20 January 2008: Hmm…MEAT...what is it good for (in India)? Absolutely nothing...

20 January 2008: Hmm…MEAT…what is it good for (in India)? Absolutely nothing!

“There are animals in India, right?”

“Yes.”

“But if Indians, don’t eat meat, then what do they do with the animals?”

That seems to be the question of the week. I just got asked it for the fourth time in two weeks. I don’t mind being asked it nor do I mind answering. In fact, every time I manage to answer it in Spanish, my now Spanish-speaking ego grows a little. Besides, I find the question interesting because it reveals something about the person asking it. By the way it is framed, the question appears to reflect the belief that animals exist solely to serve humans. In a sense, implicit to the question is the dominion of humans over animals and I cannot help but wonder whether this may be yet another example of the pervasive influence of Catholicism in Mexico. Of course, your guess is as good as mine, but I thought I should fill you in on this random observation.