Re: history questions: meat, siberian land bridge, horses in the Americas

E Douglas Kihn (vivacuba@ix.netcom.com(E)
12 Dec 1996 07:16:25 GMT

In <58n643$8sv@dfw-ixnews2.ix.netcom.com> barrym2@ix.netcom.com(Barry
Mennen) writes:
>
>In <58n3jj$mo3@sjx-ixn3.ix.netcom.com> elmo15@ix.netcom.com(Tuohy)
>writes:
>>
>>
>>>> > Morphis@physics.niu.edu wrote:
>>>> > >Colleen, I challange you to find one reputable source that
>states
>>that
>>>> > >homo-sapians-sapians ever did not eat meat.
>>>
>>>For those coming in late, this does not refer to poor peasantry, but
>>to some
>>>(IM-not-at-all-HO) mythical time before we learned to throw rocks.
I
>>have
>>>never heard anything that would indicate that any creature that
could
>>be
>>>called Human was strictly vegatarian.
>>>
>>Before we learned to hunt we were.Sure this was a long time ago,and
we
>>all ran around naked,and this is before fire.But it happened.
>>
>>>> > My history teacher,the book was called"Man though the Ages",I
had
>>it
>>>> > last year,10th grade that is,in world history.
>>>
>>>> > Colleen
>>>
>>>> Ah, those history books!
>>>> Did you read about the great Sir Francis Drake, or
>>>> about Francis Drake the Pirate?
>>>
>>>So far so good...
>>>
>>The spanish hate,but to the britsh hes a hero,its how you look at
>>things,and how you look at things starts a debate like this.That was
>>overly clear.
>>
>>Colleen Tuohy
>>
>Perhaps Colleen thinks that some of the Australopiths (who were likely
>purely vegetarians [based on dentition], such as A.bosei) were the
>vegetarians in the human line; whilst they were hominids, they were
not
>directly in our line but rather, offshoots.
>
>It is quite likely that the nodal species that gave rise to our line
>and the chimpanzees was also a meat-eater since both H. sapiens and
Pan
>are true omnivores.
>
>Barry Mennen

Dear Colleen,
The big mistake that crusading vegetarians make is that they assume
that since humans are not carnivors, we must be herbivors. We are
omnivors, and the anthropological and biological evidence is
overwhelming.
Herbivors, like cows and elephants, eat grass, bark and leaves.
These foods have such low nutritional value that herbivors must have
extremely long digestive systems, longer than ours (per body/size).
Herbivors usually have more than one stomach, a gizzard, stones to
grind grass-bark-leaves. Herbivors eat all day, constantly. (I hope
you don't.) Herbivors have eyes on the sides of their heads so they
can watch constantly for predators.
We have eyes in the front of our heads for stereo-scopic vision -
chasing prey. We have canine teeth - for ripping flesh. We have
stomach acid - for dissolving meat (vegetarians don't, they've lost
that ability and thats why they can't eat meat. Have you ever noticed
that most vegetarians in temperate climates are cold, pale, and weak?)
There is plenty of evidence that our entire line cracked bones for
marrow. We weren't prime hunters (no natural weapons), but we were at
least excellent scavengers. Just like our closest animal cousins - the
chimps. They will kill and eat baby birds and other small game, and
insects whenever they get a chance, and with relish.
Then there is the moral question: Are modern vegetarians saying
that they are more spiritual/moral than Native Americans and other
pre-technological people? Native Americans were very much connected to
their food. They communicated with the spirit of the food (animal or
vegetable) when they killed it and when they ate it.
So buy meat that is range-fed and chemical-free, and give thanks to
the spirit of that animal.
AND PASS THE STEAK SAUCE, PLEASE!

Dr. Doug