An interesting article I stumbled upon from the NY Times which you can read here. It's a story by Jonathan Safran Foer and he tells of his family and how he grew up viewing animals as a child and how it changed as he got older.
Now here are my ramblings because I need to vent. I just don't know why people don't stop to think about the animals. I know most of us have grown up with eating animals and it seemed the norm. Is it though? We link holidays and family gatherings around eating these dead animals. Why can't everyone change the way they view them and start new traditions and new connections. A more peaceful connection to the earth, animals and people.
Almost everyday I see so many cows roaming the hills, SO MANY cows, and it makes me think of how many more are being raised on factory farms. Even though these cows out here are roaming freely and they are able to nurse their young and keep them by their sides. Someday they will end up being slaughtered as well. They will feel the fear of death. Is it better to eat these animals just because they live a happier life or are "grass fed" or "free range" ? Does it make people feel less guilty if they purchase these animals to eat? These animals have all of the senses that we have. Would we even consider eating a dog or cat? Maybe in some countries but here we don't, we wouldn't even think of doing such a thing! These cows have personalities just like cats and dogs. If you just take the time to sit and watch cows, it's pretty amazing. You can watch the calves play with each other and then look and see another one scratching his side against a tree while a line waits their turn(I've seen this and it was too funny and cute).
Oh one more thing, sorry so lengthy, I was flipping through the channels yesterday and stopped at Paula Deen's Party on the food network. Her guest was making some kind of creole dish and what he said truly upset me. He tried to make a joke saying the difference between a regular zoo and a New Orleans zoo. The New Orleans zoo not only has the name of the animal on the cage and where it's from but a recipe is listed also. Wow, did the audience laugh and get a kick out of that one. Where was the compassion and feeling there? None! Alright I guess I'm done for now and thanks for letting me ramble.
I really feel you on this one. I do get more upset by a factory system of 'meat production' than I do by small farms with a different approach. I'm not sure how most people would feel if they weren't disconnected in everyday life from animals and the way they get to the grocery stores. I never argue or push my vegetarian perspective, but I do bring my coworkers samples of veggie food and I think that helps make it seem like more of a practical option.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the article link.
I don't push my veganism on people either but like you Rachel I like to let people try vegan food and I'm better at not shying away from questions.
ReplyDeleteYour right, it is a disconnection. I feel like, this disconnecting has been used in other fields of life too, just like companies(here in detroit it is sad to see people that spent most of their lives at GM get screwed). I feel like they use this same disconnection in Capital Punishment, Thom Hartmann is a great spokesperson on how backwards it is(he said he's vegan too!). I feel like people have been disconnecting themselves from the world at large, from love and sympathy towards greed and corruption, and unfortunately to say it has done no good except help manifest more diseases, more social problems and a big fat nutritional mess! Your awesome keeping posting!
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