Animal rights groups, largely, do a good job of pointing out the cruelty involved in whatever issue they are tackling. That is, in fact, the whole point of protesting and campaigning on certain issues: the cruelty. If you hear or read about a foie gras protest and an animal rights group is commenting you will almost immediately know that ducks used in foie gras production are force fed with a metal tube that is shoved down their throats to fatten up their livers. The livers are then put on a plate in some fancy pants way and sold to diners with more money than I've got. It is a particularly cruel animal product you'd have a hard time justifying or condoning as needed or useful.
So here in Portland there is a campaign to rid the city of this awful and sad menu item. This campaign involves folks protesting outside of restaurants that serve foie gras. Articles have been written by the local papers, which often describe the treatment of the birds in the production process. There is no kind way to describe the practice, just telling what happens is pretty graphic.
We all know the internet can bring out the goon in people pretty quickly on message boards, blog comments, and comments after articles. I don't know if I've ever read an article that was pro-veganism or animal rights that didn't have the requisite goon comment "i loooove meat!" It's as if there is some kind of bot out there that scans the web for the word vegetarian and then automatically leaves a comment along the lines of "i loooove meat" or "meat is delicious!" These comments rarely stray from this basic format.
Following that gem of wisdom comment is often the one that states the reader does not want to be told what they can or can't eat by these extremists.
Example from a recent article in the Portland Mercury (goons themselves, actually):
"Personally I'm tired of all these animal rights activists telling me what I can't eat. Abortion is a choice, as should foie gras and religion. Haven't we had enough of W forcing Christianity down our throats? Personally I'm tired of being told what I can't eat."
This comment is pretty typical of the "don't tell me what to eat" approach.
Here is what I have a hard time grasping: Why don't any commenters ever acknowledge the treatment of the animal when they defend the product or the choice to eat it? I guess you can extrapolate that the activists are telling you what you can't eat by trying to get foie gras banned, but what they are telling you DIRECTLY is that these animals are suffering and are being treated in a very cruel way. That is what they are chanting, that is what the signs tell you, that is what the video shows, that is what the literature they are handing you says. Why not comment on what the protesters and activists are actually communicating to you instead of dodging that immediate point and going on about yourself and your "freedom" to do what you want? (An aside, this "choice" argument falls flat anyway as there are plenty of activities almost all of us would never condone or allow as someone's "personal choice." Should I be allowed to light puppies on fire in my backyard? Of course not.)
Let's forget about everything else when it comes to food choices, lifestyle choices, and everything else. Let's set aside the general disdain people have for protesters or perceived attacks on their choices. Let's set all of that aside and consider one very simple question that is at the root of every protest, leaflet, chant, etc.
What about the animal? Are you really OK with the treatment these birds get? Think about the bird being held and the metal tube being forced down it's throat. Think about it squirming, and violently flapping it's wings, trying to get away. Think about this terrified animal. Think about ducks you've encountered in your life. Think about walking up to them, grabbing them by the throat and shoving a tube down it then forcing pound after pound of food in. Think about the struggle and fight they would put up.
The next time you want to defend your "choice" to eat foie gras, or want to tell the people trying to protect these birds that they can't tell you what to eat, please spend one moment and think about the animal itself. React and make your decision based on how that makes you feel.
Foie gras facts:
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