Pigs killed despite offer of sanctuary

by ipsiphi history Wed Feb 07, 2007 23:15

W.B. Yeats faced with the monumentous task of illustrating coinage for the Free State put out tenders to quite a few Irish artists. But curiously they weren't up to the task & though compensated for their suggestions the Free State chose Percy Metcalf an Englishman. He was given the choice of a boar, sow or ram for the leath pingin or halfpenny (then 1/480 of the pound or punt) and ultimately the sow, with a litter of banbh or suckling piglets was chosen. That coin stayed in use till 1969. The pig had been both a loved and hated smbol for the Irish. We were depicted infamously during the famine as pigs, as the notorious cartoon "pig and peer" shows. Later the English journal "Punch" would oscilate in its image of the Irish as either "post-Darwinian simians" or monkeys unique in the civilised empire still brandishing cudgels or weapons or as "cute hoor" farmers complete with felt hat, waistcoat, clay pipe and suckling pig under the arm. The latter would perhaps like the re-conquest of the "N" word by some afro-american youth subcultures from the early 90's onwards - find its way into ceramic souvenirs in more than one Boston diasporia store.
It is also worth noting that at no stage did Irish agriculture produce more pigs than any other European society. There was nothing unusual about European peasants keeping a piglet in their hovels. & one need only look at the extent of preserved pork products in the cuisine of Germany, Iberia or even Italy. Arguably one of the most commercially succesful children's book writers and illustrators was Richard Scarry (1919 - 1994) whose style saw common animals do human things. As his career progressed he joined the publisher Random House (who also sold Dr Seuss) but found one of his previously succesful picture books the subject of an onslaught by those accusing him of racism in the late 60's. ["characters like Manuel of Mexico (with a pot of refried beans stuck on his head), Ah-Choo the near-sighted panda bear from Hong Kong, and Angus the Scottish bagpiper were no longer acceptable role models for children. Random House quietly subtracted some of Scarry's best stories from future distribution, including the much-loved vignette of Patrick Pig, who shouts "UP THE IRISH" after kissing the Blarney stone. That story can be found in earlier copies of Golden Book's Busy Busy World, in the remainder bin of your local thrift store."]

Yes indeed I have a copy of that book with the original illustrations published in the Catalan language. I've often used it as an example of racial stereotyping.

Thus by the time of the civil rights movement & the subsequent start of "the troubles" the Irish banbh or piglet or sow were "un-popular". Interestingly this is exactly when the police force in the UK came to be called "pigs" in slang.
The Free State coinage was completely replaced by a new decimalised half-penny (designed by an Irish artist Gabriel Hayes who adapted an ornamental bird which many thought a peacock from manuscript MS.213 in the Cathedral Library in Cologne, Germany) in 1971. From sow and piglets to mythical Peacock the money in Irish pockets would wait another 31 years for the introduction of the Euro and its cent parts.

& now Bernie of the Animal Rights group tells us what would have seemed utterly farcical in the not too distant past - In Ireland people still want to house a pig - not because it is edible nor even a cheaper alternative to a vietnemese pot belly "top range" pet. But simply because they care about their fellow animals. What a Scary proposition.
;-)

let a pig into your home today. It's your culture.

by anthony Wed Feb 07, 2007 18:37

i regularly eat wild bear, elk, rabbit and deer. these animals have lived a happy and healthy life. Am I worthless because of this ?

by Minne Wed Feb 07, 2007 17:37

I suppose the reintroduced wolf that kills an animal in the wild would incurr the wrath of the Indy media contributers. While they dont serve to be our Gurb but the do serve nice with a little Dijon.
To state that it isnt a humans job to reproduce is a little ridicilous. I mean are you turning around thousands of years of evolution to explain you cant get a partner due to abrasive character?

by Catlady Wed Feb 07, 2007 12:27

Some men would consider my purpose in life was to breed. I disagree, and I disagree just as strongly with your assertion that these pigs purpose in life was to sustain you.

Whats your purpose in life? Something along the lines of ending world hunger? Achieving world peace? I suspect that like other human carrion consumers, you have an exaggerated sense of your own importance, as you seem to think that whatever sick pleasure you feel gnawing on bits of rotting flesh outweighs the value of another's life and justifies his or her horrific suffering.

It's known as megalomania, and there is therapy available...

by Jimmy Dean Tue Feb 06, 2007 20:46

My Rasher of Bacon wasnt as crisp as I'd like. They are Pigs, their purpose in life is food for Humans, not to write Shakespeare.

by Homo Simpson Tue Feb 06, 2007 12:35

I cant understand why animals that survive such an ordeal should have to be killed if they were lucky enough to survive that accident. The Department of Agriculture are cruel to these animals and would they put their kids in the same situation? I doubt it...

by Catlady Tue Feb 06, 2007 12:13

Considering what these unfortunate animals had already been through, the fact that they survived the accident thanks to a rescue team, and the fact that there were people ready and willing to offer them a new home for life, the decision by the Department of Agriculture to kill them is a complete and utter disgrace. Had they not suffered enough already??? Once again, the only thing the present government has any respect for is cold, hard cash. I hope whoever made this decision ends up chewing on bits of these pigs chokes on them.