I consider myself an animal rights activist and was quite involved in the cause for years. I did dislike the fanaticism I ran into...you could not be too correct for some of them; everyone was looking with suspicion at your shoes etc.. I eat meat now, and always try to buy humanely-raised products because the factory farming industry needs to be improved on so many levels, not just for animals' well-being but for human health as well.
My leather clothing is all vintage/thrift shop (recycling!) and I do not wear fur.
It does seem to be a part of human evolution to eat animals, but chasing down a caribou with a spear is a far cry from bludgeoning a cow with a steel club. I think it's a shame we cannot buy meat "on the hoof" anymore, as this is a nice reminder of the life sacrificed to feed us...