Glenn

            In Constructing Consumables and Consent, Glenn analyzes the culture and word usage of non-human animals. She makes the argument that the factoring farming industry uses tactics to guise the horrors of the industry. The separation from consumers and their animal based products allows for purposeful ignorance and the industry to imply a mask of humane treatment. In the minds of the uneducated American farms are grassy, beautiful images that have low population density of animals, while in reality, most of the meat Americans consume comes from over-populated, inhumane mega-farms.

            Glenn advocates for the use of ‘non-human animals’ when referring to farm animals because humans have separated themselves from animals. In the minds of our culture animals have been place in a category subpar to humans. I consider animals to have similar capabilities as humans such as emotions and higher order thinking than they are granted. My feelings on this matter are based in personal experience with animals. I have seen a herd of deer morn a member that passed away and watched thought process when problem solving in certain situations, and many more instances. It is funny how we value some animals over others. We welcome dogs, cats, birds, and plenty of others into our homes but we consume the ruthlessly processed animals of the farm. Pigs are smarter than dogs and yet we are horrified at the idea of dogs being eaten in Northern China.

            I think this article proves an important point but I think some readers would not agree with Glenn based on their lack of knowledge in the factory farm industry. The cruel treatment of the animals from which our society draws resources is a dark picture that is not fully painted in this article. This portrait of treatment is easily ignored and over looked by the majority of our society. I think there are major social issues that are in play here too. Our capitalist society values its members and saves the worst jobs for the least valued. Usually we imagine these members being trash men but that does not seem that bad when considering these members having to work in the slaughter and mistreatment of animals. The other victims of factory farming are the workers that have to systematically raise and kill animals. I think this would incredibly damaging to the human psyche.

            Glenn moves for the non-use of products associated with factory farming and I fully agree with her. There is a great difference between factory farming and the symbiotic relationship of the small farmer and their animals.