My father's girlfriend is pagan, wiccan specifically. People call her "goddess" or "mother" or some variation of the two on a regular basis. Most of the time she comes off as fairly zen and cool headed. We were having lunch today at Golden Corral when chicken was mentioned and I proclaimed that chicken have it the worst off in terms of factory farming conditions. She surprised me by matter-of-factly stating that she didn't care what happened to chickens because they are "awful animals".
I didn't really know what to say to that. How do you respond to someone who knows they are saying something so generalized, so thoughtless, with such disregard for life? If we supplemented chicken with jews in this scenario...well, you can see what I am getting at. It was bizarre coming from someone who is supposedly so "one-with-the-earth". It doesn't affect my day-to-day interactions with her, but it is one of those seedlings that establishes itself and stays with you, mingling with the others that have bloomed from significant moment when you learn something new and unexpected from a person.
Then there was the sad moment when I overheard my friend saying that for her two year old's birthday she would be getting her and her older brother (three and a half) McDonalds. I argued a bit about this with Sandra last week. She said she would give her theoretical kids fast food because if she didn't they would be tempted by it later on a over-do it. I think that sounds fairly illogical so I totally called her on it by saying something to the effect of "oh, yeah they are going to go on a junk food binge...come on". I don't think that made her happy, but it also did not seem to penetrate the illogical reasonings she has created that would allow her to feed her theoretical kids crap for crap's sake. Nevermind it is exactly what the fast food industry wants you to do. Start them early and keep them hooked. Sounds like some other addictive product markets...
I didn't really know what to say to that. How do you respond to someone who knows they are saying something so generalized, so thoughtless, with such disregard for life? If we supplemented chicken with jews in this scenario...well, you can see what I am getting at. It was bizarre coming from someone who is supposedly so "one-with-the-earth". It doesn't affect my day-to-day interactions with her, but it is one of those seedlings that establishes itself and stays with you, mingling with the others that have bloomed from significant moment when you learn something new and unexpected from a person.
Then there was the sad moment when I overheard my friend saying that for her two year old's birthday she would be getting her and her older brother (three and a half) McDonalds. I argued a bit about this with Sandra last week. She said she would give her theoretical kids fast food because if she didn't they would be tempted by it later on a over-do it. I think that sounds fairly illogical so I totally called her on it by saying something to the effect of "oh, yeah they are going to go on a junk food binge...come on". I don't think that made her happy, but it also did not seem to penetrate the illogical reasonings she has created that would allow her to feed her theoretical kids crap for crap's sake. Nevermind it is exactly what the fast food industry wants you to do. Start them early and keep them hooked. Sounds like some other addictive product markets...
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