e-Claire

The Machine Is Gearing Up

"Sonoma has become synonymous with animal cruelty "

Ahhh. Shaming the populace. Useful tactic: aimed at involving those who, otherwise, wouldn't even notice.

"I urge you to support an ordinance banning the sale of foie gras in the town of Sonoma. Doing so would restore Sonoma's image as well as promote the humane treatment of animals in our society."[from a petition to be presented at tonight's Sonoma City Council meeting, 7 pm, 177 1st Street West] [emph. mine, C.]

It will "restore Sonoma's image" -- as a town that bows to the loonie toons and sways to the siren song of shifted shame. Much like Sebastopol. And most of Moron Country Marin County.

Laurent Manrique, the executive chef at Aqua in San Francisco, [whose new Sonoma restaurant was vandalized in August, said] "It is unusual because we are serving what the customer demands. I'm not imposing on my customer what they are going to eat -- I cook what they request."

It might be noted here that Sonoma is home to The Sonoma Mission Inn & Spa which attracts a fairly, shall we say, upscale and sophisticated clientele from all over the world, not just Hollywood types with too much $$ and too little sense. For instance, the recipe which is currently featured on their website is Cured Pacific Salmon with Caviar Relish [American, salmon, and tobiko] and Crisp Bagel Chips served on a bed of endive, fennel and baby frissee. I doubt most of these "activists" could pronounce it much less prepare it. But that is neither here nor there. The point is that the clientele of this hotel, and many like it, are a significant part of the area's economic base. The woman circulating and presenting this petition, Susan Corso, makes her living selling what some of her little friends might call murdered fish, deep fried, in a town approximately 20 miles away from Sonoma. A question was posed to her by a Sonoma resident in a guest editorial in the Sonoma Index Tribune:

Is the next petition going to be one of banning the sale of deep-fried foods at Betty's Fish and Chips due to the great health risks inflicted on the human body by consumption of this fattening food?

Perhaps Ms Corso might take note of the Law of Unintended Consequences. Before it bites her.

[from the same guest editorial] Upon reading the [newspaper] story I realized, to my dismay, that I was viewing the heart of fanaticism and feeling its pulse: ...the means justify the end for those advocating against the production and sale of foie gras - even to the point of destroying reputations, livelihoods and a sense of personal security

Bingo. Here is a little bit o' sense from a Sonoma city council member:

"I'm unaware of a foie-gras-free zone in our development code," said Larry Barnett, one council member. "But the bigger implication is this -- if the City Council wants to pass legislation pertaining to what products can or cannot be sold, then what is next?"

Exactly. This is an issue about more than duck farming. It is about whether or not a small group of people can decide for the majority which products, legal products, may be sold within a particular town. If that minority honestly believes that the methods of production of a particular item are in any way inherently morally wrong, let them make their case before the rest of the town. Let them explain and demonstrate the truth of the matter. People will decide and act accordingly. Let's not be too naive: Americans are extremely sentimental about animals. Were someone to present a cogent, demonstrable case about animal mistreatment, Americans would respond. In droves. And they would not buy the product. Or they would change the law concerning the way the product was made. This has happened enough times that it is a dependable phenomenon. Therefore, consciously or not, these "activists" must have some other agenda. I'm open to suggestions of what that might be. Let me know what you think.

1. *Ahem!*

   Pate should be made from fattened _goose_ liver NOT duck liver.

   Duck pate is a yummy treat but goose pate is 1,000 time better.

   Perhaps Ms. Dongle-Brain is merely protesting American Processed Imitation Pate Food?

   Posted by AT in NM  on  11/20/03  at  04:49 AM

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