Cute animals are just as delicious as ugly ones

Times Online ^ | March 12, 2010 | Antonia Senior

[Lurkina.n.Learnin]

It is Canada’s annual seal cull again, and the animal rights protesters are preparing their traditional response. Yet they are strangely silent about the rat genocide in South Georgia, where millions of non-indigenous rodents will be killed over the next five years. If you prick a rat, does it not bleed? The EU has banned the import of seal produce, much to the fury of some Canadians. Why ban seal skins and not fur? How can the home of foie gras and veal crates complain about smoked seal loin?

Our relationship with animals and food in this era of plenty is riven with hypocrisy. There are only two intellectually coherent positions on meat — extreme veganism or enthusiastic carnivorism. But the middle position seems to dominate popular thought; a mishmash of sentiment and wishful thinking. It’s the cute-arianism position — I’ll eat meat, but only from animals that don’t make me go aah.

[Lurkina.n.Learnin]

"Our relationship with animals and food in this era of plenty is riven with hypocrisy. There are only two intellectually coherent positions on meat — extreme veganism or enthusiastic carnivorism."

Count me enthusiastic.

[JoeProBono]

[Lurkina.n.Learnin]

That’s a nice one. Is that red X a vegetable ? :0)

[Uncle Miltie]

If you shower, you’re a mass murderer.

Millions of bacteria die each morning in your drain.

If you believe bacteria aren’t living creatures deserving of the same protection as a fish, then you admit you’re a SIZE-IST!

< / moral equivalence >

[Lurkina.n.Learnin]

I’ve often wondered if the Endangered Species Act covers smallpox.

[christianhomeschoolmommaof3]

Oh please don’t give them any ideas! :)

[GonzoGOP]

non-indigenous

Translated: No season ending date and No Bag Limit. Exterminating the critter = restoring the natural state. Unfortunately the non-indigenous critters around here tend not to be particularly delicious. Anyone know a good way to prepare Asian carp?

[Positive]

I'm looking forward to trying Whale Sushi.

Some restaurant in Los Angeles is apparently serving it but it's kinda hush hush...

[Lurkina.n.Learnin]

Somehow I think if you went to the southwest and started restoring the natural state by shooting the non-indigenous wild horses you would run into trouble. Congress wants to set aside land to preserve them.

[ZirconEncrustedTweezers]

Y’know, I tried a vegan diet for a while, but I just couldn’t do it. Vegans don’t taste very good; most of them are pretty bitter.

[Grut]

If you prick a rat, does it not bleed?

Use enough Warfarin and pricking is optional.

[GonzoGOP]

But we are just restoring the natural ballance, isn't that what the hippies are always talking about?

But when it comes to the carp they do very much want them wiped out. There is actully a bounty on them, but then again nobody is going to call this guy cute.

[Hot Tabasco]

I’ll eat meat, but only from animals that don’t make me go aah.

I guess it goes without saying that I don't need to waste my time sending him my recipe for "kitten parmesan"........

[dead]

I remember seeing a show filmed in Louisiana, where this guy's job was sitting in a chair in the back of a pickup truck as it drove along a canal, and he would just keep shooting nutria (big rodents) about every five seconds.

My two thoughts were - why doesn't PETA scream bloody murder about this? how do I get such a cool job?

[Lurkina.n.Learnin]

“(big rodents)”

And probably every one of them registered to vote. I’m with you on that being a dream job.

[GonzoGOP]

I remember seeing a show filmed in Louisiana, where this guy's job was sitting in a chair in the back of a pickup truck as it drove along a canal, and he would just keep shooting nutria (big rodents) about every five seconds.

I saw the same show, but all I could think of was. (1) The government is paying two trucks of guys to do something that most of us would do on a lark of you let us. (2) If you really wanted to kill off the super rats you need to poison them. And gas the sewer lines. Considering the rate at which they reproduce you would never make a serious dent in the population with a .22.