Banning Bacon

Imagine if you will a world with no bacon. For some people the mere thought of no bacon for breakfast sends them into a quasi-withdrawal state complete with shakes and delirium. For others, who have never had pig products, the thought is not so horrifying.

A (not complete) list of things made from pig:

• Bacon

• Ham
• Pork Roast
• Ribs
• Pork Chops
• Sausage
• Hot Dogs
• Heart valves
• Insulin
• Skin (for burn victims)
• Cellophane
• Floor waxes
• Insulation
• Matches
• Glue
• Plastic
• Antifreeze
• Pistons
• Rubber
• Wiper Fluid
• Buttons
• Fabric Dye
• Fertilizer
• Insecticide
• Weed Killers
• Artist brushes
• Chalk
• Crayons
• Dartboards
• Joysticks (game controller)
• Pool Balls
• Pig Ears/Hooves (dog chew toys)
• Lipstick
• Jello
• Suede

What about these “pig” items:

• Toy Farm Sets

• Jones Bacon Flavored Soda

• Piggy Banks

• Footballs

Famous Pigs in History:

• Miss Piggy

• “Babe” (pig Movie)

• Charlotte’s Web (Wilbur)

• Piglet

• Olivia

• Napoleon (Animal Farm)

• Three Little Pigs

And the lists go on and on. So let’s consider for a moment this article from the Daily UK: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1329897/Early-Learning-Centre-toy-pig-banned-farm-set-avoid-offending-Muslims.html

Basically, a few people, presumably from the religion of Islam, complained about the pig in the farm set. The store decided to remove all the pigs from any sets they sold so as not to offend “Muslims and Jews”.

So the lesson to be learned here is that pigs are bad – all pigs – for all people. The offense of a few is more important than the good as a whole.

I’m wondering when this lesson will transfer to other things such as fashion, housing, and other foods. For instance, I hate liver. And there are some religions that don’t believe that animal organs are acceptable to eat. So should all animal organs be considered banned? No chicken hearts or haggis or blood pudding?

What about books? Movies? Tattoos?

What about when someone finds cows or dogs offensive? Will I be required to get rid of my pet? Stop drinking milk? Give up my surf n turf? Destroy all service animals?

History would have to (once again) be revised to delete the “Pig War” and the “Bay of Pigs Invasion”.

When something is offensive to a group of people, whether for religious reasons or personal ‘taste’; is it necessary that the entire community (world, city, country) relinquish their rights and traditions for the beliefs of a few?

A few words of instruction: If you don’t want the pig, don’t buy the farm set. Or, toss the pig (and the oinker and trough) into the garbage. If you don’t believe in eating pork, then don’t go to the baseball game or the work BBQ. If pigs are unclean, then don’t live in a rural (farm) area. Shop in a halal or kosher store instead. Don’t read books or watch movies that might possibly include pigs.

But, while you’re avoiding all pig products, don’t get diabetes, have heart issues or get burned. Don’t drive cars, color with crayons, wear lipstick or watch re-runs of “The Muppet Show”. And for heaven’s sake, don’t use matches or buttons or wear shoes. Because you’ll be breaking your own ban.

http://www.michigan.gov/mda/0,1607,7-125-2961_2971-72781--,00.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pork

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_pigs