I had known from an early age where meat came from and
the horrific way it made it to our tables, but I found excuses for
eating it as most people do. Ten years ago, my ways of thinking were
changed.
It was through only one short experience that I found my
way, my reason, and my soul. In all honesty, it was all due to one bull
that I saw for only moments. Those moments will no doubt be remembered
all my life since they have already lasted so clearly for all these
years.
It was August of 1990 and the heat was unbearable. I
pulled into McDonald's for a burger and some much needed Coke. I was in
a hurry and had to eat and drive. Just 1 mile away, hidden and out of
sight was a slaughterhouse. The only clue to it's existence was all the
cattle trucks. And because of them, the intersections were always
blocked and miserably long. To get to the slaughterhouse, the trucks had
to take a left turn at the stoplight. I was going straight at this same
stoplight. A cattle truck pulled up right next to me in the turning
lane. I could have reached out my window and touched the truck it was so
close.
I looked over at it and through almost every available
hole there was a nose sticking out. They struggled to get fresh air and
by the looks of it, each stale, hot breath burned. One hole toward the
back of the truck had a hoof stuck out of it and the poor thing most
certainly had been trampled since the truck was so packed. I glanced
back up toward the front and a bull pulled his nose from the hole and
put his eye there. His black eye stared out at me in my air conditioned
car. Through his eye, I could see his soul........ the very same soul
that most people say he doesn't possess. He had a cut just above his eye
that was trickling beside his eye and down his face. I had never
actually looked into the eyes of bull with the intent to understand.
His eyes reflected such terror, hopelessness and pain
that it put a chill up spine. He couldn't move, couldn't breath fresh
air, bleeding from the face and knowing he was going to die. I have no
doubt that he knew. I wanted to jump from my car and rescue him, but
that wasn't possible. I had even thought about following and attempting
to rescue him there at the slaughterhouse. The truck began to pull away
with a jerk and I never saw him again except in memory.
Still waiting at the intersection I looked at the big
Mac resting on my lap. I got a whole new prospective in that second.
Simply put, it just wasn't worth it. I didn't finish my burger needless
to say. All these years, I had been taking lives for granted and not
seeing the living breathing animal that was reduced to such a simple
meal. I can only hope that his death came relatively quick and painless.
That the "humane Slaughter Law" was upheld and he died while
unconscious. Nothing good came from his death, but he didn't go
unnoticed amongst the masses.
Unfortunately, it took his unjustifiable terror, agony
and death to teach me to care for ALL living beings. He opened my eyes
to the suffering when it was so much easier to keep them closed, and
with that, he has changed my life. I can see now that every morsel of
meat comes with a price far beyond money and every morsel casts the
shadow of what it once was. I dedicate this to that bull and all those
in the same situation that have suffered so much by the hands of man.
Those animals born to a world that lacks compassion and mercy. He died
10 years ago, but I will never forget what he has done for me and I am
indebted to him for all those years ago when he made me who I am today.
Go on to
The Witness
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