Hi Kirt,

First, when you quoted back my statement, "why should Hitler have given two
hoots about the Jews?" and then said you would not comment on it, I hope
others new to the discussion will go back and read the exchange in context.
 You made it appear like I was making an anti-Semitic comment, when I was
actually responding rhetorically to your question of why should ETs give
two hoots about us, and my meaning, of course, as is obvious from reading
the whole statement, was that Hitler SHOULD have given two hoots about the
Jews (by not killing them).  Did you do this intentionally?  I hope not.

For the record (again), I am not saying meat eaters are less compassionate
than plant eaters.  I am simply saying that killing animals for food
"mercifully" is a contradiction in terms.  I can understand how some might
view this as being critical of their diet or their overall compassion, but
really I am just saying: face what you are doing without euphemisms and
rationalizations designed to cover up your guilt feelings.  Maybe you will
feel even more liberated and devour even more animals, or maybe you will
decide that it doesn't feel right.  Either way, you are facing the
unalloyed truth, and that can only be beneficial.

As far as your statement that I am being judgmental about non-vegans, I
thank you for the constructive criticism.  I told my wife (a meat eater)
about that comment, and she said she agreed with you  [Attacked from all
sides, our hero fights on - ed.].  Perhaps I was too blunt in some of my
comments and did not consider the feelings of former vegans who are now
thought by their friends to be savages. (You know how it is with bluntness,
Kirt)

But you had some dishonest criticisms, too.  I never said non-vegans were
"mean," nor did I dismiss them as "killers" (I was referring to
cannibalistic ETs trying to kill me) or "lacking in mercy for finding
animal foods useful."  I do not believe these things.  As a matter of fact,
I'm not even a vegan myself, as I understand that term, because I still
wear some animal products and once in a great while I eat some dairy and
honey.

Mark