a farm boy reflects
Nicholas Kristof is a much respected journalist and op-ed columnist for The New York Times, who has made a media splash of late with his praising of evangelical and other conservative Christian humanitarian efforts around the world. I was reminded of a piece he wrote a couple of summers ago called "A Farm Boy Reflects," at the time in support of the Prop 2 ballot measure in California to introduce some very basic welfare standards to the state's industrial animal farms (which thankfully passed).
The piece isn't very long, but it's more than worth the few minutes read. Kristof's description of growing up on a farm in Oregon, and the respect he naturally had for his family's animals and their unique personalities, clearly comes from the heart. His portrayal of the geese they kept for slaughtering is especially moving. Kristof continues to have a deep respect for their character, these birds who "mate for life and adhere to family values that would shame most of those who dine on them."
When the slaughtering sessions were about to begin, the entire flock was clearly terrified. Kristof would grab one, in a panicked frenzy, to bring to the axe. In response to his selection,
Very often, one goose would bravely step away from the panicked flock and walk tremulously toward me. It would be the mate of the one I had caught, male or female, and it would step right up to me, protesting pitifully. It would be frightened out of its wits, but still determined to stand with and comfort its lover.
Kristof goes on to write that he remains a meat eater, even of geese reluctantly. But he "draw(s) the line," as he says, "at animals being raised in cruel conditions," such as industrial farms. Be sure to read his honest conclusion, in which he ackowledges a bit more the internal conflict he faces in continuing to eat animals, based on what he experienced and came to recognize as a boy.
Along similar lines, I've shared this before, but my friend Harold Brown of Farm Kind showed the following Christian Broadcasting Network video "The Sky Angel Cowboy" during a Wake Up Weekend talk, and mentioned with wavering voice how much he identified with Logan. Harold grew up on a farm himself, and personally came to question most of how he was taught to view, and treat, the animals they raised for food. Logan's heartfelt, and powerfully faithful, testimonial meant a great deal to him:
(photo copyright Katarzyna Mazurowska/123rf.com)
March 3, 2010
Reader Comments (1)
Thanks, Ben. Logan's comments were very touching.