Wow, defensive people are defensive. I would have liked to see a thought out discussion on this topic! It's a good one!
I myself, am a pescatarian (vegetarian that also eats fish) I find it to be a healthy diet for me, but I'm also not a fan of the meat production industry.
Going back to the core elements of the point raised, I feel like there is a distinguishable difference a "love" and a "respect" of animals. And we're really talking about respect here.
[size=0px]And the fact that animal is a fairly flimsy term in this context. Humans are animals after all.[/size][/size][size=0px]therefore I think a more suitable term would be 'life'.
For instance, you could have a pig or sheep, you could love it very much, make sure it's cared for and has a happy life. But you could also eat that animal once it comes time. It doesn't mean you love the animal any less, it means that you have respected the life of this animal and now it's time for it to fulfill the purpose of it's flesh.[/size][size=78%] [/size][size=0px]
Although I myself do not eat meat, I do not have a problem with people eating meat. People can have wholesome diets and still have respect for the life that they have taken for consumption. That's nature.
What I have a problem with is the current culture of mass production of animal products (particular battery farming etc.)
Where painful lives are seen as a commodity in everyday life.
It stems from mass consumption and over population. Under current circumstances, many people don't have a choice, or they don't want to change their eating habits. Because it makes life easy.
So in short; You can love animals, but that doesn't mean you respect all life.
And I think this is what Aconitum was trying to say, correct? [/size]