Many traditions (such as slavery) have fallen by the wayside as mankind has attempted to climb the ladder toward civility. Newfoundlanders, however, have found a voiceless scapegoat in the form of a seal. They blame the seals for depleting cod stocks when it is they that have overfished their own seas...and call it "tradition" to butcher them by the hundreds of thousands every year.

Newfoundland is rich with many traditions, some of them dating back to 16th century Rome. Such is the case with '"mummering", a Christmas tradition of disguising oneself in costume and travelling from home to home to share laughter, music and "spirits".

A favourite tradition that prevails on the island of Newfoundland is the "Screech In" ceremony which includes a drink of the infamous Newfoundland Screech Rum and kissing a dead cod fish. The reward of this ritual is a certificate naming the holder as now "an Honorary Newfoundlander".

The one tradition which many Newfoundland and Labradorians take the firmest stand on is the annual east coast seal hunt. No tradition seems as ingrained in the people of Newfoundland and Labrador than their fervent defense of the killing of young seals each spring. However, that being said, the fact that it is deemed "traditional" does not make it acceptable.

There are many other gruesome traditions which are defended to this day with the same ferocity that Newfoundlanders defend their seal hunt and they include such activities as:

Female infanticide in some Asian countries, a brutal method of family planning in societies where boy children are still valued, economically and socially, above girls.

Cockfighting, which takes place in many third world countries as well as many southern U.S. states. This is a centuries-old blood sport in which two or more specially bred birds, known as gamecocks, are placed in an enclosure to fight to death, often with razors attached to their legs, for the primary purposes of gambling and entertainment.

Female genitial mutilation in countries like Africa, which is usually performed on girls before the age of 10 by a traditional practitioner with crude instruments and without anesthetic. It often involves removal of the clitoris or other external genitalia for cultural reasons.

Dog eating in Korea during "Bok" days, which literally translates to the hot, dog days of summer. July 17 is the first bok day and August 16 is the last. On these days, the largest number of dogs are slaughtered and eaten. It's especially symbolic for some Korean men who, obsessed with power and virility, will gather in groups to beat and hang a dog they've just purchased for the occasion.

Newfoundlanders are not alone in their cruel traditions.