Have we have become blindly dependent upon violence and killing
through our support of it? Are we in a trance as we go about our
daily business without giving it a thought? What are our decisions
and dollars paying for?
?I don?t depend on violence and killing!? you might retort. O-h-h-h,
but . . . yes, you might and probably do. The sadness is the lack of
awareness of what we are supporting and consuming.
You do if you consume USDA industrial farmed meats from cows, pigs,
chickens, ducks. Extreme violence is imposed upon factory farmed
animals - all in the name of consumerism and profit. Not only do we
pay for animals to suffer through the extensive inhumane treatment of
them in industrialized factory farms, we pay someone to kill them,
thinking that that responsibility is not ours. It is our
responsibility because we support this violence by consumption and
demand.
Many people exclaim what an 'animal lover' they are. Yet they limit
that 'love? to precious few, i.e. parrots, dogs, cats, etc. A chicken
is no less sensitive to stress, agony, pain, care and regard as a
parrot, dog, or cat. In truth, many domestic farm animals exceed the
intelligence of companion pets, i.e. pigs. And those that may appear
[to some] to be less intelligent feel no less pain when inflicted
than the human animal.
There are simple solutions to those who feel they must eat tissue of
a dead animal: organic fed, free range raised farm animals. Many
small farmers have banded together in cooperatives to stay afloat and
offer dairy, eggs, and meat products from animals that are certified
organic fed, free range, living in an environment natural and healthy
to their species, free to range, socialize, take care of their young,
etc.
Antibiotics are not necessary with a free range farmed cow, pig,
chicken, because the animal is not stressed and diseased requiring
such chemicals - necessary in order to stay alive in the stressful,
confining and filthy conditions on industrialized farms. Also free
range, organic fed cows, chickens, etc. are not given synthetic
growth hormone nor feed mixed with the by-products of other animals -
unnatural to their species - assuring that the free range, organic
fed animal?s milk, cheese, eggs, meats are chemical and pesticide
free - with no chance of ?mad cow disease? being a threat.
If one wants to look at it from a strictly health of self and loved
ones point of view, consider this: synthetic growth hormones fed to
cows [in order to fatten them up quickly for slaughter] has been
linked to ovarian cancer and early menses in girls as young as 8
years old in the U.S.A. where chemicals are freely used without
having to inform the buying public. Also, antibiotics with animal by
products are in their daily feed, insuring they stay alive before
slaughter - why? They are living in crowded conditions, in a muck of
mud and their own excrement, stressed to the max - lung disease, skin
disease, etc. pervade. The antibiotics in the muscle tissue is
consumed by humans, creating a resistance to antibiotics when they
are most needed.
Of equal importance is our understanding of what we contribute to and
therefore promote - the continuation of a violent practice against
sentient creatures - animals that perceive and feel. We do not have
the right to abuse other life and in supporting it, through
consumption, we are part and parcel of that violence. Today's
industrialized farm, research, and entertainment animals are
experiencing their own holocaust, with the exact atrocities imposed
upon them.
Are we not an intelligent and compassionate species?
Dec. 2, 2006
Dona Magrina
HiERoGLYPHICS