But on to whales. I don't see whales as being any different than a cow, a sheep or a dog. They all provide protein necessary for our bodies to survive. So if you are going to bitch about the Japanese eating whales on the basis that whales are these beautiful magical creatures, then I hope you have never enjoyed a good roast lamb on Sunday, or rabbit stew. My students think that it is barbaric that we eat lamb because they are so cute or rabbits as they are a household pet here in Korea. Right now I'd happily pay hundreds of dollars for a decent Sunday roast as I haven't had one in over a year and probably won't until I return to the west.