By Mike Larson – So, the other day a friend dragged me into Whole Foods. (I like to call it Whole Paycheck). I normally do not go there; come on folks, 5 dollars for an apple?
So, while my friend was shopping I thought I would make a game out of trying to catch the attention of various grocery workers to see if I could make them notice me or at least give me a smile. (I hear they are notorious for snubbing customers).
So, I found three of them congregating in the produce section talking organics. You’d think that after filling up on all their fruit samples one of them would have asked if I needed something. In fact, it came to the point that I felt like they were going to ask me to leave for loitering. (But boy are those samples good or what!)
Then, I went over to the meat section. I picked up some bacon while mumbling about it and tried to get the meat man’s attention. I even stood right next to him to make eye contact while he was working, but he just over looked me like I was invisible. I wanted to tell him that they should carry bacon samples.
While I was standing there I started reading their color coded signs on how much they respected their meat. Huh? No kidding! They have this animal rating system that rates how the cows and pigs are humanely treated. Each color states a certain degree of attention they give their animals.
Now, I could totally understand this if it was the SPCA or Greenpeace but people, we eat these animals! Does the cow and pig executioner tell them that he is very, very sorry that he has to do this to them and that they are greatly respected and honored to give their life for my BBQ? Come on!! Who wants to buy ribs and bacon after reading this? I do. I eat them. I don’t want to feel like I have had any prior relationship with my meat. I don’t believe respecting my meat makes it taste any better. Why do they treat us meat eaters as if it’s we commit a crime every time we buy a steak? This to me is where the organics movement has gone too far. It must be run by crazy vegans.
Yes, Whole Paycheck carries healthy organic food stuff, highly prized right now in our health conscience America. But do I want to feel guilty for eating meat? No! Am I so co-dependent that I need the approval and the smile of the grocery clerk? Yes, I do! Respectfully yours…..
