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Vietnamese Eat Rats and Are Aggressive, Stanford Professor Says in Article, Triggering Online Uproar
San Jose Mercury News ^ | 02/02/2013 | John Boudreau

Posted on 02/02/2013 1:23:40 PM PST by nickcarraway

An article penned by a Stanford University professor that alleges Vietnam's "aggressive tendencies" are tied to its penchant for eating meat -- particularly rats, birds and dogs -- has triggered a social media backlash from Vietnamese and others around the world.

The opinion piece -- "Despite increasing prosperity, Vietnam's appetites remain unique" -- was written by Joel Brinkley, a Pulitzer Prize-winning former foreign correspondent for The New York Times and posted Tuesday on the Chicago Tribune's website. Describing a trip he made to Vietnam, Brinkley said he observed a dearth of squirrels, birds and rats. He also said the "World Wildlife Fund describes the state as the world's greatest wildlife malefactor."

began his article this way: "You don't have to spend much time in Vietnam before you notice something unusual. You hear no birds singing, see no squirrels scrambling up trees or rats scurrying among the garbage. No dogs out for a walk.

"In fact, you see almost no wild or domesticated animals at all. Where'd they all go? You might be surprised to know: Most have been eaten."

The article triggered an angry reaction from Vietnamese and non-Vietnamese, some of whom said the article included generalizations bordering on racism. Late Friday, Tribune Media Services issued a statement saying that the column did not meet its journalistic standards and that all its required editing steps "did not occur. "We regret that this happened,

(Excerpt) Read more at mercurynews.com ...


TOPICS: Food; Pets/Animals; Weird Stuff
KEYWORDS: foodsupply; vietnam

1 posted on 02/02/2013 1:23:46 PM PST by nickcarraway
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To: nickcarraway
One day, the rats will strike back . . . and make the buggers’ eyes water.


2 posted on 02/02/2013 1:33:47 PM PST by Olog-hai
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To: nickcarraway
Vietnamese Eat Rats and Are Aggressive

Obama eats dogs and is oppressive.

3 posted on 02/02/2013 1:35:04 PM PST by humblegunner
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To: nickcarraway

Either it is true or it is not true. I think there’s more truth to the idea that, if it moves, many Asians will eat it, but if it turns out to not be true, than the misconception should be noted.


4 posted on 02/02/2013 1:35:08 PM PST by Jonty30 (What Islam and secularism have in common is that they are both death cults.)
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To: nickcarraway

began his article this way: “You don’t have to spend much time in Vietnam before you notice something unusual. You hear no birds singing, see no squirrels scrambling up trees or rats scurrying among the garbage. No dogs out for a walk.

“In fact, you see almost no wild or domesticated animals at all. Where’d they all go? You might be surprised to know: Most have been eaten.”

Communism will do that to a country....

They are not eating them because they love the taste, they are eating them because they HAVE to...


5 posted on 02/02/2013 1:40:55 PM PST by GraceG
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To: nickcarraway
Well, OK, so what's his point?

There were plenty of rats on our bases in RVN, maybe because they were safe from being eaten? Big suckers too.

6 posted on 02/02/2013 1:43:00 PM PST by doorgunner69
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To: nickcarraway
Not many squirrels scampering through the trees around here, either. There are some very still ones in the freezer, though.

/johnny

7 posted on 02/02/2013 1:47:25 PM PST by JRandomFreeper (Gone Galt)
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Freepers, your Contributions make every difference!
Please keep ‘em coming! Thank you all very much!

8 posted on 02/02/2013 2:07:03 PM PST by RedMDer (HEY LIBS! GUN FREE ZONE T-SHIRTS AVAILABLE NOW. I DARE YA!)
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To: Jonty30

Evidently it is true according to the article. But it is racsim to mention it.


9 posted on 02/02/2013 2:41:44 PM PST by Chickensoup (200 million unarmed people killed in the 20th century by Leftist Totalitarian Fascists)
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To: JRandomFreeper

NJ put out this warning to the Jackson Whites of NJ. Lived in the neck of the words and came across these folks when the came down the mount.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1773891/posts


10 posted on 02/02/2013 2:50:11 PM PST by guyfromjrz (fresh breath, it speaks for itself.)
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To: JRandomFreeper

NJ put out this warning to the Jackson Whites of NJ. Lived in the neck of the words and came across these folks when the came down the mount.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1773891/posts


11 posted on 02/02/2013 2:50:26 PM PST by guyfromjrz (fresh breath, it speaks for itself.)
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To: JRandomFreeper

NJ put out this warning to the Jackson Whites of NJ. Lived in the neck of the words and came across these folks when the came down the mount.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1773891/posts


12 posted on 02/02/2013 2:50:39 PM PST by guyfromjrz (fresh breath, it speaks for itself.)
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To: guyfromjrz

Ooops, multi post. My bad.


13 posted on 02/02/2013 2:52:26 PM PST by guyfromjrz (fresh breath, it speaks for itself.)
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To: guyfromjrz

Ooops, multi post. My bad.


14 posted on 02/02/2013 2:52:26 PM PST by guyfromjrz (fresh breath, it speaks for itself.)
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To: doorgunner69

Your base was a sanctuary. :=)


15 posted on 02/02/2013 3:00:06 PM PST by Bob
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To: guyfromjrz
'S ok here. The local squirrels eat corn from feeders and my neighbor's pecans. No toxic waste dump munchies for them.

/johnny

16 posted on 02/02/2013 3:38:59 PM PST by JRandomFreeper (Gone Galt)
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To: nickcarraway

This sounds like a Saturday Night Live skit, all that is missing is Dan Akroyd saying “Joel you ignorant slut!”


17 posted on 02/02/2013 4:34:52 PM PST by Mastador1 (I'll take a bad dog over a good politician any day!)
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To: nickcarraway

Well, I hate to say that but Vietnemese eat rodents. I also had arguments with more than a few of them. Yep, they are ready to jump on you if they think you are pissing them off.


18 posted on 02/02/2013 10:56:52 PM PST by cunning_fish
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To: nickcarraway

Most who rely on hunting anything that moves to stay alive will seem “aggressive” because they are always in “hunt-mode”. Their lives depend on it...


19 posted on 02/03/2013 3:08:19 AM PST by trebb (Allies no longer trust us. Enemies no longer fear us.)
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