Council Follies Ill Foie Gras Be Banned from the Restau- the Abuse of Prisoners in Iraq

30 CHICAGO READER | DECEMBER 9, 2005 | SECTION ONE [snip] You know what they’d say if they dared. Writing in Slate, Meghan O’Rourke points out that in recent diatribes against premarital sex, paleoconservatives Leon Kass (University of Chicago) and Harvey Mansfield (Harvard) agreed to fight on their opponents’ turf, saying things like “Without mod- esty, there is no romance”—in effect acknowledging that the language of sin won’t play anymore. Instead “they cast the sexual revolution as something that makes women unhappy, couching their critique in the Our Town fuzzy language of gratification and personal gain that we Oprah-raised kids can relate to.” —HH Council Follies ill foie gras be banned from the restau- the abuse of prisoners in Iraq. But Mayor Daley W rants of Chicago? Next week the City has noted that a ban could open the door to a Some Animals Are Just Council is scheduled to vote on Alderman Joe slew of other animal rights causes. “What is the More Delicious Than Others Moore’s bill to outlaw the sale of the livers of fat- next issue?” he said. “Chicken? Beef? Fish?” tened ducks. Certain animal rights activists link Good question. We put it to the animal By Mick Dumke the violent force-feeding of the doomed ducks to rights champions. THE PROBLEM WHOSE CAUSE IS IT?POSSIBLE LEGISLATION JOE MOORE SAYS Elephant abuse. Three elephants Alderman Mary Ann Smith, Smith has submitted an ordinance that would “I met with a couple of activists who’ve been floating in the Lincoln Park Zoo died between Paul McCartney, P!nk, People guarantee each zoo elephant in Chicago at that. I told them I support Alderman Smith’s ordinance.” October 2004 and May 2005. Chains, for the Ethical Treatment of least five acres of roaming space. Circuses hooks, and electric prods are often Animals (PETA) would be forbidden training techniques used to train circus elephants. that could cause pain or injury. Veal. It’s the meat of calves that are “I think most people are sympathetic to calves Forbid the sale of veal within the city. “It’s one thing to ban the sale of something kept confined to limit muscle fiber. because they can relate them to dogs,” says Danielle very few people consume. It’s quite another Marino, Chicago director of Mercy for Animals. to ban veal Parmesan.” Overuse of antibiotics in “It’s not good for the animals and it’s not good for Require Chicago to buy only from vendors whose It’s a school lunch issue, so “that’s a Board raising farm animals. people,” says Richard Wood, executive director of meat has been produced without the “routine” use of Education call.” Food Animal Concerns Trust (FACT). of antibiotics. Chickens suffer in overcrowded Organic food and animal rights advocates. “Chickens Restrict groceries and restaurants to using cage-free “I don’t want to go down too many of these cages that foster salmonella do feel pain,” says Marino. eggs, which cost more. other roads—I can lose focus.” and other pathogens. The physical and emotional anguish suffered by “I’m not opposed to rodeos—I’m opposed to cruelty at Follow Pittsburgh’s lead and prohibit rodeos from “Quite frankly, I’m hesitant to really weigh in on a lot performing animals. For instance, rodeo cowboys rodeos,” says Steve Hindi, president of Showing using buck straps, electric prods, and similar devices. of this, because if we’re not careful, it plays into [my use cattle prods, and they tighten a strap to cause Animals Respect and Kindness (SHARK). “Look at calf Some argue for a complete ban on the use of animals critics’] slippery slope argument.” horses to buck. lassoing—can you imagine doing these things to a in circuses and rodeos. three- or four-month-old puppy?” Cosmetics and other products are tested on animals The National Anti-Vivisection Society says: “The man- Make it illegal to test cosmetic “Again, I’m not as familiar with the issue, before they’re deemed safe for human use. ufacturers of cosmetics and household products claim products on animals in Chicago. but it makes sense to me.” that they perform tests on animals to ensure the safety of their products under customary use or possible abuse when in reality it is to limit the company’s liability to its customers in case of a lawsuit.” Declawing. Feline advocates say it’s inhumane and “It’s a big issue,” says Peggy Asseo, vice president of A council ban. “I have owned cats in the past, and I like traumatic—like amputating a human’s fingers at the Pets Are Worth Saving (PAWS) Chicago. to protect my furniture.” first set of knuckles. Every year, thousands of migrating birds die when Chicago Bird Collision Monitors and Audubon Chicago Aldermen could make “lights “It’s like everything else—every group has important the lights atop Chicago high-rises disorient them at are among groups that have persuaded high-rise out” a law rather than a choice issues they work on, and I have a lot on my plate.” night and they smash into buildings or the ground. managers to shut off their lights at night. Says during the spring and fall Audubon’s Judy Pollock, “We estimate that maybe migration seasons. 10,000 [birds] are saved each fall.” Fur and leather: Animals are raised in confinement “With every pair of leather shoes that you buy, you sen- Leather and fur could be heavily taxed, restricted, Fur and leather will remain legal. “I think and then killed. Plenty of plant-based or synthetic tence an animal to a lifetime of suffering,” says PETA. or banned. those are safe bets.” materials are now available as alternatives. Exploiting animals as PETA quashed a high school “kiss-a-pig contest,” pres- Pass a no-exploitation ordinance. “Every law we pass is a matter of drawing a line mascots or as objects of sured a car dealership to stop using a chimpanzee in between conduct that shocks the conscience and goes derision. its ads, and persuaded a church to cease holding a against the values of our society and other behavior “chicken poop bingo game,” in which participants that’s deemed boorish and you wouldn’t want your gambled on where the birds would relieve themselves. children engaged in, but doesn’t rise to the level of needing legislative oversight.” Internet hunting.From the Virginia congressman Tom Davis and state represen- The Illinois bill is going nowhere, but the City Council “I’m kind of amazed by that. Can you shoot at people?” comfort of home, “hunters” tative Susana Mendoza of Chicago have each intro- could see to it that no one can “operate, provide, sell, [or] point and click to remotely control duced legislation prohibiting online hunting. use” software or Web sites that allow Internet hunting. weapons on a hunting range. CHICAGO READER | DECEMBER 9, 2005 | SECTION ONE 31 [snip] This movie rated XXX for nicotine content. A study published in Pediatrics found that the more teenagers see people smoking in movies, the more likely they are to try it. That’s even after controlling for sociodemographic factors; friend, sibling, or parent smoking; school performance; personality characteristics; and their parents’ parenting style. Two percent of those who were least exposed to smoking in movies and 22 percent of those most exposed had tried it. —HH member, “we didn’t come up with the But the Other Grammys didn’t go ond time. After the club has success- idea of honoring the Black Panthers. down easy. This year “there was just fully started its act, a fan dance, I pull The Schools She did. So we thought, Who better more hostility on the part of some of him aside to ask whether he thinks to make the presentation than her? the students,” says a senior AAC the controversy is good. “Yes and no,” Plus we thought it would kind of member. One student, “who’s in a he says. “I think some of the teachers Others in Arms shock people to see a Jewish girl who position of leadership here at the here are very comfortable, and probably knows more about the school, said that she was going to stab because I, along with my students, On the scene at a Black Panther Party than they do. I all of the members of AAC in the tend to challenge and/or question controversial ceremony guess we were right.” neck for having to deal with our crap.” what I think is a very Eurocentric cur- The Other Grammys, a talent show The controversy persisted until riculum, it causes tension. But it’s that By Vernal Coleman with race-themed student presenta- September, when after a town hall same tension that gets reporters down he lights go dark in the cafete- tions, is the brainchild of the African meeting and a number of discussions here to cover this event. And that is ria at Jones College Prep in the American Club and their faculty with school officials, the Chicago definitely a good thing.” T South Loop. As Public Enemy’s adviser, literature teacher William Public Schools’ legal department As the evening wraps up, Jones “Fight the Power” blares over the McHenry. It started last year as a determined that the AAC could not principal Donald Fraynd joins sound system a line of black-clad way to recognize students of distinc- hold an awards ceremony that was McHenry onstage to thank the hon- students, right arms raised and fists tion who, according to McHenry, not open to every student.

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