Americans Are So Weird

I recently visited a friend from Australia and she said the funniest thing about our culture is how serious everyone takes things, while simultaneously being proudly ignorant and isolated. Turkeygate is such a great example of this. I found the video hilarious for two reasons. First it is just very ironic that she had a pomp-and- circumstance media event pardoning a turkey and then immediately held a low-key interview where turkeys were being killed in the background. And second, what kind of background is that for an interview?! I would have found it equally humorous if there had been professional wrestling or a loud bingo tournament in the background. It is just so absurdly random and odd.

But, as is our wont, it has somehow turned into a Big Deal and people are absolutely shocked that they were allowed to see where their food comes from. I find the reaction pretty funny too, but also disturbing on a number of levels. The most obvious level is that people have become so distant from the basics of life that it makes it very hard to appreciate it, or discuss the impact of food policies. On a deeper level, it is bigger than that and explains so much of our outlook.

People are disgusted by seeing turkeys die — even as they readily consume meat — and are fixated on their own reaction. I have to confess I don’t have a whole lot of experience on farms, but that machine looked remarkably humane, and I’m way more concerned with the standards of how we treat animals when they are alive, for a number of moral and practical reasons. A commenter said that the conditions looked very humane and I believe him. That farm and video should be applauded, if anything.

To go even further, I have to say that it really reminded me of the War on Terror; well wars in general but especially this one. People obviously know that their meat comes from animals that are killed, and basically everyone should know about the immensely cramped and dirty conditions that many of them are raised in, but only seeing it provided revulsion. People know that “war is hell” and destroys so much, but are glib about it until they are in one or see the consequences. Numerous stories of questionable treatment of detainees came out very early, but only seeing pictures of Abu Ghraib caused outrage.

The conclusion is twofold: control the images and you can do pretty much anything, and people are so self involved that you merely have to punish those that dared offend to offend the sensibilities — as opposed to addressing anything on a core level. Ignorance is bliss and all that; I realize that this is just a basic trait of humanity but my friends from other countries say that we are the worst.