Are you kidding? Since when does one need an excuse to go hang out in the woods? In most places I’ve been a hunting permit isn’t the only way to be allowed in the woods — you can go hiking, you can find a nice clearing to read a book, you can have a picnic, if it’s really secluded you can have sex, if there’s a river or lake you can go swimming, you can climb trees, or you can take little rocks and make miniature replicas of Stonehenge (speaking of which, forests also make a great place for pagan rituals!). It’s really sad when we’ve come to a point where we can’t envision enjoying nature without dominating it in some way — it reminds me of the biblical statement that man has dominion over nature. (Hmmmm, “man”….)

And seriously, even though I can to a point understand subsistence hunting, the bullshit about vegetarianism has to stop. Not all vegetarians eat soy, and if that’s all you’ve got to argue that vegetarianism is bad for the environment, just stop. I don’t remember the last time I ate tofu or drank soy milk, in large part because seitan (mock duck) and actual vegetables and grains make great meals. I also find it hugely offensive when people say that vegetarianism is a cover for eating disorders — people with eating disorders are unfortunately always going to find some way to cover their disorder by using a legitimate dietary restriction or excuse. If it weren’t vegetarianism, it would be food allergies, or a religious conversion. Blaming vegetarianism is going to do shit-all to end eating disorders — dismantling patriarchy, on the other end, will get to the root of the matter right quick.

I also want to throw things every time I hear this craptastic, absolutely untrue protein excuse trotted out — that myth is itself a product of patriarchy. Beans, nuts and seeds, algae, mock duck and many, many other plant sources all contain protein, and in the U.S. we have a much bigger problem with too much protein in our diets than not enough — in fact, in developed countries protein deficiencies are almost unheard of. I’ve been vegetarian for 14 years — over half my life — and my protein levels are perfect without even being all that careful about what I eat, as are all my other vitamin levels. In reality, everybody should be careful about what they eat, not just vegetarians, just like everybody should take care of their health, not just so-called overweight people because ANYBODY can be unhealthy, regardless of diet, size, etc.

But to get back to the protein myth — it came about because, as far as I can tell, eating meat is equated with manliness, and protein is also equated with manliness. So, voila! Meat magically becomes THE ONLY source of protein, because of course WOMANLY foods like vegetables couldn’t provide such a MANLY nutrient! People who actually know what they’re talking about with regard to vegetarian diets would actually point out that your biggest deficiency risk is actually vitamin B, which has no non-animal source. Luckily, it can be found in veg-friendly vitamins and fortified foods — but make sure you’re getting the right type! Some types, like those found in spirulina, can actually decrease your vitamin B levels. (Not to say you shouldn’t eat spirulina, just don’t use it as your vitamin B source and up your dosage of other vitamin B sources accordingly.) The Vegetarian Society has more info for anybody who’s interested.

I think so. Example: a year or so ago a woman was raped at a college near here. Two other women intervened, got her out of there, and reported the crime to the authorities. Given that we all live in a rape culture, were those women equally complicit with the rapists, or with the district attorney who decided there wasn’t enough evidence to bring charges? Not as I see things.

Bullseye, as it were.

(Assuming, of course, that they aren’t an invasive species that can be educated into being less invasive. I persist in thinking this is possible for humans, at least.)