I love animals of all sorts. Maybe perhaps cold, but in some cases I would help an animal over some human beings that inhabit the earth, especially now a days. Growing up on a farm and growing up in a farming community offered ample amounts of exposure to all sorts of creatures. From having to feed and herd the cattle to past year during the summer, and back home in the fall, believe me I put on some miles at a young age. We had sheep, chickens of various types, geese, and rabbits. The presence of a dog was always there and many friendships. We also ate most of these animals. This is also something else I was exposed to at an early age. One thing about it though, my father made it very clear about the respect that must be given to animals. They must never suffer. They must be handled with care. They must be watered and fed, period. There was also necessary measures that were taken to insure they're place of residence was kept neat and orderly. When they were sick, a veterinarian was dispatched and they were taken care of. If it was too bad and there was no hope, we shot them. No suffering. When the cattle were being shipped out on the cattle liners, my father and his brothers would load the cattle. I remember my Dad used to always keep the cattle calm when they were being loaded. They used whips yes, but not much. He seemed to understand the cattle's fear. He also absolutely detested the electric cattle prod. I seen him once come unglued on a truck driver that thought he was going to get cute and use it. I think perhaps if his kids weren't present, he probably would've used it on the driver to "help" him back in his truck. Personally I would have used it on him until he pissed himself. That's just me.
The point of all of this is, I think I have finally watched enough documentaries and read enough facts about how damaging the whole food industry is to the animals and the earth, and to probably the most stupidest creatures on earth. Us. But we're right in the mix. As consumers of meat. The abuse and cruelty of animals is sickening, I won't go into details on this, but I will say we should be ashamed of ourselves. From killing 70% of the rain forest to accommodate livestock, to now dragging a net right on the ocean floor. A 50 acre swath is pulling out everything, from plants to sea life that we don't even eat, leaving nothing behind but a marine waste land. Pulled up to a floating processing factory that just discards life after separation that takes many years to replace. Can you imagine being so stupid and selfish. Like over fishing wasn't enough. The amount of chemicals in our food now is insane. From food giants actually trying to patent vegetables and refusing to stop modifying our foods, let alone tell us what the hells in it. Lagoons containing animal waste is being sprayed on crops and the run off is going into our own water system. Anyone notice the increase of Ecoli presence.
So I thought, what am I going to do. We have to eat. I can't take on the food company's. As much as I would love to take some idiot running one and throw him on an island made of his money and nothing else. Then throw him his wife and kids and tell him, " Here you go, lets see how your money is going to keep you alive now" I think the only way to make a difference, is to stop contributing to this. I think the only way to make a difference, although a small one, is to become a vegetarian for starters. I admit the thought did make me shudder, I've eaten meat all my life. It also made me feel like I am giving up something. Then I looked at my daughter and the decision became obvious. What have we done. What have we let happen. Why am I feeding her this shit and leaving nothing but a polluted planet behind for her and her family. Her generation. She has to know at least her parents tried to make a difference for the better. That her parents took a stand and stopped contributing to this madness. Although in one way or another, we're trapped into this agenda. I just have to focus on my own agenda to keep the awareness sharp and do what I can to reduce my participation and raise as much awareness as I can. You never know unless you try. The thing that bothers me the most is how we all sit back like sheep and let it all happen. How we are gagged and put in a position of helplessness because our governments do nothing and the most powerful and influential people are the most pathetic. Powered by a piece of paper with some dead persons face on it and getting away with murder on the largest scale. The whole planet and everything on it. I just don't know.
Good for you and your family :)
ReplyDeleteI like your blog. There is another way and that is to support local farmers who do not contribute to the mass and treat their animals like we did on the farms.
ReplyDeleteSangudo, Alberta is the home of a processing plant that has the same philosophy as down-home farms and supports local farms not feedlots. Quite the story with them.
Sherri beat me to it, and I agree with her--we can get our meat (and eat ;less of it) from local farmers that we can talk to and make sure they treat their animals as your dad did. He wasn't alone and there are people out there that feel the same way. We just have to find them and the farmers market is one place to start as well. Great post!
ReplyDeleteLove this blog! Thank you for articulating my very thoughts. I actually have been speaking to Josh about us researching local farmers to get our food. I also prefer animals to a majority of people I meet as sad as it sounds. I always look forward to your posts.
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