Nation of Hypocrites

I am as shocked as the next person when hearing about animal abuses. I'd like all of the cows and duckies to be petted by little blond five-year-olds and then mercifully shot between the eyes before we eat them. I really would.

But what's interesting about this story isn't the outrage over the possibility that a meat distributor had no problem feeding potentially diseased cows to school children. What's troubling is that this meat has been recalled and charges have been filed because of animal cruelty.

And yet, we can't determine if waterboarding a human is a crime.

Ah, you say, but waterboarding a terrorist could prevent a dirty bomb being exploded in the New York subway system. Arguably. But what cannot be disputed from this article is that a perception of being mean to cows stirs more moral outrage than the possible infection of school children. Should the meat have been recalled? Yes! But because it was not properly inspected, not because the cows weren't properly massaged before they were killed.

Our priorities are askew. We care more about the ethical, humane treatment of cattle than we do the ethical, humane treatment of people. And that sentiment includes our own children.

Where is the outrage at torture. Why is the federal government so slow to move on that, but quick to make sure Bessie gets a bedtime story? But the bigger question is, why do we let them?