My friends, you disappoint me: Today I had the privilege of assisting with the slaughter of three lambs on a farm in Boyce, Virginia. When we had finished, I saw our tools laid out upon the table and took a photo to capture the beauty of the moment. Soonthereafter, someone reported this photo to Facebook as containing graphic violence. Having been a vegetarian for eleven years, I can understand if the butchering of animals does not fit into your worldview. I can also understand if the sight of blood on a table makes you squeamish and uncomfortable. That said, to report the photo as violent is HUGELY DISRESPECTFUL to me, to my coworkers, to every humane farmer, and most especially to the lambs that gave their lives today. Killing for food is not a violent act, but a spiritual one. Caring for these animals, giving them good lives, respecting their deaths with reverence and grace, taking care to use all their parts in the best ways possible, so that their lives can continue to sustain and flourish other lives: this process transcends species and time and all of our lives. To be a part of this path in a meaningful way is a gift. The tools and the table are icons of the butchers trade, and should be given the same dignity that process deserves. I hope that you all come to see this photo as I do: as beautiful.
Posted on: Tue, 23 Sep 2014 00:31:36 +0000
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