[Aunt Clara]

Even people who eat meat rarely want to acknowledge the fact that their delicious meal was once a walking, breathing animal (or swimming, or crawling, etc.) This attitude is more prevalent in richer countries (IMO), people seem to go to great lengths to avoid this fact.

I have to admit that I was present at the butchering of many an animal, and happily partook of the meat afterwards (my grandparents had a farm). I am not disgusted by this idea; that is not the reason why I don't eat meat. The exception is the suckling pigs we Dominicans are so fond of photographing. It doesn't tickle my yummy bone; all it says to me is 'carcass'.

An attitude that seems to be growing among more affluent countries (especially Europe) is that 'we care for the animal, but we don't want to know what you did to it'. This article explains it better:

Quote:

The IGD research was sponsored by Freedom Food, a food labeling scheme aimed at improving animal welfare standards which has been set up by the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. The report noted that many consumers felt guilt about eating meat and were reluctant to explore welfare issues. "As consumers deliberately reject information on animal welfare due to the emotional response it provokes, it will be difficult to raise awareness of the issue, particularly at the point of purchase," the report said.

All this squeamishness strikes me a bit of hypocrisy. The same people that berate people of other cultures for eating animals they find objectionable have no problem eating cows, which in some other cultures is thought of as barbaric.

So what do you think?

[Cheeky Charlie]

I saw this thread in the forums a couple of weeks ago and kind of dismissed it and it looks like I'm not the only one. Then I got to thinking, is it because I'm guilty of the same attitude that tia clara is referrering to? I think the answer is Yes.
I really would prefer not to think about how that lickle pig or cute lamb came to be on my plate, especially when it tastes so good. I think us brits, being supposed animal lovers, are probably the biggest hypocrites when it comes to this sort of thing. Alot of us, including me in the past, are also guilty of berating other cultures for eating certain animals. This attitude stems from ignorance.
My mum on the other hand who, like tia clara, has witness the culling of a pig, chicken etc has no problem with this and still enjoys her meat. Also my mum's seen more and travelled more than me so there isn't much that would shock her. Where she's from they eat "mountain chicken", known as frog legs to me and you! I wouldn't touch it with a barge pole!
Has anyone eaten anything that some of us would consider just too weird?

[Aunt Clara]

I have. From unseemly innards to snakes. An animal is an animal. If it is edible why not? I don't eat meat anymore, but have more respect for the folks who still kill their food with their own hands than the pontificating meat-eater who eats their sanitized-beyond-recognition chicken breasts.

I guess I am just getting older. It's getting harder to shock me.

[ROSAny]

well I think if it has the right texture and if I'm not told what it is before eating then I have no problem with eating anything after all its all meat. But aunt Clara may I ask with you convert?

[Cheeky Charlie]

I'm kinda like that too, like they say, ignorance is bliss. I once ate kangaroo, It just tasted like really tough salty beef. I didn't know this beforehand, someone offered me some and told me to guess what it was.
I also curious, Tia Clara, why did you give up meat?

[nezperce]

well I do not love meat , but eat it in litle portions.
Me myself working in a slaughtershouse, now verry wel wha tis happenning there .but the man who works there who actually kills them, loves amimals to and when a chaufeur is driving like crazy whit them cow in the back he almost atackt the man becouse they had to be handeld whit care and love till the end

[ROSAny]

o my it must be hard working in a slaughter house with the sight and the smell penetrating into your clothes oh that would be horrible!! I can eat it only because I have been accostumed to it since childhood but even to this day I can not see a chicken killed in the DR.