Cannibalism is a good thing.

I mentioned on a previous post about my cannibalism essay. So here is it in it's full glory.

Cannibalism is a Good Thing.

Cannibalism has long been seen as taboo in Western society. Many people are outraged and sickened at the thought of one human being making the conscious decision to eat another. This essay will disprove such beliefs and explain why essentially cannibalism is a good thing.
One of the fundamental factors opposing cannibalism is that it is behaviour completely alien to our own culture. Many believe that cannibals are freaks or monsters and should be treated as outcasts of society. But the voices that cry this are the voices that quiver at the mere mention of the word ‘change.’ In some countries the cow is a sacred animal but here we are happy to slice up the carcass, slap the meat in a bun, and serve it with fries. What is perceived as wrong is not always as linear as it seems and often with hindsight we see the errors in our ways. Our culture has seen countless changes, shifts and alterations and will undoubtedly continue to do so. We have seen women become equal to their male counterparts after years of oppression, the emancipation of the black community following the injustice of slavery and an embrace of gay men and women after years of isolation. We do not need to fear the difference of cannibalism but instead treat these people with the respect and tolerance we have shown in the past
For many, cannibalism is seen as unhygienic and dirty. Those who eat human flesh are presumed to be making themselves prone to millions of diseases. However with the right curing methods, preparation routines and cooking times the flesh is no more likely to cause harm than chicken, beef, lamb or turkey. Cannibals are not the zombies we see in horror films munching through someone’s skull while sat behind them on a bus. And just as anyone would cook the finest rump steak to their satisfaction, they are a people who ensure their meal is one they can savour.
Finally, cannibalism is often associated with murder. However, cannibalism is simply the act of one human eating the flesh of another. It is not murder. A cannibal may find a carcass to eat on the hard shoulder of the motorway, in a retirement home or in a hospital bed during visiting hours. To dispose of these bodies in the traditional way will only take up time, space and money. The act of cannibalism is meeting not only the needs of an individual but also those of a culture that is getting more and more claustrophobic. In other countries there are prisons full of prisoners sentenced to death row. These executions are, again, costing time and money that could be spent on better education, better hospitals and better housing. They are filling up copious land with the bodies of criminals. Would it not be better to sell the cadavers to cannibals donating the proceeds to charity? To simply dispose of something that could benefit someone else is a notion that we as Westerners are strongly against. We recycle cups, boxes, phones, cartons, bottles, papers and glass among countless other materials. But something as irreplaceable as the human body we discard without a second thought.
In conclusion, cannibalism can only be seen as a good thing because it allows for our culture to grow in yet another direction. Change is a welcome concept in a society in which every street corner boasts a McDonalds, Burger King, Starbucks or Costa Coffee. Cannibalism is a lifestyle choice of which we need not be afraid. It is not dirty, disgusting or disheartening but simply another person's attitude and belief system. There is no cruelty entwined with cannibalism but instead an enjoyment of a human body from which the soul has passed. It is not unethical or unhygienic and nor should it be unwelcome but simply seen as another element of an ever diversifying culture.