Theos-Talk Archives (January 2005 Message tt00744)

This is an excellent example of the hypocrisy found in many (but not all)
meat eaters in developed countries. Anyone whose idea of hamburger is
getting a lump of red stuff at a grocery store and frying it -- rather than
killing and chopping up an animal -- is disassociated from the complete
reality of his or her living situation.

If eating fish is fine, but going fishing, killing a fish, then cutting it
up in preparation for cooking is too gross -- there's something wrong with
the person's perception of the reality of life.

Being vegetarian, I'm not trying to make a case for eating meat. But
whatever anyone chooses to do, that person should be aware of everything
involved. If someone wants to eat hamburgers all their life, they really
should visit a meat processing plant and perhaps kill a cow at least once,
to be aware of what they're actually responsible for and actually eating.
(When a hamburger is bought, an industry is being supported financially and
people are being paid to do that killing and butchering of cows on one's
behalf.)

Personally, I don't feel bad when picking an orange or digging up potatoes.
I would not feel good about catching, killing, plucking feathers from,
cutting up, and cooking a chicken, although that may be part of the ritual
of having a Sunday dinner for someone living on a farm. The reality of the
situation is somewhat obscured for someone walking up to a fast food
restaurant and buying some breaded, fried, chicken nuggets.

I doubt that many of the shocked kids at the high school class were
vegetarian. They may have had no idea that this is what meat comes from --
dead animals. That shows they've been living too isolated a life.

Eldon

-----Original Message-----
From: John [mailto:John@LiteracyCurriculums.com] 
Sent: Saturday, January 22, 2005 9:34 AM
To: theos-talk@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Theos-World More on animal cruelty? (from the news)



If you look here:
http://enews.earthlink.net/article/str?guid=20050121/41f08c50_3ca6_155262005
0121-459579797
(below my signature for people who don't have access)

you'll see a Cleveland Plain Dealer news item about a high school
student who, for life skills class, skinned and cooked a guinea pig
and a rabbit during class. (He killed the animals at home.)

Needless to say, some people complained, and the school is going to
change the rules to prevent it from happening in the future.

Fortunately, the school principal determined that the boy did not do
anything criminal, but the Humane Society is threatening to file
animal cruelty charges.

I see it as a case of the student's societal upbringing having
different standards than those of the people who buy their meat
pre-processed.

I defend the school's right to change the rules, but I also defend the
boy's right to follow the old rules and use those animals for the
lesson in which he was required to cook a meal in class.

John
http://www.GodLovesEveryone.org/spiritual-dvds-every-month/
http://www.GodLovesEveryone.org/
http://www.MAZES.com/

*****

Boy Skins, Cooks Rabbit in Class
January 21, 2005 8:34 PM EST

THOMPSON, Ohio - A high school principal said guidelines for a living
skills class will be changed after a 16-year-old student skinned and
cooked a Guinea pig and a rabbit during class.

The animals were purchased at a pet store and prepared at Ledgemont
High School, located about 35 miles northeast of Cleveland, on Wednesday.

Officials at the Thompson Township Police Department and Geauga Humane
Society said they received complaints from students and parents and
they are investigating.

"Something irrational and wrong happened," said Geauga Humane Officer
Sarah Westman.

Westman said the incident may warrant animal cruelty charges.

Ledgemont Principal Beto Gage said misjudgments occurred but the boy's
actions are not criminal. Gage said the student, whose name was not
released, is an active hunter.

The 16-year-old told Gage he killed the animals at home before
bringing them to school Wednesday. Gage said his living skills
teacher, Diana Stevens, lets students prepare a meal of their choice
on that day.

The student had asked Stevens if he could catch and cook a wild rabbit
and she approved, provided he gut the carcass before class, Gage said.

The other students in his class who didn't want to watch were allowed
to go into another room, Gage said.

---

Information from: The Plain Dealer, http://www.cleveland.com






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