Take Two #84: Fear, Anger and Harassment
By Kyra-lin Hom
After my two week dive into the horrors of the American Big Food Industry (my own phrasing, not an official term), I've been trying to live by my own advice: only eating meat and animal products harvested by cruelty-free, hopefully local farms. It's ridiculously difficult. Yes, I'm now that awkward dinner guest who asks where the restaurant buys its meat. When I dine out these days, I may as well be a vegetarian, borderline vegan.
It's hard. The food smells and looks fantastic, and I think one meal couldn't hurt. The animal is already dead after all, who am I to waste its life by not eating it? Then I remember that every dollar I spend is a vote for or against animal cruelty. The decision isn't overly complicated after that.
Eating at someone else's house, including my parents' homes, on the other hand is a tricky game of morals versus manners. I will admit that so far manners have won out. I'm not really in a position to turn down free food, especially a free home cooked meal. Where I spend my own dollars is more what matters to me.