Merc prints letter 4-H teaches children twisted set of values

[Guest guest]

The San Jose Mercury News ran some articles about farm animals at the Santa

Clara County Youth Fair. One article, " At county fair, raising animals brings

lessons, joy - and sadness " (http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_10091261/), told the

story of a 10-year-old girl who raised a hog for a 4-H project, up to the day

the hog went to the slaughterhouse. A number of readers, in response, sent

letters to the Merc lamenting the psychic conflicts that 4-H kids are put

through in sending an animal they love to its violent death.

 

The Merc printed the following letter in its Saturday August 9 edition (page

19A):

 

-- Mike

 

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[from http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_10148725/]

 

4-H teaches children twisted set of values

 

I find it astounding that our society thinks it is OK to raise an animal as a

pet (and that too by a child) and then send it off to slaughter. The 4-H

program, at least as far as animal husbandry is concerned, seems to be a

training ground to harden the hearts of children who, by nature, are inclined to

be compassionate. Kudos to the Mercury News for printing this article (Page 1B,

Aug. 4) that, probably unintentionally, caused a few readers to pause and

reflect on the enormous suffering we inflict on fellow beings.

 

Mohan Pisharody

San Jose