: : Since when has the fact that something is 'ridiculous, stupid or cruel' been a reason to stop something being done? It is no doubt from one point of view 'RSC' to wear a pair of leather shoes or eat a nice plump turkey especially fattened for the occasion. But is that a reason to stop doing it? Why do you wear leather shoes? Because that's what society does.:
: Well, I dont know "since when" since I dont know if its a law of any kind, but.... when an ignorant bunch are cruely torturing and killing animals in the name of some stupid religious and/or traditional reason than it should be stopped and outlawed.
Perhaps the irony of my statement was lost on you. Nevermind.
Who are you to call the Hopi ignorant? Whta do you know about the situation? Who are you to say that their religion and traditions are 'stupid'? If something fails to accord to the standard of the whiteman, does that automatically render it barbaric?
As far as i can see YOU are not a member of the Hopi. As far as i can see tehy should be left to govern themselves so far as possible. if they choose to indulge in these religous ceremonies then what of it. I fail to see how it relates to you at all.
I would suggest to you that white men are far more responsible for suffering of animals (enmasse) than any tribe of indians ever will be (you've sited one instance for the hopi; how many could i site for white men, i shudder to think).
: 2. I dont wear cow skin or any kind of leather shoes or stuff my fat face full of plump turkey flesh in the name of an equally stupid and cruel tradition either. I actually have a working brain of my own and I dont need to follow along w/ everything society does. Since when is everything that society does considered "gospel" anyway?
Well, good for you. I hope you crusade against these 'barbaric' activities the same way you crusade against the hopi (funny i don't see any posts).
: : Aside from that exactly why do the indians do it. Mayhaps it has some strong religous significance for them as perhaps not eating your grandmother or killing your children has moral significnace for you (note i am not postulating moral relativism here).
: I dont give a crap what their reasons are for doing it. Its cruel and unnecessary no matter the reason (except if they were starving to death and had no other means of food, and if they were to kill the bird as quickly and gently as possible). They, however, are not starving; they are hurting and killing the animals for their ignorant beliefs.
Again, who are you to call them 'ignorant'. Perhaps they consider it necessary. How do you know they are not right? Have you delved into Indian religion so you can categorically announce that their beliefs are false? Or are you just a member of the dominant christian tradition?
: : If it doesn't seem right to you, maybe that's just because you don't understand it...
: Maybe not. Maybe Im able to discern between right and wrong. Maybe I have some intellegence. Maybe I do understand that when unsophisticated cultures cruely kill and torture animals for pointless, fictitous religious reasons that it is wrong.
You are truly deplorable. Your attitude stinks. To call their culture 'unsophisticated' recalls to me the attitude of early american settlers intent upon 'killing the savages'. Your attitude seems to suggest that you would not give one wit if their entire culture were to be extinguished from the earth and replaced with beef cattle farms. If that is the world you desire then you are truly deserving of my contempt.
You can take your cultural imperialism and stick it.
