@all ...
Well, although you won't catch me dumping the family pooch into the cooking pot (even though sometimes I'm sorely tempted) people who are dead set against it should realize that they eat dog too. And so does their own pet dog or cat, basically turning them into cannibals. During the process of 'rendering' - which is converting protein unfit for human consumption into cattle and pet feed - euthanized dogs and cats are used as well. So ...
And I know about cultural differences, and how most city folk view cultural habits. We Frisians - as a cultural group genetically different from the average Dutch person, with our own language and culture - encounter much objections against the annual tradition of ljipaai sykjen which means finding the first egg of the Northern Lapwing or Peewit. This cultural phenomenon is now blamed for the drastic reduction of Northern Lapwings in this country, while in actual fact it has nothing or very little to do with it. People looking for these nests usually mark them so they can follow the progress and development of the chicks, as well as warn farmers.
However, soft-hearted and citified Dutch people have created such a storm around this Frisian cultural event - basically because they just don't understand the challenge and thrill of finding that year's first egg, and later caring for these nests - that Dutch law is trying to have it abolished. Us Frisians are flabbergasted, but hey, we're also considered to be the 'primitive numbnuts' of the nation. We poach, eat hare, goose, slaughter our own chickens, etc. Primitive and barbarian compared to the dandies buying their food all pre-wrapped and devoid of any sign of where it originally came from.
I grew up in South America (Surinam) and as my best friend was a Lokono indian, for years I spent several weeks each summer in his village, I've eaten stuff that would make most folk shudder. It seemed pretty natural to me then. For me, the most important distinction between human(e) and barbaric is the manner in which animals are treated. If I see somebody from Korea slowly strangeling a dog "because it enhances the flavor" my blood will start boiling. I also refuse to eat lobster and 'frog legs' because of the manner in which they are killed. I have my morals and values and will stick to them no matter what. Having said that, I don't flinch when chopping off a chicken's head or butchering a still-born calf. And if I hit a hare or partridge on the road, I'll first see if I can help it and save it. If not, and it's fit for consumption, it comes along to my kitchen. It's something city folk cannot or will not understand. The fine line and balance between taking care of nature and letting nature help take care of you.
Funniest thing ... most of the citified people accusing us of being barbarians are the same people who ensure that over 75% of cattle in The Netherlands never see the light of day (stuffed together is far more economical) and that chickens are flayed alive because the demand for chicken is so high that 'humane slaughter' has been moved to the back burner because it's too expensive.
LH
