The animals are killed, yes, but not for me in particular. I wouldn't walk up to a cow and say, "Can ya kill this one for me?" It's pretty impersonal when animals are slaughtered en-masse for beef in the supermarket aisle. That was a pretty sloppy attempt at a guilt trip, I must say. And I don't think I'd want to eat something that began as a big, meaty tumour. But would I know the difference if someone deceived me? Maybe. If the animal's had a good life, you can taste it. And Grace Before Meals includes thanking the animal for its meat. American Indians take this a few steps further and deify the animal from whose flesh they survive.