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Some food (ha ha) for thought on this first post holiday workday. Westerners, Americans in particular, have been increasingly removed from our food sources. Yes, we go to Farmer's Markets, maybe have a kitchen garden, etc., but how many of us have either seen or participated in an animal being slaughtered for dinner? I watched a Bourdain show recently (Ethiopia) where two goats were slaughtered for dinner (one was Muslim kosher). Imagine doing THAT in your backyard!
I have. When I was a kid, I was always on hand for a chicken being prepared for our dinner: from catching the bird to my dad chopping off its head to my mom plucking and gutting it prior to roasting or frying. I also went to the local butcher's on a few occasions when our steers and heifers were slaughtered. And you're familiar with my tales of being up-past-the-elbows in pig and cattle carcasses!
I know that the animals we raised, or the ones my mom sometimes bought as a half a cow or something, lived a good life and died without fear. That we can't say that about *most* of what we eat bothers me tremendously.
You would make a good ethnic.
As someone who actually grew up on a bona fide working farm (vs a hobby farm) that provided 95% of our livelihood, I can lay claim to an exotic past. And thanks for acknowledging me, the Incredible Disappearing Woman!
I don't like beef, but I would imagine that a cow who has lived a "long life" would result in rather tough meat.
The only critters who occasionally need killing are people. And you can't eat them anyway. So it's hardly worth the effort.