The ethical argument against PETA.

[Elok]

Beasts of burden aren't much use in a developed nation, and PETA doesn't believe in consuming cows' milk either. Dairy is a form of cruelty and exploitation and so on.

[Egbert]

India actually has the world's largest cattle population, and they don't eat them. Some roam free, some are still used as beasts of burden, others are used for milk, so going Vegan doesn't necessarily mean eradicating the cow.

India also has tigers who might like like to munch on holy cows. PETA should launch a campaign (featuring lots of naked woman) to encourage cow eating tigers to become vegetarians. We can't have tigers exploiting cows, they should have salad sandwiches instead.

[Dr Strangelove]

Actually the Bengal tiger is facing an almost certain extinction in a few years.

[Riesstiu IV]

Pretty much every apex predator that has large territorial requirements will be extinct in 50-100 years. The ones left in zoos will eventually become inbred monstrosities that would survive in the wild.

[Az]

Yeah it's like if people didn't view Africans as animals/property a few centuries ago then they'd still all be back in their third world dumps. Hence, opposing slavery is unethical

Africans are animals, literally.

[Egbert]

Africans are animals, literally.

Not the most politically correct thing I ever read.

[Az]

Not the most politically correct thing I ever read.

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[Kaak]

India actually has the world's largest cattle population, and they don't eat them. Some roam free, some are still used as beasts of burden, others are used for milk, so going Vegan doesn't necessarily mean eradicating the cow.

As with many of religious tennats, this was born out of practicality. The cow was more beneficial as a long run producer (milk, dung for fertilizer, etc) than a short term one - meat. I had a socialogy professor in college who specialized in Indian studies who claimed that there was a specific Vedic leader (can't remember the name) who declared the cow holy in an effort to save the cattle population in India during a great drought.