I came across this article on cnn.com this morning:
http://globalpublicsquare.blogs.cnn.com/2011/06/30/whats-wrong-with-eating-dog-meat/?hpt=hp_c2
Just a disclaimer: yes, I am Korean. No, I do not eat dog, nor have I ever tried to, nor will I ever. My immediate family members have never tried it either. Like the article states, the notion that everyone in Korea eats it is false.
I love animals, especially dogs, so I could never think about eating it. But, for people to cause a huge stink and have this festival cancelled seems a bit harsh to me. Yes, in the United States it is absolutely barbaric to even think about eating dog. That is our notion here. Why go to other countries and enforce your own ideals on a preexisting culture? Well, I suppose that’s the American way, isn’t it?
Different countries and cultures have their own eating practices. When I went to Peru last year, I discovered it is a delicacy to eat cuy—barbequed guinea pigs. Yes, guinea pigs. Like the one you might have had in a little cage in your room when you were eight years old. They are barbequed whole, so you can see the shape of the animal and everything. Although they’re tiny, they are on the pricier side and similar to lechon in the Philippines, it is usually served at parties or special occasions.
I almost tried it, but they looked so similar to my bunnies I couldn’t bring myself to do it. Did it bother me that this is a delicacy in another country? No, why should it? It’s their culture. The cow is a sacred animal in India, but you don’t see their groups banging on our door and demanding a recall of all steaks and hamburgers here. As long as animals are raised in a humane, sterile, safe way for meat consumption, and they are not endangered, what’s the big stink?
![was looking on tumblr for a good picture of Korea, so I could whine about how much I miss the motherland, but all I found was a bunch of lame ass KPop and KDrama bullshit. then I remembered…… I have my own pictures!
this was taken at a buddhist temple across the street from our hotel. each lantern holds a wish. this is one of my favorite pictures, ever. it doesn’t do any justice to how beautiful the place was =]](http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lx7l6tASWC1qfp31bo1_500.jpg)
