Posted on 05/19/2004 6:22:07 AM PDT by billorites
SPRINGFIELD -- Horse slaughter opponents applied star power Tuesday when they brought in a Hollywood movie star to lobby their cause. Actress Bo Derek, national spokeswoman for the National Horse Protection Coalition, visited Springfield to present complaints from animal-rights activists. Horses, she said, are companions not cuisine.
"They deserve better. It's not humane. We don't raise them for food. We raise them as pets or for sport," said Derek, famous for portraying the woman of Dudley Moore's dreams in the 1979 hit "10."
The House narrowly rejected banning horse slaughtering in March, but supporters in the Senate have resurrected the campaign to close a controversial horse slaughterhouse in DeKalb.
Opponents of the ban say horse slaughtering should be a choice. Currently, horse owners can sell their horses for slaughter to Cavel International in DeKalb or pay to get rid of them when they die.
In addition, supporters say the Belgium-based company helps DeKalb's economy.
Cavel, which is scheduled to open sometime this week after rebuilding from a fire two years ago, will employ 40 people, add $90,000 in property taxes for local government and pour more than $1 million into the economy, said state Rep. Bob Pritchard, R-Hinckley.
"It will allow them to support and care for their children. It will allow them to be active members of society," said Pritchard, who represents DeKalb. "I feel that as this state is losing jobs by the thousands, ... that we need this source of revenue."
Pritchard didn't think Derek's movie-star status would help efforts to end the practice of slaughtering horses.
"I know a lot of people in the drama and movie industry have tried to impose their values on other people, but I think people across Illinois will make that decision based on the respect for choice," he said.
State Sen. Todd Sieben, R-Geneseo, wasn't star-struck. Derek pulled him aside for a five-minute debate after her press conference.
"I'm still a 'no' vote," Sieben said.
Cavel is one of only three horse slaughterhouses in the country. The company sends the meat to Europe for human consumption.
"I'm not going to judge another culture and what they choose to eat, but I don't know why they have to eat our American horses," Derek said.
If the state institutes the ban, Jim Tucker, a Cavel manager, has said he could challenge the law in court because federal law allows the slaughter of horses for human consumption. Also, he said he could file for an injunction, meaning the law wouldn't apply to his company.
Congress also is considering banning horse slaughter for human consumption. The so-called American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act has 180 co-sponsors while only 218 votes are needed to pass the U.S. House.
House Bill 649 is currently pending in the Illinois Senate and could be called for a vote sometime this week.
She's pro-abortion, so she's not "very conservative."
The woman is distressed at the idea of killing a horse, but a human baby is fair game as far as she's concerned. It's sick.
Very well stated.
As is your right. Many find eating cattle, chickens, pigs, etc... barbaric. Isn't going to stop me from having a burger, chicken wings, or BBQ.
Many people are also repulsed at the thought of shooting a deer, butchering it, and eating it. But I love it!
Oh....to be Bo's horse...what a dream!
You mean my favorite Japanese restaurants have it all wrong? On the sushi menus, raw fish/veggies which contain rice are called sushi.
Some animals are more equal than others.
Bumb for the Bo Derek pics to come.
"My argument against horse slaughter is both emotional and logical..."
No. Just emotional. There is nothing immoral whatsoever with eating any animal meat you choose. Of course taste and emotion lead people to choose certain cuisine--just don't force your tastes on others.
I get my values straight from the New Testament, and need no extra sources.
There are no sacred animals. Human life alone is sacred, made in the image of God.
Everything is emotional, including your argument. I just admit it.
The key there being "which contain rice."
What does the menu call raw fish without rice?
There are people like me who have used horses to do a job, and that's all they ever were - a tool.
I didn't fall in love with them anymore than I fell in love with my tractor.
I only had one horse I named. The rest was, "that sorrel mare", "that buckskin", or, "that stupid Ap".
Some people put horses above any other animal.
I don't.
I admitted I am biased. I value some animals more then others when it comes to making them a food source.
Again, its anyone's choice to choose their own menu. It's immoral to try to limit that--especially when by a very wealthy movie star, trying to close down a plant which supports dozens of much-less-than-wealthy families.
My moral decisions are anchored in scripture--which clearly gives permission (not command) to eat anything you want. You don't want to eat horse-meat? Please don't!
Also please don't try to enshrine your tastes into law.
That's a big problem these days--people confusing their own personal tastes and preferences with universal principles of right and wrong--and visa-versa. That's what's so great about having a bible--as we have THE most universal values there are--those of the Creator. Values which are a lot more reasonable than Bo Derek's.
Never eat raw fish so I wouldn't know.
Ok...First of all I have to say that to me any Sushi is delicious, and especially with the "raw fish". It practically melts in your mouth. It's so delicate and soft. Personally I can't understand why people find it so repulsive. Culinary ignorance is all I can think of. .This senseless paranoia stems from the 'western' tradition of cooking everything and eating meat from assorted game animals, beef, chicken etc... which must be cooked (due to parasites). We've just had this one view imprinted in our culture and some people are apparently not able to get their minds out of it.
An into course in "Parasitology" will pretty much "imprint" it all right....and throws the light of day on that "culinary ignorance" , "senseless paranoia" and "not being able to get their minds out of it"
One might also visit Paris and enjoy all the Paris'sites....
:)
Bon Apetite....
imo
Okay, now I'm hungry. Pass the wasabi.
I agree, BB. It's the same reason I refuse to eat veal. God put us in charge of His creation but to use it, not abuse it.
What would Mrs. billorites have to say about that?
Give her a break, she's a conservative!
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