An Ethical Dilemma?
So, SM and I visited this really cool store today. It's called "Heavenly Treasures - Handcrafts From Developing Countries." It's a non-profit (501c3) organization that works directly with villages and villagers in 3rd world nations to develop business opportunities using the talents, craftsmanship, and local resources of each village.
There were some really great things - very ethnic and unusual. But the one thing I just couldn't leave without purchasing was a set of chopsticks....made out of bone. The lady who runs the organization (and works directly with the craftsmen) assured me it's the bone of a cow (after it was killed to eat the meat), and not a human or some kind of illegal tusk of some sort. And they're just gorgeous!
But as I'm sitting here looking at my purchase, I'm having a kind of dilemma. On one hand, it kinda grosses me out that I'm eating using utensils made of bones (former skeletons of now-dead animals). But on the other hand, I have no problem eating the Mandarin Chicken from Panda. So...why does it gross me out to use the bones of one dead animal to eat the meat of another dead animal? It's like my gag reflex has a double-standard.
Ideas? Thoughts? Anyone? Anyone? Bueller? Bueller?
There were some really great things - very ethnic and unusual. But the one thing I just couldn't leave without purchasing was a set of chopsticks....made out of bone. The lady who runs the organization (and works directly with the craftsmen) assured me it's the bone of a cow (after it was killed to eat the meat), and not a human or some kind of illegal tusk of some sort. And they're just gorgeous!
But as I'm sitting here looking at my purchase, I'm having a kind of dilemma. On one hand, it kinda grosses me out that I'm eating using utensils made of bones (former skeletons of now-dead animals). But on the other hand, I have no problem eating the Mandarin Chicken from Panda. So...why does it gross me out to use the bones of one dead animal to eat the meat of another dead animal? It's like my gag reflex has a double-standard.
Ideas? Thoughts? Anyone? Anyone? Bueller? Bueller?