Personally, I believe all life is equal. Whether it be a tree, a human, or an insect, life is life, and everyone is entitled to it. This does not mean that I'm some fanatical vegan who won't eat anything if it contains a food acid which has a link to bovine/poultry roots. This does not mean I walk around wearing tye-dyed t-shirts protesting to save the trees. This doesn't mean I condone cutting down trees for the hell of it. The best way I can sum up my attitude towards life is the predator-prey approach. Humans are at the utmost top of the food chain. This means, I can eat what I want, when I want, and how I want (doesn't apply to third-world countries, elaborate more if people want me to). I eat meat. I eat vegetables. I eat fruit. People could easily claim I'm a hypocrite through what I do. I'd have no way to stop them from saying so, either.
As equal as life is, there's survival. If survival is dependent on the slaughter or captivation of a particular species for my existence, then so be it. It's the way things go. Though I view all life as equal, there's nothing I can do to stop the farming companies from slaughtering millions of cows and selling their flesh for money. If I don't eat it, it goes to waste, and a circle is broken.
I invite you to disprove my beliefs. Show me the light, as you call it. This is, after all, a debate.
