This photograph does not horrify me. When I encountered this scene in a Rangoon market, I did not recoil nor turn my head. I did not feel sorry for the goats. For I've been away from the developed world for some time. Seen harsh things. Become a bit hard myself. Had a change of world view, in some respects.
In my local market in Hanoi, I'm amused when I see the pork vendor removing the porcine hair from a pig's belly with a man's razor blade. It makes me think of myself that very morning. When the duck's neck is slit and blood is squirting, then trickling into a basin, I see the patience in the process, in not wanting to see blood split. What was running through this duck's veins will not be flushed away. It, along with its organs and tubes, will be consumed. The duck's beak may protrude later, after it's been boiled, at the duck noodle soup stall as a sign that this bird was quacking this morning. Fresh duck is going with these noodles, it says, with dignity.
Here, there is grooming after death. A woman rubs a chicken carcass under water with a tender pressure to remove its feathers. The goats' heads are arranged in a tidy row, all facing the same way, ears smoothed down; not just tossed in some messy pile. Organs and other insides are displayed as glossy abstract art installations. I see a meaningful relationship between man and beast here. That a goat butcher's customer can see what kind of animal was killed by him, that a chicken seller can take pride in the fact that a customer admires a bird of hers is surely some kind of testament to the value of these animals' lives.
What disturbs me is the meat department in the supermarkets of my origins. All signs that the product used to be an animal are removed. Styrofoam, cling wrap, stainless steel and flourescent light make it all very clear that this is the end of some clinical factory process, where humans can't even be bothered to do the killing anymore. Automatons in white coats, surgical gloves and hair nets march out with loaded trolleys to fill up the shelves.
With products.
When I'm shopping for meat, I now want to recognise the animal.
I'm not much for commenting but just had to say how much I enjoyed this piece.
I agree, and thank you.
Posted by: Crystal | 05 April 2012 at 06:00 AM
Thank you for posting this - it really clarified something I was trying (and failing badly) to explain to a friend about how disturbing I find the almost total divorce between the animal and the end product.
Posted by: NinaZer0 | 05 April 2012 at 02:15 PM
Great post. I completely agree. I am amazed by the hysterical reaction of many visitors to Vietnam who seem to experience for the first time the realisation that the meat they eat is actually, you know, an ANIMAL. In Vietnam there's no option to "prefer not to think about it" which is the attitude towards abattoirs held by many meat-eaters in the West, I think.
Posted by: Tabitha | 05 April 2012 at 06:49 PM
Great post and a great blog, I agree 100% with your semtinents, keep posting.
I'll be in Vietnam 8 days from now and I'm looking forward to eating some great food.
Posted by: mark | 08 April 2012 at 05:22 AM
I've often thought that where I live (the UK) there's too much separation between the farmer's field and the dining room table. I have to say I really enjoyed and agreed with this post.
Posted by: robm | 12 April 2012 at 08:47 PM
Thanks all - we seem to all be agreed on this
Posted by: Sticky | 24 April 2012 at 10:58 PM
You're too right. As much as some things freak me out (i.e. heads), I tell myself that if I choose to eat meat then it would be hypocritical to ignore such things. Thanks for articulating it so well!
Posted by: Jo | 04 July 2012 at 07:38 PM
While I agree that it's better to be connected to the food we're eating, I find the remark that you don't feel sorry for the animals revealing. What does it matter whether the dead animal is presented to us in cellophane or freshly slaughtered in the street when we can't or won't care for it's suffering either way? If we don't feel empathy or respect for a life, then why bother "knowing"? Let's not wax poetic about "the relationship" between humans and the beasts we cruelly dominate. If you don't care, eat the meat. If you do, don't. That's all.... I just came here looking for a recipe for sticky rice. Sorry to rain on your parade.
Posted by: Stephanie | 10 July 2012 at 08:35 AM
I am scared when I see this image.
Posted by: Lindsay | 07 November 2012 at 04:36 PM