Editor’s Note: It’s usually one of the telltale signs of a conservative character—the natural reverence for tradition.

Problem is, most traditions are bad, often disgusting historical anachronisms, respectable cruelties whose only value is to please the most backward or powerful sections of the populace, regrettably in many cases, the vast majority. Thus, it’s no accident that the most backward regions of the world are still firmly ruled by tradition, places where profound inequality is accepted as normal and immutable, and where women are still treated as chattel, and gay people subject to macabre persecution. Yet the so-called “advanced, developed world” (especially the United States), while thinking itself different and superior, still carries quite a baggage in this regard, notably the mental rot of dominionistic religion, the undeserved respect for nobility and its myriad accoutrements, and a host of other reactionary, cowardly, and unexamined values and beliefs that should bring shame to any culture but which remain in place because those who should wash away such practices—especially the media and political leaders— do not dare risk losing political popularity.

In our time few “traditions” are more morally reprehensible and lacking in gallantry than “recreational hunting” (until recently only practiced by noblemen), a depraved activity that surely marks a person as a moral retrograde, a disgrace in terms of what a human being should be, a creature who flouts the first and most fundamental rule of truly civilized behavior, which is to practice kindness and mercy unto all. In a broken culture such as ours, however, such putrid expressions of “traditional behavior” not only survive but are even paid obeisance by mainstream politicos in their opportunistic search of cheap endorsements. The below, by Ruth Eisenbud, a tireless fighter on behalf of the helpless, exposes one such facet of this disgusting tradition, deeply rooted in “dominionism”, this time in a “cousin culture” of the US: Scotland. I hope you read it closely and take action.

Please note, in closing, that the Guga Hunt is currently being debated in the usual human-centric, self-serving context of whether it’s “sustainable” or not*, which is entirely beside the point. For “species” are an abstraction; they do not suffer, while individual animals do. Very often this elementary piece of logic is obfuscated by those seeking acceptance of such practices, or by corrupt environmentalists who covet legitimacy in the eyes of the mainstream. At the risk of offending some, would those who argue such falsehoods be prepared to excuse the Nazis for their unspeakable crimes against the Jews if the Jewish population had been shown to enjoy a robust “sustainability”?
—P. Greanville

The Guga Hunt
By Ruth Eisenbud

There is a tradition in some parts of Scotland, the Guga Hunt, which celebrates the bludgeoning of harmless gannet chicks, as a means of building character in hunters…The biblical implications of such a tradition, whether it is rooted in religion or not are apparent due to the concept of dominion, which allows mankind to participate in violence towards animals as long as it is beneficial to humanity. In response to an article, “…That Old Time Religion: The Stoning of Gannet Chicks in Scotland” (see appendix A) Bob Linden, radio host of Go Vegan Radio, came to the conclusion that this festival was tolerable because in his words:

“At first I was really upset by the gannet chick hunt. But now that I saw this website, I learned that the birds don’t suffer any pain, and it builds character for the hunters…” Bob Linden

http://www.virtualheb.co.uk/guga-hunters-of-ness-isle-of-lewis-western-isles.html

Consider, that when a human being is intentionally killed, no matter how painlessly it is still a punishable offense of murder. It is deeply troubling when someone who claims to work to end animal suffering excuses the murder of innocent gannet chicks, as a character builder for hunters, The measure of a person, and therefore his/her character, ought to include compassion rather than than how efficiently they can bludgeon a living being to death:

“Cruelty to animals is one of the distinguishing
vices of low and base minds. Wherever it is found, it
is a certain mark of ignorance and meanness; a mark
which all the external advantages of wealth,
splendour, and nobility, cannot obliterate. It is
consistent neither with learning nor true civility.”
–William Jones

When the bottom line for a religious tradition allows for the slaughter and exploitation of animals, as is the case for the judeo.christian tradition, character and courage are determined by the willingness to kill creatures who have harmed no one. A religious tradition that honors and sanctifies the murder of gentle, harmless creatures is not suitable for those who devote their lives to eliminating cruelty to animals.

Parushan/Das Laxan

There is another tradition, Jainism, which instead of catering to baser human instincts of slaughter and exploitation, makes every effort to encourage compassion and avoid violence to animals. In this tradition animal abuse cannot be excused in the name of human advantage. It is always inappropriate to take the life of a fully sentient living being:

“He who harms animals has not understood or renounced deeds of sin…He who understands the nature of sin against animals is called a Sage.”—Jain Acharanga Sutra

Jains have maintained a compassionate lifestyle for thousands of years, abstaining from meat, not wearing leather or fur. Now there is an effort underway in the Jain community to live even more freely from harm by abstaining from dairy products. Traditionally dairy consumption has had different implications in jainism than in judeo-christian nations. For example in the dominion-based cultures male calves are often killed since they will not produce milk. Veal is the cruel by-product when animal slaughter is religiously endorsed. Still, it has become apparent that dairy, even without the veal, has become a product which results in much suffering and death for cattle.

There is a Jain tradition, a period of atonement, lasting 8 or 10 days depending on the sect, which is a time to reflect on how to further minimize and atone for any harm caused to living beings. During this period of Parushan or Das Laxan it is consistent with the jain concept of ahimsa to call for abstinence from dairy in an effort to further decrease violence to animals. The following is an example of such an effort. Note there is a direct appeal for compassion:

http://veganjains.com/2011/08/25/join-the-jains-going-vegan-this-paryushan/

“It is an unfortunate truth that our consumption of milk and dairy products contributes to the killing and suffering cows. In light of this, it seems natural that Jains (and all adherents of Ahimsa) should acknowledge and consider the suffering caused to cows in the milk production when undertaking pratikramana. So, in addition to the other activities you undertake this Paryushana, why not also consider giving up dairy products?” —VeganJains

conclusion:

Ahimsa based holidays are in sharp contrast to Judeo-christian religious festivals when the slaughter of every animal imaginable rises dramatically to celebrate the glory of religious tradition steeped in the blood of harmless creatures.

—Ruth Eisenbud

appendix A

___________________________________________________________________

“…That Old Time Religion”

Stoning Gannet Chicks in Scotland

A gannet chick: the intended victim of angus macneil…

Dear Angus Macneil,

It has come to my attention that you intend to hold a guga hunt which includes stoning to death 2000 gannet chicks. It would seem you take this brutal method of slaughter from its extensive use in biblical narratives, where it is often the preferred method of slaughter for any perceived transgression. You claim that it is your cultural right to bludgeon harmless creatures to death. I would question the roots of a culture that allows for such sadistic violence towards any living being. When a culture descends into such a level of pathology, it would seem that there is no boundary between culture and cruelty.

“Cruelty to animals is one of the distinguishing
vices of low and base minds. Wherever it is found, it
is a certain mark of ignorance and meanness; a mark
which all the external advantages of wealth,
splendour, and nobility, cannot obliterate. It is
consistent neither with learning nor true civility.
-William Jones

It is evident that despite the claim that it is your cultural prerogative to inflict such vicious harm on innocent creatures this is nothing more than an excuse for cruelty. For any culture that sanctions such violence is not worthy of consideration as civilized. The failure to differentiate between culture and cruelty is a direct result of both biblical doctrine, which grants man dominion over the animals and with it the right to violate them with impunity, as well as the frequent use of stoning as a means of punishment. It is particularly perverse that you have chosen to stone to death animals who have committed no wrong.

The depravity of your decision, as well as the the notion that man has the god-given right to torment harmless animals can be attributed directly to your adherence to the cruel concept of dominion, which considers animals as less than human:

“The fear and dread of you shall rest on every animal of the earth, and on every bird of the air, on everything that creeps on the ground, and on all the fish in the sea; into your hand they are delivered. Every moving thing that lives shall be food for you; and just as I gave you the green plants, I give you everything.’”

It is not coincidental that the exesses of nazism were based on the notion that the intended victims of their rage were also considered less than human. In The Science of Evil Simon Baron-Cohen states that “Nazi laws defined Jews as genetically subhuman and ordered their extermination as part of the eugenics program of the time”. Dominion defines animals as less than human, in an irrational hierarchy which places man above the animals. It is this similarity between dominion and nazism, that has enabled unspeakable exploitation and violence to animals.
As long as biblical mandates which allow for the harm and slaughter of animals, because they are ‘less than human’, remain unchallenged, the baser impulses to torture innocent beings will be given legitimacy in the name of culture. Any culture based on the primitive pronouncements of domion will inevitably lead to perverse and sadistic treatment of animals. Pumped up with notions of their own importance, men such as Angus Macneil, claim the right to brutally slaughter helpless gannet chicks. Such spiritually bankrupt individuals, who take their cue of sanctioned slaughter from the bible, intend to stone to death numerous defenseless animals with impunity because they were granted this right by dominion. In this instance stoning, the method of slaughter, too is taken directly from the bible.

“…in their behavior toward creatures, all men were Nazis. The smugness with which man could do with other species as he pleased exemplified the most extreme racist theories, the principle that might is right”. Isaac Bashevis Singer

To the gannet chicks on the Isle of Lewis dominion is no different than Nazism to its victims…

In the Jain religious tradition of India, cruelty is not blessed by religious institutions and authorities. Animals are granted the same right as humans to remain free from harm: ahimsa. The result of this more enlightened view is superior animal legislation and greater tolerance of animal-human interactions. Those involved in this shameless display of sadism of the uga hunt, would do well to consider the words of this enlightened religious view.

“All things breathing, all things existing, all living beings whatever, would not be slain or treated with violence, or insulted, or tortured or drven away. This is the pure unchanging eternal law, which the wise ones who know the world have proclaimed…” Jain Acharanga Sutra

“All beings with two, three, four or five senses in fact, all creation know individually pleasure and displeasure, pain, terror and sorrow. ALL are full of fears which come from all directions. And yet there exist people who would cause greater pain to them…Some kill animals for sacrifice, some for their skin, flesh, blood, feathers, teeth or tusks;…Some kill them intentionally and some unintentionally. Some kill because they have been previously injured by them…and some because they expect to be injured. He who harms animals has not understood or renounced deeds of sin…He who understands the nature of sin against animals is called a Sage.” Jain Acharanga Sutra

The barbarity of stoning gannet chicks to death reflects a culture based on the Judeo-Christian view of animals. A tradition which allows for such cruelty must be challenged. Dominion must be relinquished. Those who express their supremacy over animals by stoning them to death will feel justified in doing so as long as dominion reigns supreme. Avoidance of all contact with and support of this tradition is required to end the hegemony of man’s dominion over the animals.

Ruth Eisenbud

APPENDIX 2

Western Isles MSP writes to SNH over guga hunt licence

NEWS EDITOR

– AUGUST 8, 2011POSTED IN: CULTURE, FEATURES, LEWIS NEWS, STORNOWAY NEWS

Western Isles MSP, Alasdair Allan, has today written to Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) urging them to continue to allow the famous annual guga hunt from Ness in Lewis to continue.

SNH are to review the dispensation which they give to allow this traditional hunt for gannets on Sula Sgeir as part of a wider assessment of their licensing practises.

Alasdair Allan commented:

“The guga hunt on Sula Sgeir is the only remaining one of its kind in the Scotland and plays a significant role in the culture of the Ness area of Lewis. I believe that SNH’s initial assessment is right, which is that the hunt in its current form is sustainable. I have written to them urging them to stick to that position and to allow the Guga hunt to continue into the future.

“I respect the fact that there are many others who disagree with me but I am satisfied that the hunt presents no threat to the future of the species and it is currently licenced to include a condition that the birds are quickly and humanely dispatched.

“I am confident that SNH will accept the strength of these arguments and ensure this distinctive aspect of the life of the people of Ness will continue.”

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Joshua

January 10, 2023 8:31 pm

Great article I was also looking for your article on the Jewish tradition of beating chickens to death against a wall to absolve themselves of sin, could you link it for me?

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THE GUGA HUNT: When will this world be free of “respectable cruelties”?

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