Emperor1956
Posts: 2370
Joined: 11/7/2005
Status: offline
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The amount of misinformation you people will throw around is astounding. As someone who lives and works in the Chicago area, and has some actual connection to the ordinance (that means unlike all the forgoing posts, save MAYBE the OP, I've read it and the supporting/opposing material that was presented to the City Council) I note ONLY these 3 facts, and 2 opinions, and one mixed F/O:
Fact 1. The ordinance bans the sale of a defined product (which works out to domestically produced or imported "foie gras") by resturants in Chicago. It does not ban the purchase of it in retail establishments that are not resturants, the giving it away (which is going on) or the serving of it. The gaps in allowing stores to sell it and resturants to prepare it but not sell it are the subject of litigation as to "fairness".
Fact 2. Leather is a huge industry that exists apart from the meat industry. Animals are slaughtered only to obtain their leather all the time, and some leather bearing animals are kept in a restricted manner to preserve the skins from scars and marks. That would seem cruel too. Think about that the next time you go out and buy your leather fetish. If you tell yourself your leather goods are OK because the cow was dying anyway, you are justifying yourself.
Fact 3. No geese are used to make foie gras in the USA -- the entire domestic production is duck liver (I know this doesn't make it less cruel, but in fact domestic, bred for table ducks are used and not wild or domestic geese.) By the way, the two most common food duck breeds (the "Pekin" and the "Rouen") in the USA have been bred naturally (no genetic alteration than by breeding and no hormones) to put so much meat on their breasts at an early age that they effectively cannot fly past about age 6 mo. I suppose that is cruel, too?
One Opinion: I think there are far more important issues for the Chicago City Council to address and the health department to enforce (it is a resturant ordinance so enforcement is "code" not police). Oh, and I actually lean towards Iron Bear on this one, God help Me!
Another Opinion: I don't know that it is a cruel practice. The PETA photos are apparently quite old and doctored (according to well-respected witnesses) or at the minimum show the practice from the worst possible perspective (according to other witnesses). And no geese or ducks testified at the Council hearings. Yes, it looks cruel, and overall I agree that having foie gras is unnecessary. But so are cigars, good brandy and whipping someone until they cry....all of which are things that I love, and are subject to being banned in the wink of some overblown Alderman's eye.
Oh and one last fact: From USA TODAY, recently: And the FBI said in June that eco-terrorism — acts of violence, sabotage or property damage motivated by concern for animals or the environment — was the nation's top domestic terrorism threat. The bureau said then that eco-terrorists had committed more than 1,100 criminal acts and caused property damage estimated at least $110 million since 1976.
I'd be really careful of the company I keep.
E
_____________________________
"When you wake up, Pooh," said Piglet, "what's the first thing you say?"
"What's for breakfast? What do you say, Piglet?"
"I say, I wonder what's going to happen exciting today?"
Pooh nodded thoughtfully.
"It's the same thing," he said.
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RE: Chicago Bans Goose Liver - 
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