Hunting

=ANIMALS= =Discussion= jonathantca 1/21/2010

Michael Pollan, the author of the "Omnivore's Dilemma" sets out on a boar hunt with a friend, in order to understand the appeal of the controversial practice of hunting, and to take full responsibility for where his meal comes from. During the hunt he comes to see the appeal of being entirely unified with nature, with all his senses heightened and in tune with his environment, focused on the hunt. "When one is hunting, the air has another, more exquisite feel as it glides over the skin or enters the lungs, the rocks acquire a more expressive physiognomy, and the vegetation becomes loaded with meaning." On the first day, he is unsuccessful, but later kills, skins, cleans and eats a boar. The process of cleaning the boar is repulsive and one of the main detractors for hunting, people are comforted by the disconnection of purchasing their food pre-cleaned and packaged. Later Michael sees pictures of himself pride fully standing over his prize, and is ashamed of his behavior, bringing out another perceived problem with hunting, people taking pride in killing. However this is not the most significant factor, which is instead the absolute connection with nature, and the connection with one's meal from start to finish. Throughout the chapter Pollan presents the facts of the hunt fairly, especially in the descriptions of his own actions which he later came to resent. Pollan, although inadvertently, also expressed Biblical values. We as Christians have been given all food to eat, in Acts 10: 9-16, Peter is told by God to "Rise kill and eat", although this verse goes much farther it tells us as Christians that all animals are clean and God, if not commanded, has certainly condoned hunting.

•[] •Pollan, Michael. __The Omnivore's Dilemma__. New York, NY: Penguin Books Ltd, 2006. brittaniTCA on 101/21/10
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Hunting is often seen as a controversial practice. It is however a method of getting food, and should be examined and considered. The main benefit of hunting is the hunters complete involvement in the food process. He kills the animal, prepares it, and eats it. The hunter is in control of every step. Michael Pollen retells a personal hunting experience in The Omnivores Dilemma. He found that his senses were //“ especially acute “// and that his //“ mind forgets everything else. “// He describes it using this quote //“ The tourist sees broadly the great spaces, but his gaze glides, it seizes nothing, it does not perceive the role of each ingredient in the dynamic architecture of the countryside. Only the hunter, imitating the perpetual alertness of the wild animal, for whom everything is danger, sees everything and sees each thing functioning as facility or difficulty, as risk or protection. “// Hunting truly connects the hunter to his environment, and forces him to soak it up in anticipation. When Michael finally kills //“his pig”// he is overwhelmed with pride and gratitude. It is not until later that he begins to see the negative aspects of hunting. The disgust began with the cleaning and //“undressing”// process of the pig. During this step you must experience all the foul smells, unpleasant textures, and bloody insides of the animal...and still want to eat it. Much of our human disgust with this process has to do with its //“confronting us with the reality of our own animal nature.” “ we feel more comfortable with the mechanical killing practiced out of view without emotion, by industrial agriculture.”// Hunting food is a much more personal experience that can play on our emotions, and make us feel more connected to the dead animal then we would like. Michael felt remorse over his killing later, when he saw pictures from the hunt. He felt shame for the proud grin on his face, while at his feet was a dead sow surrounded by a pool of blood. And that, is the problem most people have with hunting. They see the pride and pleasure in killing. They see it all from the outside, without experiencing the hunter's connection with nature and with their food. Pollan uses quotes from outside sources to describe different senses, and hunting situations. He incorporated his point of view while telling a personal story and that engaged the readers attention. I believe the whole concept of hunting for food is a Christian value supported in the Bible, specifically in Genesis. Genesis 9:2-3 says //“The fear and dread of you will fall upon all the beasts of the earth and all the birds of the air, upon every creature that moves along the ground, and upon all the fish of the sea; they are given into your hands. Everything that lives and moves will be food for you. Just as I gave you the green plants, I now give you everything.”//

Pollan, Michael. Hunting. The Omnivores Dilemma. By Pollan. New York, New York: Penguin Group Inc., 2007. 35-50. Print.

Lewis, Bob. “ Alaska-Sheep-Hunting-Glassing.” Photo. Flatlander’s First Dall, 01/21/10. 



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