animal.
I grew up in a family who hunted and fished, and I married men who excelled in hunting and fishing. I do not judge you.
I killed (harvested) my last animal when I was 44. I didn't know at the time that I was pregnant. After I had my late in life surprise, I couldn't hunt, fish, shoot skeet/clay pigeons or even scuba dive. I literally became nauseated if I tried.
I have no judgements, no recriminations, I just know that whenever i need to justify my actions, I'm usually going against my inner values.
Lex Breckenridge explained it beautifully to our children when he explained that the inner quesiness we feel is like the San Andreas Fault line, ie, platelets rubbing against one another. Be aware. Something is not right within your value system. The main thing is to listen to yourself and to respect others' value systems, for their platelets are always different from yours.