Reply #17: I believe that the only thing that differentiates humans from other animals is our intelligence.

[KaptBunnyPants]

Therefore, if we can all agree that it's wrong to kill intelligent humans, then I would extend that to near-human intelligence level animals. Dolphins, whales, gorillas, chimps, even monkeys ought to be off-limits. It's arbitrary, but then all moral arguments are. If wage slavery is ok, why not real slavery? And why should murder of people be considered wrong in the first place? These are all arbitrary beliefs that others may not agree with, but if the Japanese wish to be considered barbaric and frankly evil, they can continue to do practices like those in this video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uzuSULcqgxQ

Of course, some people would extend my principle further, and claim that all animals are too intelligent to be slaughtered for food. They're not wrong, but they are also not popular, so they're judgment has less of an impact on the image of cow/chicken/fish eaters. I'm young, and somewhat of a Japanophle, so I was very disappointed to find out that a people I had so respected behave in such disgusting ways.