Thursday, August 09, 2007

Meat... tasty murder...

We all know how people will attempt to latch their ideas onto current events. It makes them seem more topical, and their causes more justified, if only they can find something to compare or contrast their views with. And, well, the Michael Vick dog fighting story is no exception. Animal rights advocates have come out of the woodwork to lambast Vick for even the smallest of roles that he may have had in these events, and, quite honestly, we can't really blame them. But some people carry things a little too far. And by some people, we mean this lady.

So, having taken the time to read her spiel, is anyone surprised that a founder of a vegetarian food business is taking the animal cruelty in dog fighting, and using it to bring out the old calling card about animal cruelty in the practice of eating animals? We thought about being shocked for a few milliseconds, but then moved on when we thought about hamburgers, eggs, and some sushi.

Before people get up in arms, it's not really a surprise that some of the methods used to slaughter animals for food are less-than-kind. After all, they are being killed to provide sustenance for others. But espousing a vegetarian diet for everyone, under the notion that it's "easy"? That's ignorance of the fact that humans are omnivorous. Trying to play on people's guilt by lumping those who like a nice juicy steak with those who like watching dogs fight each other to the death? That's just crass. In this case, it's crass commercialism.

Oh, and for those playing at home, there is a HUGE difference between killing animals for food (no matter how it's done) and killing animals for sport (again, no matter how it's done). Just saying.

As for other loose connections that don't really work, we're going to lump in trying to tie together video game playing with any sort of melanoma, WMD's with the actual cause of the war in Iraq, and "According to Jim" with any claim of development of taste. After all, the network with "AtJ" is letting Donal Logue slip through their fingers, but they'll greenlight a half-hour show based on a thirty-second commercial. And they keep paying Jimmy Kimmel.

No comments: