my class is studying the Arctic

Wolves eat musk oxen, hare, and lemmings. Musk oxen, hare, and lemmings eat grass. They don't think about it; they just do it because, A: That's what they have available and B: They instinctively know whether they're carnivores or herbivores. Their ecosystem functions and everything stays balanced because of it. If poachers went up to Alaska and killed all the wolves, the rest of the species would get out of whack.

I think it's largely assumed that humans are omnivores, and some people just opt out of their natural right to eat meat. But there are entire cultures of people who are vegetarians. How do we decide what we're supposed to eat and where we're supposed to live, in order to keep a balanced environment around us? We don't have any such instincts! We're the only species who has to sit around making a conscious decision about what animals or plants to kill. From an evolutionary standpoint, did we gradually lose our instincts? Is that a good thing or a bad thing? From a moral standpoint, does God want us to contemplate these decisions, so we can be consciously taking care of the earth? If so, what are we supposed to base these decisions on, since we have completely lost touch with the environment? Not only do we often not care what impact our choices have on the environment, but most of us just have no idea how we're affecting it.

I'm not just talking 'to eat animals or not to eat animals.' If you're vegetarian, shouldn't you just be vegan? It's certainly not natural to eat eggs. Some animals do that, but no animal I've ever heard of drinks any kind of milk other than its own mama's. And even if you're vegan, what plants are you supposed to eat? Should you import them, or is that screwing up an ecosystem too? If you're only eating 'local,' what defines local? As far as you can walk? As far as you can drive?

I think we've very much separated ourselves from nature, and we're ridiculously confused. I remember as a child, my dad would have family talks with us. One time, the talk was about eating healthier. We put so much junk in our bodies, he said, like microwave popcorn. Internally, I was screaming,

Nooooo, don't take away microwave popcorn! I love it too much! Eating habits are a really hard thing to change. Not only because we have such strong attachments to food, but because we know no other way. I don't know the natural flora and fauna of Maryland. I couldn't concoct a vegan menu if I tried. I'm sure 'ants on a log' would be the main course, and after that, I'm fresh out of ideas.