Thursday, Apr. 10, 2008

By DAVE WILLIAMS

Letter writer J.T. rails against "the pointless slaughter of dolphins and whales" arguing for the "preservation of the priceless lives of innocent sea mammals" ("Domesticate efforts to save dolphins," April 3). I happen to agree with this sentiment but I can't help wondering why.

Why is it OK for us to slaughter similarly innocent tuna, for example? Or cows for that matter? Is it the public-relation campaigns by groups like Greenpeace that make us feel for the whales and the dolphins? It would seem to me that all the animals we eat could also be considered "innocent." Is this the first step on the road to vegetarianism?

The opinions expressed in this letter to the editor are the writer's own and do not necessarily reflect the policies of The Japan Times.

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