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Whats the problem with whaling?

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rturner76

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the whales we hunt are not endangered. minke whales are not even classified as endangered. We have regulations and catch limits.

IF that is the case then I see no reason why this should be a problem. Do Japanese officials go after and impose penalties on poachers? If so then that is all the international community can ask.
 
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Belk

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Healing people who are sick is also a tradition going back as far as civilization itself.
Are you saying that we should also stick to the same methods there as our earliest ancestors, too, or is this another example of hypocrisy?

:confused:

Healing people is a tradition? What definition of tradition are you using?
 
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Paradoxum

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Also cultural racism is harmful, isn´t it? I find it amusing, because anti whaling is a western phenomen. So you think we should bow to your culture and wishes? What else should we stop or change?

Why do you make it about the West vs Japan? Aren't we all developed countries trying to find the best way forward? Don't the Japanese, American and British, etc, all care about not causing animals to go extinct?

It isn't about culture, it is about morality. If you disagree then say why you disagree, don't complain about culture.

Of course if the Japanese aren't killing endangered species (as you say) then there seems to be no problem (unless the problem is killing intelligent animals).

And at least that's consistent! What I can't stand is hypocrisy. Someone complaining about the japanese/Norwegians/Faroese hunting whales, or people in Africa killing wild animals that endanger their lives and livelihoods....while happily eating McD-burgers, nuggets, as well as eggs, milk, etc.

What exactly is the hypocrisy here? If someone is against killing endangered animals while eating non-endangered animals?
 
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Belk

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In this context: Something that has been done for a long time, passing from generation to generation.


Hmmm... Seems an odd definition of tradition. It would make pretty much anything that humans have done up into modern times a tradition.
 
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abdAlSalam

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And you decide whats important for us? We think it is an important point of our culture, thats why we defend it since decades. On the other side we find many aspects of islam disgusting and do not accept it in our country but we do not send out cars into muslim lands ramming local female genital mutilators...
Well this is actually another example of a cultural tradition that I oppose. FGM has nothing to do with the religion of Islam, and yet some Muslims do practice it. I oppose FGM, it is to be an abhorrent practice that serves no purpose.
And no, I don’t (or at least shouldn’t) decide what is important to Japan. And yet your only defense of the cultural significance has so far been Just Because.
Norway does not face half the attacks that we face. thats clear racism.
I am unaware of the relative pressures put on Japan and Norway with regards to whale hunting. Do you have any proof that Japan is being targeted more than Norway?
Unless youre talking about those Sea Shepherd idiots. Those guys can screw off as far as Im concerned.
No, I'm just not letting you get away with moving the goalposts. That's a different story.
A nice little distinction you've made there: It's TOTALLY different because unlike those savage japanese, good muslims only use worthless animals, not cute politically correct animals.
The end result is the same: Animals die, for the sake of "tradition".
I wish people would stop using phrases they don’t understand...
Moving the goalposts, also known as raising the bar, is an informal logically fallacious argument in which evidence presented in response to a specific claim is dismissed and some other (often greater) evidence is demanded. In other words, after an attempt has been made to score a goal, the goalposts are moved to exclude the attempt.[2] The problem with changing the rules of the game is that the meaning of the end result is changed too. It counts for less
The evidence I asked for was cultural significance beyond mere tradition. This has been my criterion for the ENTIRE conversation.


Note I never called the Japanese savage for their practices.


Note that I described why Qurban is important in the Islamic faith. It is not because of just tradition that Qurban is an important practice.



Note that the reason for pointing out the use of domesticated animals is because these animals ALREADY are slaughtered, that there are not international laws forbidding their slaughter, that this food is ACTUALLY in demand for feeding people (unlike whale meat which AkiraYamato has already admitted is not popular amongst the Japanese).
Now, I'm not criticizing the islamic practice. I'm criticizing your double-standards.
You have done little to show that I have been keeping double standards.
Also: Who gives you the right to say what is and isn't an important tradition in japanese culture? Do you have any proof that the majority of japanese people does not think it's important?
No, not really. I do know however that AkiraYamato has not provided cultural significance for it. I do know that the Ainu people of Northern Japan give whales and whale hunting spiritual significance. But these beliefs and practices are in the minority and went extinct far before the modern day. I do know that most Japanese dont even eat whale meat, or do so exceedingly rarely.
If AkiraYamato can point out its cultural significance beyond "Just Because", then I may well concede the point.

I didn't know that Islam required animal sacrifices. Is that common throughout, or more specific to certain groups?
The sacrifice is made during Ed al-Adha. The meat is divided 3 ways: 1/3 goes to the direct family of the people who made the sacrifice, 1/3 goes to relatives, and 1/3 goes to the poor who cannot afford to eat.
 
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Desk trauma

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It is important to keep us able to hunt whales. We import much meat from argentina and usa. What happenes if we enter more conflict rich times and are under sanctions? We must guarantee that our population is fed. Thats the reason. We keep it low level but enough to have experienced hunters and a functional fleet.

If you're looking to secure a protein source that is not vulnerable to foreign interference one that requires sea voyages from Japan to Antarctica and back is a poor choice.
 
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AkiraYamato

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Well the minke whales around antarctica are not endangered and are listed as common animals. Thats why we hunt there. We do not hunt whales in our region, beside some dolphins, because most species that live around Japan are endangered. We also have no poachers. because our entire whaling fleet is under government control.
 
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MachZer0

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I don't think anyone would have a problem if there weren't endangered species being hunted.

There seems to be no regulation or catch limits so it would seem the whales may be hunted to extinction. How will that be good for tradition? A good hunter respects his prey and allows it to flourish so the hunt can always be plentiful in the future.
The minke whale hunted by the Japanese is not endangered. The estimated population is over 500,000 and the Japanese kill about 800/year. Hardly a threat to extinction
 
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MachZer0

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Cows and chickens and pigs are domesticated animals that are bred mostly for human consumption and are nowhere close to being extinct. Whales are wild animals that are an endangered species.
Killing whales for food is something that we observe in nature. And we know if it occurs in nature, it is acceptable behavior
 
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TheOtherHockeyMom

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If you don't believe in eating whales, don't eat them. But don't impose your beliefs on the rest of us

I don't, for instance I don't push for legislation to make eating meat illegal. Instead I try to set a good example and go about my life.


Do you feel that way about other issues...perhaps things you don't believe in? Say gay marriage...if you don't believe in it do you refrain from imposing your beliefs on those who support it?
 
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All Englands Skies

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Humans find something mystical about whales, thus they think they are to worthy to be hunted.

But if you aint mystical, smart or cute, you can be killed in your millions.

Basically, humans deciding whats "worthy" to not be hunted.

I myself can be doing with the hypocrisy, I eat Chicken, beef, lamb, deer or whatever, so I'd eat whales aswell.
 
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super animator

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Humans find something mystical about whales, thus they think they are to worthy to be hunted.

But if you aint mystical, smart or cute, you can be killed in your millions.

Basically, humans deciding whats "worthy" to not be hunted.

I myself can be doing with the hypocrisy, I eat Chicken, beef, lamb, deer or whatever, so I'd eat whales aswell.
No, it has something to do with them being endangered species.
 
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