In this picture we see a dolphin and a cow jumping out of the ocean beside each other. At first glance, this picture doesn't make much sense. It was actually found from a website where you are supposed to add funny captions to random pictures, but it is perfect for my argumentative essay.
I am writing about how there is nothing wrong with Japan's killing of dolphins for food despite most of the world being strongly against it. People demonize Japan for killing and eating dolphins because they view dolphins as intelligent, self-aware, magnificent creatures of the sea. In America the dolphin is featured as the hero in films such as Flipper, it is one of the main attractions of sea parks, and there are several stories of dolphins saving people from sharks in the ocean. Japan doesn't see dolphins in this way though, as they have been eating dolphin meat for centuries.
Dolphins are in no danger of going extinct, and the only reason people are so against Japan's killing and eating of dolphins is because they are blinded by their own glamorization of dolphins. This picture shows how dolphins and cows fall under the same category, food. It is hypocritical and culturally imperialistic for large scale cow-eating nations such as the United States to tell Japan they can't kill and eat dolphins.
image from: www.caption-this.com/
I completely agree with you about the fact that there is no problem with eating dolphins in japan. Just an interesting point, does Japan have a Seaworld or movie that humanizes dolphins? To my knowledge they don't and that could be a definite possibility as to why it's not a big deal to them. A lot of animals that American culture/media humanizes are ones we seem to be against killing like dolphins or whales (Free Willy!). It just goes to show the affect of the culture you lived in and what you're exposed to through media. In the end Dolphin's are not different than the cow in the picture. Well of course aside from the fact cows can't really swim on the hooves. Ultimately you're picture conveys the message in a humorous way!
ReplyDeleteActually, you both are ignorant. The most commonly hunted dolphins in Japan include the Spotted and Bottlenose, both have been listed as Endangered Species, but currently their surveying information is deficient...
ReplyDelete