Butter Cow - Bloody Cow - The Irony

For the sake of educating the public about dairy, a cow is annually fashioned out of butter. Just like all milk products, it is made from the cream that should have nourished calves.  All these butter sculptures come at great cost and bitter loss to the cows. But the dairy industry chooses to display these symbolic, trophy-spoils to represent the rich and "delicious" side of their business. It's a "tradition" as valued as the Golden Calf.

This year, there was more than usual trouble and fuss over the golden-butter cow, as it also had to be restored after red "blood" paint was used to make another point about dairy consumption. One that unknowing consumers might be disturbed by. For those who profit from the butter-cow, image is a sacred thing to preserve. They worked into the night to return said cow to a presentable state. There shall be no bloody cows at the fair!

Meanwhile, the irony is... They don't seem to mind the ocean of hidden blood spilled for the making of the golden-butter-cow.

Please reject blood-foods in any form and choose to be the cream that rises above the social norm. Be vegan.

On Sneaks And Sneakers - Butter & Leather Exposed

While I piece together an upcoming post on direct action as a method to raise awareness about animal issues - I thought I'd interject this post about a few animal rights activists in Iowa who "taped" a "Go Vegan" sign on a butter sculpture cow.


Now... I'm not about to go into all the reasons these cow sculptures are a gigantic farce because I've already done that before and before that.  But what I will do is admit to a lot of skepticism about the alleged butter caper. The story just doesn't make much sense! Wouldn't a group that was able to scale a wall and sneak past guards have more "destruction" in mind than a sign taped to a coagulated fatty substance?


Or would it be more reasonable to think that these Iowa animal ag folks had a sneaky idea to promote their absurd butter-cow/dairy/egg and pork politics?    

Truth is... Doesn't matter much what you eat at the Iowa Fair - As long as it's got an animal part or secretion in it...

Yep... There's "activism" and "politics" all around butter.  So says the winner of the "dairy princess crown".  She likes to go to day care kids and teach them all about cheese and "milking units".


But before, during and after all this politicking and partying with meat, eggs and dairy there's stories that bring truths back in focus... Like what I see in this cow's milk propaganda photo:

Sure the kids are curious... Who wouldn't love a new born calf? Especially the mother who bore him?  

But here's a boy with new leather shoes...  Meanwhile a girl's pink leather sneaker is being stepped on by the poor, confused, mother-less baby calf... Contrast this with the reality that humans actually cut the feet off of baby calves... Sometimes when their still alive!  And bash their skulls to make them not be so... And you've got a culture totally at odds with who they want to be and who they really are!


All of it is sickening and shameful!


Don't like the dishonesty in Iowa, in dairy or in your own life?  Then quit with the unnecessary and unkind animal killing and animal eating!
Go Vegan - And live in a Gentle World

It's Not Fair - Another Butter Sculpture! Whadda Waste 'O Life!

So I got this photo from this article about the events and exhibits at the Ohio State Fair.

Back in January I gave my opinions on what I thought about "butter sculptures".  And I certainly feel the same now if not more so... But this photo and the article it pertains to leads me to want to say more:

Regarding the photo of these mothers holding their babies and wheeling their toddlers... I'm sure they are convinced that "milk" is a necessary part of their children's diet.  Yet, I'd wager dollars to vegan donuts that not a one of these women actually nourished their own children with their own milk.  It's a safe bet.

Further... I think it's so sad that these many sculptures attempting to show the "wholesomeness" of dairy cost so much in innocent lives.  Of course I refer to the "retired" cows and the stolen "veal" calves.  Knowing this truth about dairy it's easy to see why I find this photo so ironically twisted.

But speaking of mothers... and calves... and fairs - The article goes on to say one of the main attractions is the birthing display.  I suppose that's where people hope to witness the "miracle" of it all... From the artificial insemination right down to the induced labor.  But timing everything "just right" doesn't always work that way, as one veterinarian says, "they don’t always cooperate".  Still no worries!  If one of those pregnant cows gets out of hand you can always shoot her, eleven times...

Isn't it really so totally absurd?  Humans in awe of the "mystery" of life... Yet snatching away newborns from mothers.  Adults still unweaned... Yet drinking from the mammary secretions of an entirely different species!  Anyhow it's a real strange world isn't it?

Oh - And this "agricultural fair"?  If you look real hard at the article you'll find 4 sentences dedicated to a 600 pound pumpkin and a large ear of corn. Hum...

In any case here's my suggestion for next year's "butter sculpture":

Meet the Real Dairy Producers at Viva

Dairy Father - Invites Sacrificial Cow to the Table

This provincial effigy, fashioned from 1,000 pounds of 100% butterfat, is meant to be a tribute to the dairy industry. I know my friend and ally Ben at Suicide Foods could do a much better job assessing the irony in this image... But honestly, I just can't help my myself...
Here we have the classic portrayal of female servitude... Slave serving slave so to speak, as we see the human mother extending the plate in the direction of the nonhuman mother... Almost as an offering of solidarity; Or at least in recognition of mutual circumstance. They know they've done their jobs well - breeding sons... Some for veal - Some to be raised as veal eaters. But when we see into the bovines eyes, can we not detect a ruefulness? Perhaps she wonders where her babies are? Three births and still, a childless life. Could she be longing for her herd mates - missing the gossip at the milking polar? Or maybe it's the florescent lights that bother her? Cow people enjoy the sun and sky that nature provides... She will no doubt see them on her next ride in the transport truck.
At that destination, she will continue her dutiful contributions in the "food chain"... McDonald's will encourage other human families to dine on her fluids and flesh - Her rank is secured on the dollar menu; And consuming her "souless" body will be presented as a practice as "wholesome" as this paradigm... Returning to the table of plenty... and of "thrift" - We see Father... pouring the wealth of white abundance! Things are looking good for him with the recent government bailouts! Whew! That was a close one! The reality of the market place almost had consequence! Oh Father Provider! Thank you for buttering the palms of the other men in power! Father may we never ask how much money/energy it costs to keep this chilled spectacle "alive". May we never wonder about the e-coli in the burger... Or the manure in the rivers... May we never question, or be "lactose" intolerant... Father, maker of all things with cholesterol and saturated fat - may we never doubt your archaic methods of domination and force... Long live the patriarchy! Or at least as long as it takes for this obscene, excessive, vulgar, iconic charade to melt into a greasy pool of rancid goo! There... I had my say - You know the rest... Go Vegan.