Eat More Dogs, Cambodians Urged

[JPace]

http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=oddlyEnoughNews&storyID=3427662

Well if this isn't sick......
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

PHNOM PENH (Reuters) - Cambodians are being urged to eat more dogs as part of a crackdown on stray mutts wandering around the capital of the southeast Asian nation.
Although dogs, along with creepy-crawlies such as spiders, beetles and crickets, are found regularly on menus in deeply impoverished rural areas, eating them is frowned upon in the relative sophistication of Phnom Penh.

City governor Kep Chuktema says it is now time to draw up a special pooch policy to control the growing problem of pavement-fouling strays, and for city-dwellers to throw off their traditional snootiness toward dining on man's best friend.

"Come on, dog meat is so delicious," he was quoted as saying in Thursday's Cambodia Daily newspaper. "The Vietnamese and Koreans love to eat dog meat."

"(Cambodians) don't have wine, but poor people can enjoy their dog meat with palm juice wine," he said.

Hitherto, Phnom Penh dog lovers have had to keep their tastes under wraps by asking for 'special' or 'jogging cow' meat in restaurants.

[soupkitchen]

1. Well now there's a reason for going to war

[Parche]

2. Dogs of war

We should send Karl Rover over to Cambodia!!!
That would be pretty RUFF!!!!

[Brian Sweat]

3. It was bad enough when they were wacking babies' heads against trees,

but now they've gone too far.

[NekoChris]

4. Awww... poor doggies..

..but seriously, it's just another animal. I mean if they're hungry, there's too many dogs, it just makes sense.

It's the same thing as eating a cow. He's an animal. Out there. Running around minding his own business when THUNK. Oops, yer dead Mr. Cow. But yer also MIGHTY TASTY AR NUM NUM NUM.

Some people cry for Mr. Cow and say 'Stop the madness ;_; eat moore chikin', but most people shrug and eat Mr. Cow.

But then we if eye Mr. Dog or Ms. Cat OOOH NELLY people get their panties in a bunch. Why? Because they're domesticated? So are cows. You don't see the WILD COWS OF AFRICA as hundreds of dairy cows stampede majestically.

Cows and Dogs aren't exactly endangered.

People also eat rabbit, duck, squirrel, possum, deer.

We eat fish, shrimp, lobster, dolph--- I MEAN TUNA.

So why not dogs? As long as they're not RIDDLED WITH DISEASE. MMM. MAD DOG BURGER.

Some people eat insects too.

SOME PEOPLE EAT OTHER PEOPLE.

If they can't afford better food, it's better than starving to death.

So enjoy yourself a Rover a la Orange, or Rack of Fido.

It's either that or you eat your own leg, sometimes.

My only concern would be that the animals are treated gently and humanely before they meet their untimely demise.

Now if they start going through the street with the DOGMOWER that's just a set of wheels with knives and scissors on it, yeah, there's a serious problem there. Also: I want one.

[ant]

6. humans taste like chicken

Or so I've heard... :9

[Spider Jerusalem]

24. Pork, actually...

hence certain groups of cannibals referring to human flesh as "long pig"...there's a new slogan for the pork industry: "Pork. All the taste of cannibalism, with none of the guilt." Hehe.

[JPace]

8. "So why not dogs?"

Intellect tells me you are correct,
but my canine loving heart says....

Stay away from my pup!

[Mairead]

31. "So why not dogs?"

Ethics. For thousands of years, dogs and cats have had a special relationship with humans: partnership, not prey. Killing and eating them betrays that relationship, and that is unethical as hell.

[Spider Jerusalem]

45. Your argument is invalid...

because this "special relationship" between humans and dogs and cats you speak of is something to be found in Western culture. NOT Eastern. So save your indignation. Unless you happen to think everyone on the planet, regardless of their cultural heritage and mores, should conform to YOUR idea of ethical behaviour...(which is just arrogance, really...)

[Mairead]

51. Check your facts

Because you clearly don't know what you're talking about. You're presuming that today's conditions among some Asian subcultures represent historical norms. They don't.

[ant]

5. it's not sick

Unless you're a level 5 vegan or something. It's a cultural thing. We hunt/eat deer when the population gets out of control - what's the difference except that we've been socialized to see dogs as pets rather than food?

Think I'll have steak for dinner...

[uptohere]

7. yes it is sick

dogs good, cats useless. eat cats !

[Brian Sweat]

12. mmmmmmm, Tabby

Don't tell Catwoman I said that. :)

BTW, while it is not unusual in some Asian countries to eat dog, cat is considered a delicacy.

[uptohere]

46. I know ! that only makes it worse !!!

its because they won't rouse their silly asses for anything, very tender. Dogs will play for days on end, tough !

Its just senseless !

[NekoChris]

9. *SPITS LAUGHING*

Level 5 Vegan! HA HA HA HA! I'd love to see the level progression bonuses and skills for that.

[rucky]

10. We euthanize pets...

...at the rate of 6-8 million (dogs and cats) per year. And that's despite all the spay/neuter programs that I'm guessin' do not exist in Cambodia.

Just a little factiod i thought i'd throw out there.

What they SHOULD do is play reruns of The Price Is Right on cambodian TV...

[NekoChris]

15. EVERYONE

should have reruns of Price is Right.

Bob Barker is GOD I tell you. Or Zeus.

He came down from the heavens to give us CASH AND PRIZES.

[sybylla]

20. We euthanize 6-8 mil dogs and cats - think of all the

hungry people we could feed! I know, we could send the bodies to butchers and give it out to the poor through food pantries. Think of all the problems we could solve.

[Blue_Chill]

11. That's just disgusting

and spare me the level 5 vegan crap. Dogs are domestic animals that have had all wild taken out of them. Killing and eating them is like killing and eating a retarded human in your care. Sure they aren't as smart as you but they trust you and can't live without you.

OK so mabye I need to put down the Peter Singer but still EEEWWWWW!

[DrWeird]

13. Cows are domestic animals

that have all the wild taken out of them. They're not as smart as you but they trust you and can't live without you. And besides, they're sacred.

[Blue_Chill]

17. Then don't eat cows

what you buggin me about it for.

[Brian Sweat]

14. Cows are domesticated too

and I'll bite the hell out of a steak. I would never eat dog (at least not knowingly), but I am not going to castigate people of other cultures for doing it with a mouth full of ribeye.

[Blue_Chill]

16. Yeah but cows aren't dogs

so there

[Brian Sweat]

18. I see you took biology in high school.

Very good.

[Blue_Chill]

26. What is this biology you speak of?

...

[Blitz]

19. Yeah, but dogs are so much tastier than cows

Especially poodles ... they taste like cheesecake!

As for cats, they're too scrawny (I'm trying to fatten my kittens up but it's a slow process and hardly seems worth the trouble and expense) ... and a little gamey, like rabbits.

[Blue_Chill]

27. Everyone knows cats are tastier

mmmmmm pussy.

[sybylla]

41. LOL

BC, you are a bad boy! :spank:

[sybylla]

21. Many Native American tribes ate dog and humans as a regular

part of their diet. I'm sure when you're hungry, anything can start looking pretty tasty.

[Brian Sweat]

22. Many Native Americans were cannibals?

Can you cite?

[sybylla]

25. Yep - give me a minute and you shall be rewarded

with an Edit citing cannibalism in Native American tribes. I should clarify, however, that while it is fair to say many ate dogs, it is fairer to say some ate humans. I was sloppy and apologize for my mistatements.

On edit: here it is. I am only posting one source to save space, though there are many out there which can be found with little trouble, including the renowned history of this continent by Francis Parkman, which also cites many of the same sources of the following book.

The Indian Tribes of the Upper Mississippi Valley and Region of the Great Lakes by Emma Helen Blair

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0803260997/qid%3D1063324137/sr%3D11-1/ref%3Dsr%5F11%5F1/104-4750131-9996715

Blair's book is a history which relies and is corroborated by several personal accounts from the early centuries of French explorers/traders and an American indian agent and cites over 19 specific instances of cannibalism between and within tribes. Some are occasional occurences during hard times and others describe several tribes as having no compunction against eating their enemies, european or native, conquered in battle or captured as trespassers. Specific nations/tribes/bands mentioned include the Seneca, Hurons, Ottawas, Fox Sauk, Ho Chunk (aka Winnebago) and Sioux. The Ho Chunk were at one time known as a very fierce and violent society which, at a distant point in their history, had a reputation far and wide for attacking and cannibalizing their neighbors.


An excerpt from section I, page 371, footnote

"Cannibalism...has been practiced in one form or another among probably all peoples at some period of their tribal life; and we have historical records of its occurrence among many tribes north of Mexico - whether as a matter of ceremony, of hunger, or even of taste. Among tribes who thus practiced it were: the Algonkin, Iroquois, Assiniboin, Cree, Foxes, Miami, Ottawa, Chippewa, Illinois, Kickapoo, Sioux and Winnebago; the Mohawk and some of the southern tribes were known to their neighbors as 'man-eaters.' Cannibalism was sometimes accidental, from necessity as a result of famine; 'the second and prevalent from of cannibalism was a part of the war custom and was based principally on the belief that bravery and other desirable qualities of an enemy would pass, through actual ingestion of a part of his body, into that of the consumer. Such qualities were supposed to have their special seat in the heart, hence this organ was chiefly sought;' it usually belonged to the warriors. 'The idea of eating any other human being than a brave enemy was to most Indians repulsive...Among the Iroquois, according to one of the Jesuit fathers, the eating of captives was considered a religious duty.'"

[Blue_Chill]

28. Whats the big deal?

It's their culture who are you to judge them.

[Brian Sweat]

29. I wasn't judge them.

I just wanted proof.

[Blue_Chill]

42. I wasn't judge them?

Are you making fun of native americans? incredible.....

[DrWeird]

30. Many europeans were cannibals too.

Particulary the scottish. Can't cite. But it's true.

[Mairead]

34. The reason you 'can't cite' is that it's rubbish.

There's no part of Scotland's history that includes cannibalism. Perhaps ritual cannibalism during prehistoric times, but not during the last 2000 years or so.

[DrWeird]

36. I'm sorry, did I say in the last two thousand years?

Because I don't remember saying that.

Anywho, I think there are roman documents that describe the picts as cannabils. And I can't cite because I'm not at home.

[Mairead]

52. 2000 years represents the historical record.

The Romans made claims about their foes, but that was propaganda. There is no credible evidence.

[scarlet_owl]

50. Google "sawney beane"

Scottish cannibals. Pretty interesting stuff.

[Mairead]

33. Agreed -- 'disgusting' is just the right word

You and I rarely agree, BC, but we're totally on the same side on this one.

Cats and dogs are the only non-human animals that live voluntarily with human beings. For thousands of years their relationship to us has been one of partnership, not prey. To kill and eat them totally betrays that relationship and the trust in us that's almost part of their genetic makeup now.

[Spider Jerusalem]

39. Tell that to the Asians, then.

In many parts of Asia, cats and dogs are eaten quite regularly. Simply another source of meat. And these dogs AREN'T living with human beings...they're apparently running wild in packs. Disgust is a culturally conditioned reflex, nothing more.

[Blue_Chill]

43. Ok hand me the phone!

Hello Asians. Listen here youare to stop eating your pets NOW! NOW DAMNIT NOW!

[Character Assassin]

40. Ah, is this the same DNA that provides for dogs gone feral?

To kill and eat them totally betrays that relationship and the trust in us that's almost part of their genetic makeup now.

Please. No, it betrays nothing.

[Blue_Chill]

44. Dogs gone feral?

Dogs don't live long lives when feral. Don't test me on this issue or I will bring the full power of my humane society membership down upon you!

Seriously though feral dogs depend on humans to survive. Most dogs can still hunt but often know not what to do with their catch. Wild animals are taught by their parents how to properly remove feather and such while pets do not know such things and are just as likely to kill themselves by eating stuff not made for their little doggie tummies.

[Pert_UK]

48. I'm afraid your argument doesn't work......

Dogs are only as human-dependent as any farmed animal, and about the same intellect as pigs.

How do you draw the line about how stupid an animal has to be before you can eat it? And anyway, isn't that immoral - it's not the animal's fault that it was born so unintelligent? And you're right, if you're going to start eating animals based on how intelligent they are, then you have to concede that it's perfectly OK to eat severely retarded people........Which nobody wants to accept (I take it?)...

So.......IMHO the only moral positions are 1) eating meat is wrong and I won't do it, 2) eating meat is wrong but I do it anyway or 3) there's nothing wrong with eating meat.

It's utterly immoral to decide that dogs are a special case IMHO.

[veganwitch]

23. fyi

http://www.pangeaveg.com/cgi-bin/miva?Merchant2/merchant.mv+Screen=PROD&Store_Code=Pangea&Product_Code=280-M&Category_Code=blunt

[Tom Yossarian Joad]

32. LOL... My dog is hiding in the corner now.

You need to put a disclaimer up on photos like that....

Come on, Blue. Let's get you back to the doggie shrink.




Feel safe.
Ashcroft watches over us all.

[baldguy]

35. Hot Dog!

[JPace]

37. "Hot Dog!"

Oh that is sooooo low!

(but it's funny)
LOL

[meow2u3]

38. fed2dneck to Cambodian dogs

DON'T END UP ON CAMBODIANS' DINNER TABLE! EAT THEM BEFORE THEY CAN EAT YOU! HMMM....taste like chicken!

[Pert_UK]

47. I have no problems with this.....

They have a dog problem. They are an incredibly poor nation.

Unless, as pointed out above, you are a hard-core vegetarian then IMHO you have no right to complain about this (or at least no sound argument that I can think of).

For me, meat eating is an all-or-nothing thing. I can't stand people who operate a "I couldn't eat anything cute" mentality. That's less moral than just eating meat.

Now I CAN see a point about not eating intelligent animals, but then you just get into problems.....where do you draw the line?

Pigs are as intelligent as dogs.......Horses are pretty intelligent and many cultures eat them.....Cows aren't THAT stupid.....Sheep are pretty thick..............What about retarded people, if you can only eat "unintelligent" animals?

OK, I'm being facetious, but to be honest I can't see any coherent moral argument here...

One of my old philosophy lecturers used to explain why he ate meat...

"It's because I'm a bastard" he'd say......If you eat meat then you have to concede that you're taking the life of a sentient animal and live with that. It's either all wrong and you reject it, all wrong and you conveniently overlook it, or all fine and dandy and you can tuck in without guilt.

[JPace]

49. A question to the GD moderator.....

Not that I mind having the topic moved to
the DU but in the article above it talks
about a governor asking the people to
eat dogs......now is that not a political
topic?

"City governor Kep Chuktema says it is now time to draw up a special pooch policy to control the growing problem of pavement-fouling strays, and for city-dwellers to throw off their traditional snootiness toward dining on man's best friend."