One of the primary folks associated with the abolitionist movement, Gary Francione, writes about something he calls "moral schizophrenia" regarding non-human animals. I have long thought this juxtaposition of signs and establishments exquisitely exemplified what he is referencing with the term. What do you think?
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| The signs |
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| The establishments. |
6 comments:
I see what you mean. The 'eewww' reaction emerged in my mind first. There are many things that affected some of our childhoods in a negative way. Many are forgotten thankfully, but one of mine was the killing of a chicken (in the winter, in a snowy white yard) and watching it being prepared for a meal. There is a lot that happens before the stage of seasoning and cooking. I was both horrified by the backyard scene and captivated by the 'process'. The adults had long since become desensitized to such things in the country. We all sat down to the chicken meal at the end of the day. A complicated process for kids, the acceptance of the killing of the chicken for a meal. For me it took years and years to confront such things for what it is. And it happened to be a cow that brought on the awareness that was instantaneous. The more we know the more choices we are confronted with. Wading into the vegan waters has been a gradual process for me as it has been for some of my friends.
Thanks for your comment Murph's mom, as children we are profoundly sensitive to the behavior of the adults that we are entrusted to. It is always a struggle to begin to let go of the filters that we had no choice in being presented with and to begin to see the world with our own eyes and heart. It is always a gradual process and often difficult and painful. Sometimes there are those "aha" moments like yours with the cow that serve to crystallize and summarize those incremental movements toward seeing with clarity. The animals thank you for embarking on and continuing your journey.
Very revealing isn't it... Our moral dissonance? Pet one and eat the other. I hope someday that a truly civilized world will not look back at us (all) too unkindly, for we've had the most masterful hoodwinking imaginable. :(
Thanks for your comment Bea, it is astonishing how cultural brainwashing can allow blatant contradictions to exist with no one apparently noticing. The signs are located on the primary street leading to the University of Oklahoma campus and have bothered me for some time......
Yeah. And when you think of all the products used in the salon that were part of the horrendous 'animal testing' industry....pretty mind boggling. And then there is the cruelty that goes on in veterinary schools. How can so many of us people animals be so blind? And I was one of them for years even though I have a deep love and respect for our fellow beings. Sigh.
Curious isn't it, that cruelty is used for "beauty". We're a "piece of work", we human animals are. Thanks for the comment.
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