Because Calves Apparently Aren't as Cute or Worthy as Seals

categories: Dairy and Eggs, Farm Animals, Hunting, Wildlife/FreeLiving Animals

Published May 28, 2009 @ 10:16AM PT

As I was walking with my dog friends this morning, just after publishing the morning's post on Governor General Jean, her public gnawing on a seal heart, and her remarks on eating veal calves and lambs, my line of thinking started going in another direction. And it started with this: Well, at least she's consistent in her view of animals. And that's more than I can say for a number of the people who oppose the annual seal hunt.

Michaelle Jean made a food choice and remarks regarding seals that sparked outrage. But for her latest remarks, there will be no widespread outrage. The general public will not care that Jean casually eats the bodies of calves and lambs or that she casually remarked on it--even though the dairy/veal industry is every bit as cruel and unnecessary as Canada's annual seal hunt, even though the number of domesticated, confined animals being killed barbarically far outnumbers the seals being killed, even though dairy/veal calves and other animals (including the mother dairy cows, animals raised primarily for flesh, and egg-laying hens) suffer as much as, or in many cases fare more than, the seals. And again, all this is as unnecessary as the seal hunt. People don't need the flesh and skin of calves and lambs to survive anymore than they need the flesh and skin of seals.

There have undoubtedly been people expressing fury and disgust over Michaelle Jean's actions and statements in the last week while absentmindedly snacking on cheese and flesh and eggs imbued with far more cruelty than even the eating of a seal's heart. Likely few of them will pause when they read her new remarks on calves and lambs or would pause if they saw her putting a piece of bloody calf (or piece of cheese for which that calf was killed) in her mouth. I hope at least some of them will stop and consider the irony.

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Comments (11)

I agree completely!

Posted by Elena Unschuld on 05/28/2009 @ 10:54AM PT
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They are all equal and should not be pointed out any differently!

Posted by Mandi Traut on 05/28/2009 @ 02:06PM PT
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Calves are *totally* as cute as seals. Lookitthatface!

But damn straight, a non-human animal's rights shouldn't hinge on his or her perceived cuteness, rarity or "exoticness," any more than should a human's.

Posted by Kelly Garbato on 05/28/2009 @ 02:21PM PT
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Excellent points, I keep trying to understand this myself! Would you eat fried dog? or Baked cat? maybe in China but for the most part NO. Then why eat a roasted pig or fried chicken? Thank you for this article!!

Posted by Tierney Grinavic on 05/28/2009 @ 02:21PM PT
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So sadly true! It's the same form of cannibalism, every animal has the right to live! Thank you Stephanie

Posted by Loredana Versaci on 05/29/2009 @ 03:07AM PT
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ALL ANIMALS HAVE RIGHT TO LIVE AND TO BE FREE !

Posted by Savina Veselinova on 05/30/2009 @ 12:16PM PT
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Savina,
I agree that all animals are cute, and that even if they weren't perceived to be, that's no reason to treat them any differently than we asked to treat ALL of our neighbors: with love.

But speaking of cute, Savina, where did you find that adorable photo of the lamb and the duckling? It represents the purity, meekness, gentleness, softness that we love about all animals, and that we are learning to better express ourselves.

Posted by Olivia White on 06/01/2009 @ 05:38PM PT
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I am hopoing that some day farm animals may live in peace. Who made it law that we have to eat meat to live. Beef has health risks, marbeling(fat). It is a dead animal for crying out loud. The animal no matter which one it is, suffers horribly before they get slaughtered. Read about What China and Korea are eating.

Posted by Anonymous Anonymous on 06/23/2009 @ 02:06PM PT
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All animals are equal and should have equal rights. big or small, fur or no fur, wings, paws, beaks... they are all equal difference is not a reason to put one above the other. AND NONE SHOULD HAVE TO ENDURE THE PAIN OF CRUELTY!

Posted by Soodle Billy on 08/26/2009 @ 01:14AM PT
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i agree completely

Posted by Mary Foley on 08/31/2009 @ 03:31AM PT
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I've written about this issue on so many sites, and then discovered there have been those before me who put it much more eloquently than I do (I'm a Cancer - emotions get the best of me on occasion...LOL) So here are others thoughts:

"To live without killing is a thought which could electrify the world, if men were only capable of staying awake long enough to let the idea soak in."

Henry Miller, The Henry Miller Reader (1959)

As Mark Twain said, "Of all the animals, man is the only one that is cruel. He is the only one that inflicts pain for the pleasure of doing it. It is a trait that is unknown to the higher animals."

The Buddha, living in the East at the same time as Pythagoras was living in the West, said to his followers, "All beings tremble before violence. All fear death. All love life. See yourself in others. Then whom can you hurt? What harm can you do?"

“The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated” Ghandi

Not to hurt our humble brethren (the animals) is our first duty to them, but to stop there is not enough. We have a higher mission--to be of service to them whenever they require it... If you have men who will exclude any of God's creatures from the shelter of compassion and pity, you will have men who will deal likewise with their fellow men.
-- Saint Francis of Assisi

But now ask the beasts to teach you, and the birds of the air to tell you, or the reptiles on the earth to instruct you, and the fish of the sea to inform you. Which of all these creatures does not know that the hand of God has done this. In His hand is the soul of every living thing, and the life breath of all. Job 12: 7-10

Posted by Jade Hawks on 11/01/2009 @ 07:51AM PT
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Author

Stephanie is an independent animal rights advocate, a vegan, a tree-hugging environmentalist, and a freelance editor and writer. She lives in St. Louis with an aging corgi-lab and an adolescent rescued pit bull.