I Ate A Dead Bird

Hi all

The title reads correctly. Yesterday I ate a dead bird. Obviously, I did not choose to do so - but rather, did so in blind innocence and the kicker is that it tasted so much like Mock Meat, I did not even notice the difference. My friend and I ordered two Vegan Chicken Burgers at East Brunswick Club (Herein EBC) on Lygon Street in Melbourne. For those who are unaware, EBC are a very laid back, casual pub who serve delicious vegan pub food dishes. Yesterday, however, they slipped up.

As Cheryl and I waited for our burgers we eyed off the possible vegans sitting around the venue and checked to see if there were any good looking men. There weren't. We were, however, greeted by a lovely chap emitting a strong waft of alcohol and rather unpleasant bodily odour who tried to offer us coke from his half empty 600ml bottle. Anyone who calls me Senorita and does not pronounce it properly, offers me coke from their half drunk bottle and does not wash - is out of the game.

Anyway back on track, Cheryl got her burger first and started to eat. Ten or more minutes later I recieved mine. The waitress stated "Here is your Vegan Chicken Burger". Naturally, I would assume it is indeed a Vegan Chicken Burger. Quarter way through the burger I noticed a difference in the colour of mine as opposed to Cheryl's. We studied, taste tested again and concluded mine was indeed a dead bird. So, we called the waitress, she confirmed it was and apologised.

So, what compensation did EBC provide us with for this huge mistake causing immense pain and suffering for my fragile brain? They gave us free Peanut Butter Choc Chip Cheesecake. Enough? I suppose.

But this made me feel funny. I have rambled on before about where you draw the line when you consume something and how I treat it as a case by case basis. Well, in this case, I was more than happy for them to throw it away and give me a new one. I felt sick. I felt disgusting. I felt unnatural.

Though, mind you, the funny thing is - now that I have tasted both I can confidently say that yes, the vegan version tastes much better. Its texture/contents was just so much tastier than the 'real' thing.

Moral of the story? Meat eaters really cannot use the 'meat is tasty' excuse and free cheesecake is delicious.

Above: Peanut Butter & Choc Chip Cheesecake that Cheryl and I got. I did rather like it, reminded me of Snickers.

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Why I dislike PETA

PETA bother me for two main reasons:

a) They promote 'happy' meat and a welfareist approach. I disagree with the notion of 'humane' exploitation. Exploitation on any level is unacceptable. It is like being against Pedophilia by only touching the child in less intimate places so it emotionally damages them less.

b) Turning a serious subject into a peep show is useless. It generates the wrong kind of attention. Meat & dairy production are at the highest rates that they have ever been, and numbers are growing in the US. Clearly PETA's campigns are not working. (Sure, some may have become vego from PETAs efforts...but im talking on a grand scale). PETA needs to learn to first show respect for humans. Carol J Adams mentions in her book "Pornography of Meat" how animal rights movements are corrodded by the attitudes of people who do not truly respect human beings. This is true, how do we expect to respect other species, when we dont even respect our own and portray them as meat itself? Campaigns embodying sexism cannot and do not lead to a shift in consciousness about speciesism. Subconsciously in ones mind the women being presented as meat in fact perpetuate the exploitation of animals. Many vegans and vegetarians i know say "oh yes but PETA do so much for the animals!! theyre not perfect and their campaigns get attention at least!". Sure, their ads get attention. But the wrong kind. Facts speak for themselves.

I am all about female empowerment through our sexulality, dont get me wrong - but the women in PETA ads are for the most part portrayed as vulnerable pieces of meat. The 'I'd Rather Go Naked than Wear Fur' campaign is the best example...

I felt like blogging this now as i had been thinking about it today.

Anyway, it is 2.30am...bed time, I think!

Moral Schizophrenia

Francione coined the term "Moral Schizophrenia" (aka "Pet the Dog, eat the Cow" condition), referring to the notion that meat eaters tend to be morally inclined to show compassion for some animals yet happily eat and support violence against others. 

Today I witnessed a perfect case of Moral Schizophrenia.

As I was walking towards my car, I saw a little baby fox sitting next to one squinting at me - I stopped. We stared at each other for a while and i made a move towards him and he moved closer to me, i clearly piqued his interest. I then inched closer and he moved back. We ended up playing a game of chasey. I was feeling inclined to try and catch him to take him home to help him as he was in terrible shape. He was covered in severe scabs, bleeding and puffy eyes, bleeding tail, very injured legs, major hair loss and several cuts. After about 5 minutes he ran away and to my despair, I could not find him.

When I told someone I know about this, they responded saying "I hate it when innocent little animals are hurt. I love animals so much." (This someone also happens to be a meat consumer) 

Me not wanting to be the annoying-in-your-face vegan did not say anything but my first thought was "Hang on, you dont like animals being hurt yet you happily and thoughtlessly consume them? How hypocritical and double sided."

And it is.

Similar case would be the Michael Vick Dog Fighting scenario. Thousands upon thousands of people found Vick's actions barbaric and distrubing, yet they blissfully consume billions of animals annually. The Humane Society of the United States and PETA both stood up and said; "Today, we sound a clarion call to all people: Stand up for what is right, and speak out against what is wrong. Dogfighting is unacceptable. Hurting animals for human pleasure or gain is despicable. Cruelty is just plain wrong." Yet neither of these organisations promote a vegan or nothing message - thus making that statement really meaningless. 

Dogfighting is unacceptable and people involved in such acts will go to jail - but the slaughter of over 53 billion animals a year is A-OK - as long as 'legistlative standards' are met.

This is just another example of how our society is morally schizophrenic on a vast amount of animal related issues.

Honestly, what is the difference between dog fighting and eating pigs or cows that makes one act justifiable? They are both undoubtedly unnecessary.

It is just a double standard for us to stand around pointing fingers at people like Vick for being part of dogfighting whilst happily chewing on our chicken deluxe burger. Can we not make, through logical deduction that essentially it is the same concept? In the end, a sentient being is being killed for our mere pleasure and profit. 

Why can we not see that cruelty to any being is unnacceptable? Then, once we realise this, why can we not see that we are being highly speciesist to assume we are superior thus giving us some inherent 'right' to exploit another being for our personal gain? It is incredible how much this reminds me of sexism and racism and then that just reminds me of how backward as a species we really are.

This superiority complex of ours is destroying the planet. We think that the animals are the ones beneath us, yet we act like outright irrational savages. Really is just one big painful joke.