We have so many inconsistencies when it comes to animals it
isn’t even funny. In the last chapter, Herzog identifies two distinct people
named Michael Mountain and Judy Muzzis. Both of them are very passionate
people, but both are also very different in their moral views. Although I felt
conflicted for about 95% of the book, I totally loved it and learned a lot of
new ways to think about human-animal relationships. The biggest thing I took
from this book was where I stand on specific issues. “Thinking” I had a solid
stance before, I learned quickly within the first chapter that I had no idea.
The book did a pretty fantastic job at pointing out all my inconsistencies,
making me critically think about current issues and influenced me to get
educated. Did anyone else find themselves kicking yourself in face for being so
inconsistent when you thought you were consistent all along?
Digging deeper I decided to look into more inconsistencies. With
looking at these inconsistencies I also found an interesting relationship with
education. Although some of these inconsistencies are inherent, just as Herzog
points outs, many come from us not knowing 100% of the information. We are so
quick to pick a side that we often forget to critically think about the issue
at hand. What do you guys think? Are there any situations where you or your
friends made a stance but latter found out that it was inconsistent?
For example, many people give up meat because of moral views
or health concerns. Having a vegetarian friend, I asked her why she did so. “I
just feel bad for the animals and think it’s terrible they get lined up and
killed” was her response. I then asked her what she ate. She explained that she
wasn’t a strict vegan and that she ate animal products like cheese and eggs (these
are called lacto-ovo-vegetarians). I love my friend deeply, however she has
this tendency to take on this “I’m a vegetarian because I don’t support killing
defenseless animals” persona. What my friend doesn’t know is that she is an
unknowingly being inconsistent. Although I didn’t, I wanted to tell her the
reality behind her stance. I wanted to tell her that large portions of cheeses
are actually made from rennet, an enzyme taken from the inner stomach of
calves. These calves are the same calves they slaughter for veal. Although my
friend loved to guilt trip me when I use to eat beef, I always wanted to tell
her that she was also eating a part of a cow that was slaughtered to make
cheeses (sorry If I ruined cheese for those who are vegetarian in class. I’ll
leave a link at the bottom to a website that gives totally animal-free cheeses.
Don’t hate me!).
Overall, I loved this book. I felt it was a positive slap in
the face. Waking me up to critically thinking about such issues, I’m glad we
got to read it and educate ourselves on the complex world of human-animal
relationships. What did you guys think about the book in general? Did it make you think differently about any of your stances whether zoo related, meat related, lab-animal related etc?
Here is the vegetarian cheeses website. Don’t hate me!
https://www.vegsoc.org/cheese
-Nic Swaner (First Reader)
I agree that there are a TON of inconsistencies in the way we relate to animals. Going off the vegetarian-but-maybe-not-really thing, I've had friends who claim to be vegetarian, yet they will eat fish. As if fish aren't subjected to the same cruelty that other animals we eat are. I've also heard that people who are vegetarian say they don't eat anything with a face, but where does that leave clams/oysters/etc? This isn't an attack on vegetarianism by ANY means. I myself am full of inconsistencies. I am very aware of what happens to the animals before I buy the meat in the grocery store. It bothers me, a lot. I am very much morally against our treatment of our farmed-for-consumption animals. However, I still eat meat. I even ate the GIANT corned beef sandwich for lunch at Busch Gardens on Wednesday. It's a daily struggle. While I wish things were different, I can't bring myself to stop eating meat. And recently I've discovered all kinds of things containing animal products that you wouldn't necessarily think of, such as tattoo ink, sugar, and beer. I'm sure there are more. Not to mention beauty products or hygiene products that are tested on animals. I like to think I'm an animal activist and I like to think I'm in favor of animal rights, but when it gets down to it, I'm one of the biggest offenders. I'm not sure what to do about it.
ReplyDeleteI also really enjoyed this book! One of the last things Herzog says is that our attitudes, behaviors, and relationships with animals are much more complicated than most of us have ever realized; for me, that is what I essentially got from this book. There are so many different and equally important aspects to the human-animal relationship that I simply did not connect before reading this book. It really made me think about my relationship with animals as a whole rather than in small and separate sections: my relationship with my cat is really no different from the relationship I had with the animals at Busch Gardens, or the birds that live on the golf course next to my apartment.
ReplyDeleteI think the biggest thing this book taught me was to be aware and to try to be more consistent. It is easy to forget about the impact we are having on so many different animal species during the course of our everyday lives. Most of the animals we are impacting we will never even see; so why should we care about them? After reading this book, in my eyes that question has become a little different: why shouldn't we care about them? We share the world with these different species. Just as we should be aware of the impact we personally have on other people, we should also be aware of the impact we have on other animals.
- Caroline Thrasher
Nic I love your description! A positive slap in the face is the perfect way to put it! I've known for a while now that I don't do many things that I would morally love to do. This book gave me a much better perspective on it, as well as the things I have learned from everyone in class. Including this cheese info! I personally don't think it's against our nature to eat animals, but with the ways in which we as a culture go about it makes it really uncomfortable for a lot of people to feel okay about it. Maybe as time goes on the ideals and morals will shift the ways in which things are done so that there can be more consistency within the human-animal relationship.
ReplyDelete- Sarah Nappier
I also felt a lot of the internal turmoil everyone has been talking about. This class, like so many at Eckerd, reminded me that there are a lot of very important issues in the world. This book alone mentioned an immense amount of issues, and they are just ones related to human and animal relationships!
ReplyDeleteSomething else I am finding is very important to remember thanks to this book and especially the class is that there are at least two sides to everything and it is extremely important to at least know the basics of each side before making any decisions. It is really hard hearing all these bad things about eating meat or cheese or anything and then continuing to eat it, perpetuating the cycle. But at this point think of all the jobs the meat industry creates, yes probably not very enjoyable or well-paying jobs, but jobs nonetheless. Think of all the families relying on those incomes.
But at the same time, I am very much not for the meat industry. As I shared with you all, I am a vegetarian, but I in no way think I am solving the problem, I don't spend time trying to convert my friends I don't think eating meat is bad. I just don't like the way we are going about it, the animal treatment yes, but also the environmental issues that is created by transporting and treating meat.
BUT I know that I eat oranges that come from California and potatoes from Idaho and so on and so on. Being a vegetarian doesn't solve any of the issues, especially since I know now that I don't anticipate being one forever. But it's like Heather said in a previous post, it feels like a small thing I can do, even if it's only temporary.
Two things I really want to get across with this post: 1) I don't think anyone should feel too bad for eating meat, because at least you know what your money is going towards and at least some of your money is supporting the families of the farmers, factory workers, and retailers. 2) Eckerd has yet again forced me to remember that everything needs to be questioned (even cheese!), don't just settle with whatever a seemingly credible source tells you.
Like "Blackfish" yes it's a documentary that was filmed and shown publicly, but just because it ended up on a screen doesn't necessarily mean everything it says is to be trusted. I feel like my liberal arts education is constantly reminding me to be skeptical (in a polite and beneficial way) and to make efforts to educate others about what you find out to make an informed decision from all that you uncovered.
- Cassi Lyon
I couldn't help but notice your last paragraph, and I have to say I feel the same way. Now after watching a documentary I feel like I have to do loads of research to see what is false and what is accurate. I have become quite the skeptic.
DeleteI feel these inconsistencies all the time. One of the one I get a lot is, "You say you love animals but you buy from a breeder, when you could have saved a life", or something along those lines. Yes, I did buy my cat from a breeder for quite a bit, but he is the love of my life and I do not regret it at all, but some feel that buy purchasing instead of adopting I am less of an animal lover. Here is an article from PETA I found discussing this very thing:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.peta.org/issues/companion-animal-issues/pet-trade/breeders/