This morning I'm thinking about the categories we put animals in:
PETS are animals we name, get to know and wouldn't think of eating, such as dogs and cats. Pets are often viewed as family members and most people are profoundly unhappy when their pets die.
ZOO ANIMALS are ones we watch for entertainment but do not interact with, and most of us wouldn't think of eating those types of animals, which include giraffes, elephants, monkeys, reptiles and certain kinds of birds.
And then we have FARM ANIMALS that we eat, such as pigs, cows and chickens. In recent years a few additional animals have joined this category, such as kangaroos, bisons and ostriches.
HUMAN BEINGS are put into their own elevated category, considered out of the question as food, and some people don't even think of us as animals, even though we have 99% of the same genetic makeup as chimpanzees. Cannabals show up in horror films.
What if these categories were scrambled up and we ate dogs and cats, had zoo and farm animals as pets, and observed human beings in cages?
Did you know that pigs are smarter than dogs? Last night on "Nightline" there was story about a pig farmer who makes a great effort to treat his pigs well, as contrasted with their horrific treatment in factory farms, where they are often kept stacked up in metal cages so small they can't turn around, and are castrated and have their tails cut off without anesthesia.
The farmer on "Nightline" gave his pigs plenty of space to roam around in, lots of fresh hay to eat, and the opportunity for the pigs to become friends with each other and form families. He even named each pig and knew their distinct personalities.
2 comments:
You're a good writer, maybe too good. That last line was too strong. For those of us who are having a conflict about this issue, I think you'll have to be a little easier or it will be too hard to come here and read what you've written.
I wish you would start with something we can all get behind: like making sure farm animals are treated well. That story was very unusual and interesting. If it's possible for one farmer to treat animals humanely then maybe we can fight to change the laws, and even those of us who aren't vegetarians, and don't see how we could be, can help stop some of the horror. Otherwise we'll have to turn the whole thing off and shut our minds. It's just too hard this way.
You could also educate us about how much less meat we really need, even those of us who believe we need it. It surprised me to hear that, and I had never thought about it. Meat production is too lucrative right now. Slowing it down is at least a step.
If you want to change things, you have to make it a little safer for the erring but well-intentioned carnivores among us to come here. Guilt isn't enough until we're better informed.
Can't wait until I become a vegetarian after seeing "Fast Food Nation" next week. I think that will finally do it.
Post a Comment