To the Editor,
To begin with, my intent is not to spread guilt, but to challenge people to raise their conscience to a subject that I am concerned about.
I am opposed to the harp seal hunt in Canada because it is based on exploiting the very young of a sentient animal for the high price of its fur, that is used more as a status symbol rather than a need.
It is absolutely narcissistic to slaughter baby seals wholesale in front of their mothers for a quick buck. I think Canada is better than this and we need to step up to the next level where we belong.
Humans so overpopulate the Earth that it is becoming a greater disrespect to nature to take what is not essential from it. Some of us humans seem to value our species so much that all else must be placed second in order to continue excessive lifestyles and for their idea of the betterment of humanity.
Other animals just like humans care for their young and family and dolphins have been known to keep shipwrecked sailors from drowning.
Is it because we are smarter that makes some people think we are so much better than animals that we have the moralistic right to exlpoit other creatures without conscience?
It is only natural to have a little favouritism with our fellow humans, but it cheapens us if we make an idol of our own species.
Moralistically, what is a human worth without principle? Without principles, humans are worth no more than the simple-minded beasts in the field, for all their knowledge will be in vain because in the end it will lead to their destruction.
The native hunters of the north only kill about three per cent of all the seals killed in Canada and they don’t specialize in killing pups just for luxurious fur.
Many early native American tribes had principle and gave great respect to the animals they hunted for their nutrition and were conscious not to let the animal suffer or waste any of its bi-products.
This tradition was very organic because it was insired from individuals whom had compassion for the sentient creatures they hunted.
We humans are not only sentient creatures, but we are also autonomous agents giving us the ability to choose compassion or not. I think there would be something wrong if nobody cared that seals are bludgeoned to death or skinned alive for something we don’t need.
We’ll be richer on the inside if we would live by principle first and let some more creatures in our hearts besides our cats, dogs, and hamsters.
Canada is the mouse that roared and what is done in our country sets a precedent to the rest of the world. If some in Canada are allowed to continue to slaughter baby seals for the luxuries of the rich, then it gives more permission to those in developing countries to hunt elephants and rhinos for their ivory and tusks to the point of extinction.
Holden Southward
Nanaimo