Kentucky Fried Cruelty
When I first heard on the radio that Rev. Al Sharpton had done a video for PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) encouraging people to boycott Kentucky Fried Chicken because of cruelty toward the chickens, I thought it was a joke. Come on, this Black preacher is talking about not eating fried chicken. As my friend Ambra Nykol wrote, Rev. Al has "the face of a man who would secretly send his assistant to buy him some KFC on the down low." Hardy, ha, ha!
After I stopped laughing, I decided to see why Rev. Al was doing this, so I watched the PETA video, read the related information, and checked out KFC's response. In researching this issue I found myself disgusted by KFC, determined to join the boycott, and motivated to donate to PETA. That's right. Until they do better, I'm giving up KFC, Long John Silver's, Pizza Hut, Taco Bell, and A&W Restaurants -- all owned by KFC's parent company Yum! Brands.
A statement by PETA says:
Black community leader the Rev. Al Sharpton has never been shy about raising his voice—whether it’s on the pulpit or on the presidential campaign trail. Now, Sharpton is speaking up for the nearly 800 million chickens raised and killed each year for KFC, which announced plans at its investor meeting to market more heavily to African-Americans.
Rev. Sharpton has filmed an appeal to be screened at KFC in urban centers across America, calling on the black community to boycott KFC until the company makes basic improvements in animal welfare. In the video, Sharpton outlines the abuses that chickens raised for KFC suffer and takes KFC to task. Sharpton says, “KFC is not black owned, but it sure knows to market heavily to African Americans … obviously hoping we won’t care about what they do the underdog, or in this case, the underchicken … So, if KFC wants to take our money and use it to pay for sloppy practices that hurt animals—I say we send them a message that this is not going to happen. I’m calling on people to boycott KFC until they adopt animal welfare systems recommended by PETA and until they stop the worst abuses of the birds they raise for their restaurants.”
Rev. Sharpton isn’t the first civil rights leader to endorse PETA’s campaign. He joins comedian and activist Dick Gregory, former NAACP President Kweisi Mfume, scholars Derrick Bell and Cornel West, author Alice Walker, and hip-hop mogul Russell Simmons, as well as Pam Anderson, Sir Paul McCartney, the Dalai Lama, and others in condemning KFC’s cruelty to animals. Click here to add your name to the list and let KFC know that its cruel treatment of animals will not be tolerated.
Yeah, but so what? I'm not joining some boycott just because the PETA folks come up with some picture of a deranged, knife-wielding, blood-stained Colonel Sanders slaughtering a poor defenseless chick and come out with a list of high-profile supporters. My support is based on the serious and documented allegations of animal cruelty I found.
Chickens are probably the most abused animals on the planet. They have their sensitive beaks seared off with hot blades and are crammed into tiny cages with the decomposing remains of other birds. Hundreds of thousands are left to starve to death, and huge numbers die as a result of long journeys in extreme weather conditions. Basically, any and all abuse is allowable when it comes to chickens, who are, in fact, remarkable animals with distinct personalities and intelligence that, if allowed to develop, is as advanced as that of cats and dogs. Most importantly, they feel pain, just as we do.
That's enough for me, but there's more. According to PETA, KFC’s present method of killing chickens involves snapping their legs into metal shackles and cutting their throats open, often while they are still conscious; KFC suppliers scald millions of fully conscious chickens to death every year; pick up chickens by their broken or crippled legs, four or five birds in each hand, and slam them into transport crates; and breed and drug them to grow so quickly that their legs break and their organs fail.
How anyone can watch the video, listen to the facts, and still buy chicken from KFC is beyond me.
10 comments:
People think I'm crazy for raising chickens in my backyard, but what they do to get the eggs is just as bad as everything you've seen in regards to KFC.
Nate, if ever you decide to play nice again, I'll give you a dozen eggs!
Hi Nate, et al.
The use of domesticated animals as an abused food source has long been a favorite cause of mine. Not because I prefer animals to people in my sentiments (of which I am often accused), but because things don't happen in a vacuum; when it happens to "the least of these" it happens to thee and me. In this instance, African Americans are absolutely targeted consumers since the concept of "fast food" still carries with it the idea that it is also cheaper. This is a great con: it's gotten progressively more expensive since the first golden arches appeared in my west side neighborhood more than 40 years ago. At that time, less women were working and the idea that anyone would eat out regularly was considered completely wasteful - and this was before anyone even knew the health risks. (Put that KFC money back in your pocket and rent the great movie Super Size Me).
Finally, one mnore cliche. "Living well is the best revenge". Eat well, live long, have healthy children and get what you want from life.
Carry on Rev. Al!
Cheers!
Bravo for you Nate! I agree with the posters above that the things that are done to animals to get our food is a disgrace and something I don't want any part of. I think that if more people knew the facts more people would 'opt out' of KFC and their many partners in crime. Kudos to you and the civil rights leaders you cite for bringing the facts to a community that might not otherwise hear this stuff!
My ex-wife used to say the same thing about insects. She would need to lull them off to sleep instead of giving them the heel of a well worn boot.
Did she have less information about the insects than PETA does about the chickens? I doubt it. In fact, I find this whole dialogue really stupid. If you don't want to eat things that had a brain before they got on your plate, go for it. But a healthy vegetarian diet is a luxury that very few people can afford. Rich folks can eat well on a vegan diet, but no one else can.
If you want to lull the chickens off to sleep before you slit their throats, that is a distinction without a difference.
To the last person to post ("Anonymous"): The price of a bag of dried beans is about 89 cents. Combined with rice, it's a whole protein with no fats to clog your arteries. That bag of beans can provide 18-20 portions.
It takes discipline, desire and time to change, not more money. Except to the extent that time IS money, of course. I sense resignation in your tone, and along with that a dog-eat-dog viewpoint. Hope not. Your intelligence is clear and we need your spirit as well.
Warmly,
"Also Anonymous" - but the same Anonymous to post further up. I guess I'd better get a name.......
OK, if you think an $.89 bag of beans is eating well then go for it. I had a neighbor who would come home from his second shift factory job every night and eat a big bowl of macaroni - no butter, no olive oil, nothing. He was happy as a clam just wolfing down that big bowl of macaroni. Maybe the 12 pack of Rolling Rock helped.
From Also Anonymous to Anonymous:
You have a very good sense of humor! Touche! substitute lots of garlic and olive oil for 11 of the Rolling Rocks and it's a whole new meal. OK, my last post, so nate and friends can get on to another serious topic.
Best regards,
AA
This topic was DOA. But that garlic and EEOV sound pretty good. I have a nephew and neice who are vegan and my son lived in the vegan house at Brown for a while, so I get the picture; I just don't subscribe to it. Sorry. Good luck with the crusade!
this is the first time I've commented on this..
I just wanted to say that many plant-based foodstuffs other than beans and macaroni are priced very reasonably. It is possible to eat very well on a vegan diet and on a budget. Of course, it helps to shop at Findlay Market, and to have the right recipes.
If you did only eat prepackaged vegan meals and faux meats though, then it would be very expensive.
Agreed, If you don't have the money to buy a vegan diet, then grow one. Seeds of tomatoes, cucumbers, onions and beans are all about 79 cents at your local Wal-mart. The upkeep is extremely easy and could be a new hobby other then arguing online. Even with a small yard, It is extremely easy to find a 3ft by 3ft spot to grow your new meals.
Post a Comment