This is an article that might seem insightful only if you already agree with all its conclusions. Obviously the white supremacist writings the author goes on to quote actually happened. But...
This is an article that might seem insightful only if you already agree with all its conclusions.
Here’s something else you probably didn’t know: the modern obsession with eating massive amounts of meat isn’t “natural” or “traditional.” It comes from colonial propaganda designed to justify white supremacy.
Obviously the white supremacist writings the author goes on to quote actually happened. But arguing that something comes from propaganda designed to justify white supremacy is a very strong claim. Given the historical prominence of hunting, knights throwing banquets full of game, the celebrations of hunting prowess, etc. it seems highly plausible that a cultural aspiration to eat tons of meat existed long before 19th century colonialism and was simply appropriated by white supremacists to serve their propaganda.
Did you ever stop to wonder why, during the height of COVID, when even schools were shut down, Pres. Donald Trump declared slaughterhouses “essential to national security?” Even as these plants became disease superspreader sites—with management literally taking out bets on how many workers would get sick or die—the government understood the unspoken “deal” operating between the exploitation of workers and the exploitation of animals. Remember: making death for profit is the original goal of the system itself.
Sure, it definitely could be that there's an unspoken deal the government is sworn to uphold that workers are to be exploited to exploit animals above all else. That makes sense, if you really really want to write a provocative article with that as a premise.
But in reality the food supply is really, really important. And do you know what's even more important than the supply of a particular category of food we all could live without if we had to? Confidence in the food supply. That's non negotiable. People who were irrationally buying out the dried pasta aisle needed stability more than they needed chicken.
And that's where I noped out on this article. The leaps of logic for provocative effect are absurd.
Both things can be true, there was definitely room for moderation. It was a farce how meat workers' health was treated during this time and the government could have mandated additional safety...
But in reality the food supply is really, really important. And do you know what's even more important than the supply of a particular category of food we all could live without if we had to? Confidence in the food supply. That's non negotiable. People who were irrationally buying out the dried pasta aisle needed stability more than they needed chicken.
Both things can be true, there was definitely room for moderation. It was a farce how meat workers' health was treated during this time and the government could have mandated additional safety requirements like reduced headcount, increased distance and slower line speeds.
John Oliver did a piece on meatpacking workers that's worth checking out.
The author could have spent more time on making this a bit more nuanced, but they're illustrating out how meat is so engrained in western culture that we consider a lack of meat disastrous when vegetables/lentils/beans are still plentiful.
I'm currently reading Thomas Pynchon's Against the Day and this article reminded me a lot of this passage when characters view the Chicago Stockyards from above, that sort of serves as a thesis...
I'm currently reading Thomas Pynchon's Against the Day and this article reminded me a lot of this passage when characters view the Chicago Stockyards from above, that sort of serves as a thesis statement for the book:
From this height it was as if the Chums, who, out on adventures past, had often witnessed the vast herds of cattle adrift in ever-changing cloud like patterns across the Western plains, here saw that unshared freedom being rationalized into movement only in straight lines and at right angles and a progressive reduction of choices, until the final turn through the final gate that led to the killing-floor.
This is an article that might seem insightful only if you already agree with all its conclusions.
Obviously the white supremacist writings the author goes on to quote actually happened. But arguing that something comes from propaganda designed to justify white supremacy is a very strong claim. Given the historical prominence of hunting, knights throwing banquets full of game, the celebrations of hunting prowess, etc. it seems highly plausible that a cultural aspiration to eat tons of meat existed long before 19th century colonialism and was simply appropriated by white supremacists to serve their propaganda.
Sure, it definitely could be that there's an unspoken deal the government is sworn to uphold that workers are to be exploited to exploit animals above all else. That makes sense, if you really really want to write a provocative article with that as a premise.
But in reality the food supply is really, really important. And do you know what's even more important than the supply of a particular category of food we all could live without if we had to? Confidence in the food supply. That's non negotiable. People who were irrationally buying out the dried pasta aisle needed stability more than they needed chicken.
And that's where I noped out on this article. The leaps of logic for provocative effect are absurd.
Both things can be true, there was definitely room for moderation. It was a farce how meat workers' health was treated during this time and the government could have mandated additional safety requirements like reduced headcount, increased distance and slower line speeds.
John Oliver did a piece on meatpacking workers that's worth checking out.
The author could have spent more time on making this a bit more nuanced, but they're illustrating out how meat is so engrained in western culture that we consider a lack of meat disastrous when vegetables/lentils/beans are still plentiful.
I'm currently reading Thomas Pynchon's Against the Day and this article reminded me a lot of this passage when characters view the Chicago Stockyards from above, that sort of serves as a thesis statement for the book:
This was not an enjoyable read. I think it was very worth while and I thank you for putting it on my radar. I'm glad I read it.