As stated in my July 31st post, I moved back to my hometown after an absence of more than twenty years, and I guess I somehow forgot just how small and rurally based this area (Niagara Region) is. Or maybe I'm just not used to reading local newspapers that cover events like barbecues, county fairs and pig roasts. Pig roasts! And in just over the two months that I've lived here, there have been two of them. Now given the fact that I get a visceral reaction just from seeing animal flesh in grocery flyers (I swear I never noticed before turning vegan just how prominent it is), I nearly threw up my last meal when I saw a photo of the poor pig nearly done and ready to be eaten. What's even worse in my opinion is that this event was sponsored by a church; an institution that you would think would encourage non-suffering of all species. Anyway, it made me wonder if I should place an announcement asking if there are any other vegans in this town!
The opinion pieces I mentioned in that July post? The first, titled No animal cruelty in pampering a race horse, had the editor asserting that folks calling for a ban on horse racing are "horribly-informed, if not totally ignorant" and overreacting. Don't take my word for it though, as someone at the Niagara Center for Animal Rights Awareness also saw this piece and responded with what I thought was an intelligent and articulate rebuttal. Sadly though, their reply was never printed, which, I'm embarrassed to admit, made me abandon my own less coherent and already belated response. Then, this doozy, which made me shake my head, although she had a valid point about the chickens. Not surprising though that a column denouncing the efforts of animal rights activists would also advocate the death penalty! And guess what? Her piece got a huge positive response. But what I've also learned (in looking through drafts of potential letters to the editor), is that I'm pretty hot-headed, and should probably wait with responding to anything until I've cooled down, snort.
