Not only was I expecting country life to cure me of my hesitance to kill insects, I was also hoping it would cure me of that pansy feeling that animals have a right to live and not be slaughtered by arrogant humans who believe they can do whatever they want to anything that can't fight back or speak up for itself. I'm honestly not trying to get anyone's goat here; I'm simply pointing out a rather ignorant, superficial hope I had. And worse, that hope stemmed from the desire to eat what I want, when I want, despite who I might be eating.
Moving next door to an organic, free range cattle rancher seemed like the perfect way to learn to forget my woos. I've done everything I can to convince myself of the Meat Manifest Destiny doctrine. I've tried to "connect" with her cattle, but decided that they are too dumb to be capable of connecting because the smallest movement I made caused them to take off running in terror (unlike my majestic goats who play and run with me; hence, no one would consider eating. Except for, of course, the other half the world). I've spoken numerous times to the rancher who actually makes her living by raising cattle for slaughter. I've listened closely to what she has to say, and I really do admire her philosophy. It costs her more and earns her less to raise these animals in a humane way and I deeply respect her for that. It isn't easy to do what is right when doing what is wrong is so easy and pays 10 times more. For a while there, I thought it had worked. I bought her meat and grilled it with relative ease. And I'm not gonna lie - it was by far the best meat I've ever had.
But then the cattle car came.
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