So, which part of you doesn't feel that conscious and sentient beings ought to have equal protection?

The part that knows some conscious and sentient things are delicious.

Barbaric, no?

The part that fears a warlike alien civilization.

If we ever encounter aliens more intelligent than ourselves, let us hope that we were able to show them that we knew how to treat other intelligent species with whom we cohabit Planet Earth. Otherwise, for the sake of avoiding hypocrisy, you should be OK finding yourself chopped up on a platter, or, enslaved in a zoo to be gawked at.

Remember the Golden Rule, and Uncle Ben's words:

https://secure.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/wiki/Uncle_Ben#.22...

Our laws already cope with warlike human civilizations, why would an alien one be any different from an equal protection standpoint?

Potential inability to understand or communicate with them in a (perceived) kill or be killed situation.

Eh, reasonable. I suppose I meant that I care about it enough to post something on the internet, but only about that much. That's what part of me cares.

Probably the part that likes to eat meat.

Define conscious, sentient.

You can start here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sentience