Should Coral Reef High Stop Auctioning Their Pet Pig Bacon?

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Coral Reef Senior High School's Future Farmers of America Club is facing backlash for raising a pig named "Bacon" intended for auction at the Miami-Dade County Fair, with proceeds meant for school funding. Students who became attached to the pig are advocating for her rescue, prompting PETA's involvement. Critics argue that teaching students to raise animals only to sell them for slaughter desensitizes them to animal suffering and misrepresents farming realities. Supporters of the students emphasize the importance of compassion and character development, suggesting that allowing "Bacon" to live in a sanctuary would honor the students' emotional investment. The auction is scheduled for March 20, and advocates are urging the school administration to reconsider their practices. In a positive turn, the students successfully raised enough funds to save "Bacon," who has since been relocated to a sanctuary, along with other animals. This incident has sparked discussions about animal rights and potential policy changes in school fundraising practices.
  • #31
Originally posted by Dissident Dan
Does it really matter? They saw something despicable happening, and they put an end to it.

Yes it does.
I think it matters if they claim that they did not know what was going to happen and play the "affected little innocent victims" to gain sympathy support.

Also, Be Happy said that some of the students have sworn off eating animal flesh.
That's fine for them, and let them speak out against what they personally believe in.
I wonder, however, how many of these students are hypocrites that had bacon and eggs for breakfast this morning.
Like someone said earlier, I think that knowing that pork products not manufactured, and is actually slaughtered animals raised to be such is good for them.

You think this is despicable?
I am guessing, then, that you are a vegan?


Originally posted by physicsisphirst
btw, i am curious about your comment earlier about being fruitarian. provided you were not simply being facetious, why would you choose that over being vegetarian?
I was not.
The choice would have nothing at all to do with it being right or wrong to kill animals for food.
It would have to do with a few things...

Industrialized farming. I strongly believe that if you could not kill something then you should not eat it. Ideally, if you DID not kill it you should not eat it. It comes from a cross between Buddhist ideals of non-interference with the natural flow and course of nature and the fact that I am disgusted not that animals are killed for food, rather how they are treated when they are alive.

Animals ARE food. Whether or not anyone likes it they are. If not for you, for others, if not for humans, for other animals. I try and keep my beliefs and morals in line with nature and the animal kingdom as far as I can see it.
According to that, there is nothing wrong with wild animals being food, and no one should be judged for that.
Industrialized farming and slaughtering of animals so that people can have a more convenient lifestyle and asuage their guilt by buying a steak rather than killing a cow, however, I am against.

There is also the concept of preservation and conservation of natural resources. I think man is already far too involved with removing himself from nature. The arrogance of man's ego makes him think he knows better than nature and can control it without any consequences. This is a whole different thread, and rather than hijacking this thread, you can take a look at what I said HERE.

There is more to it than that, but that alone is enough, in my opinion.
I know that eating pork products makes me a hypocrite, and I can live with that. Because I recognize it, and because I aspire to change it.
I think most (if not all) people are hypocrites, I don't hold that against them.
Those that are ignorant of their own hypocracy bother me, and I do my best to open their eyes.
Those that are aware of their own hypocracy and still wield it as a weapon against others (people in leather shoes condemning people for not being vegetarians... Christians that don't follow their own religion, yet use those same rules they break against others... just as two, of MANY prime examples) make me sick.
 
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  • #32
If we are to eat meat, isn't it most humane to treat the animal as best possible while it is alive? The Native Americans, upon killing game, would sacrifice part of their catch to the appropriate god, acknowledging the sanctity of what they were to eat.
 
  • #33
Originally posted by one_raven
I was not.
The choice would have nothing at all to do with it being right or wrong to kill animals for food.
It would have to do with a few things...
I still don't see why fruitarian rather than vegetarian. I think both are great choices, but I do not understand your rationale.

Originally posted by one_raven

I know that eating pork products makes me a hypocrite
Not necessarily. People sometimes take a little time to get from one place to the next.


Originally posted by one_raven

Those that are aware of their own hypocracy and still wield it as a weapon against others (people in leather shoes condemning people for not being vegetarians...
This doesn't follow necessarily. People are veg for various reasons. If your main concern is say health, then you won't necessarily have anything against wearing leather. These people are not being hypocritical by wanting others to be vegetarian - perhaps they simply want others to live a healthier lifestyle rather than adopting a healthier fashion style.

Other than that, I cortainly agree with most of what you have said and will look at your other post more carefully later.
 
  • #34
Bacon goes on the block at 7pm EST tonight.

Pig lover wants to bring home Bacon

A School Board member plans to bid on a pig headed for auction, and may derail an agribusiness program by moving to bar other schools from raising animals for slaughter.

With a picture of his dearly departed pet pig in his suitcoat pocket, Miami-Dade County School Board member Frank Cobo on Wednesday promised to try to buy a 200-pound pig being sold this weekend by a Southwest Miami-Dade high-school club.

http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/living/education/8213942.htm
 
  • #35
Originally posted by Michael D. Sewell
Then perhaps they are "control freaks".

that doesn't follow either. you might as well conclude that anyone who suggests others do something another way, and that would include the entire education system, the legal system, all advertizing, parenthood and much more, are 'control freaking'.

if people want others to be a different way and provide valid rationale for doing so, it doesn't make them control freaks. it might be interesting, on the other hand to investigate why some people think of them as being 'control freaks'.

in friendship,
prad
 
  • #36
Originally posted by Evo
Bacon goes on the block at 7pm EST tonight.

http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/living/education/8213942.htm

thanks for the link evo!
i wonder if sangeeta has any more info?

in friendship,
prad
 
  • #37
It's the Guvnah on the phone! ...he'll have his eggs over-easy.
 
  • #38
Originally posted by Michael D. Sewell

4.) I hope I have done some good here. You are a control freak. Help is available, it will prevent further damage to your personal relationships with your friends and family. Best wishes and good luck with your recovery.
Your friend,
Mike

Mike, do you happen to see how hypocritical this is?
 
  • #39


Originally posted by Evo
I disagree. If they went into this uncaring, I think it's wonderful that they learned to feel compassion for this poor animal.


I really like what you said here. It is beautiful and captures the essence of what is happening in this situation.

Ranjana
 
  • #40
Originally posted by Michael D. Sewell
What would you hope to uncover during your investigation?

i didn't realize that the investigation was launched, but it would seem you have already initiated it

however, what it shows so far is

1) the quoting of phrases (regardless of context) i have written simply because they have words like 'wanting', 'should', 'suggest', 'worthy' as evidence to presumably implicate me as a 'control freak'

2) that you will indeed conclude 'anything you want to' (at least on this thread) regardless of whether there is any justification.

3) that you don't care what i want you 'to be, do, think, or eat'

4) that you evidently don't realize that i really don't care what you 'are, do, think, or eat'

5) that despite my insensitivity towards you as indicated in 4), you still wish to 'prevent further damage to my personal relationships with my friends and family.'


you seem determined to turn this discussion into a vegetarian issue, instead of what it really is, which is a group of kids trying to save a pig they have grown fond of. at the very least, you seem determined to defend the rights of carrots! if you really want to discuss the ethics of eating meat, there is a thread in the general philosophy forum where it would be more appropriate, imho.

be that as it may, i still think it would be interesting to look at what makes some people conclude that others are control freaks. people tell each other what to do all the time - at which point do the words 'control freak' enter the picture?
 
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  • #41
Yes, my son, once humans would own others because of their skin color. But then we took a real look at ourselves.
 
  • #42
Yesterday I went to a children's farm and pet a pig, among other animals. It's like Alice (in Wonderland), upon introduction to her bowl of soup, being told cordiality would not allow her to sup it hence.

Any news on (Franks) Bacon?
 
  • #43
First Day of Spring turns Bacon into DAISY!

Here's the update:

After a rather difficult struggle, Bacon (newly named Daisy) has been saved! Daisy is splashing in the pool with sunscreen, and playing in the mud, on a sanctuary in Florida!

The students at Coral Reef High School raised enough money to save her Saturday night at the auction. While there, they found other students who were crying not wanting to send their animals to their death. These students begged the CRHS students to save their animals as well….when the truck departed the next morning, Daisy left with "Petunia" and "Tulip" (two other pigs) and a lamb named "Mary".

The auction participants were very rude to the kind kids…calling them names and putting down their efforts. Despite being laughed at by adults and their peers, these courageous students saved their beloved pig and a few other friends through their tireless fundraising efforts.

This week the students are in the process of starting an animal rights club on campus, and educators are currently in the process of drafting school board policy today, to be introduced at the next school board meeting to end this practice in schools. This isn't a story of one pig being saved with thousands of dollars…it's the beginning of local empowerment in the process for policy change.

Here are their happy freedom pictures! http://www.towardsfreedom.com/veggiechess/crhs.html
 
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  • #44
Thanks for the update Sangeeta! Wonderful news! I'm glad to see something good may be coming out of this.
 
  • #45
"Some animals are more brave than others."
 
  • #46
I'm glad to see something good may be coming out of this.

But does it outweigh the bad that may be coming out of this?
 
  • #47
Originally posted by Michael D. Sewell
For the purpose of this discussion, that point is located where my lips and a pork chop intersect.
Your friend,
Mike

i assume from the above that you do not want to continue the discussion any further. if that is not the case, let me know.
 
  • #48
Originally posted by Hurkyl
But does it outweigh the bad that may be coming out of this?

what bad may come as a result of this?

and should the potential 'outweighing' determine whether a course of action is taken or not?