© irene waters 2015
Acculturation happens in subtle ways. As a westerner with facilities most of us take for granted we can afford the luxury of being horrified at the eating of certain animals. I used to wonder how the French could eat horse meat. How anyone could eat dogs. Having lived in a country where the children are blonde because they have protein deficiencies and dogs breed uncontrolled, as there is no such person as a vet on the island to carry out spaying of the animals, bit by bit attitudes change. Fed with scraps, the dogs also starve from a diet lacking in protein. These skinny, constantly hungry dogs range in large packs that can be terrifying. Their numbers are kept down with the consumption of one here and there with the benefit of adding protein to the children’s poor diet.
The blonde headed children laughed as the pig’s head was stoved in by the man’s club. The dogs licked at the blood oozing from the beasts nostrils as, unconscious, it took its last breath.
“I can’t take this anymore” I said as I saw a bullock being brought in to suffer the same fate. I left the celebrating crowd to find a place where I no longer had to watch the slaughtering. I covered my ears.
A snarling dog approached and stared, uncertain whether to attack without its pack mates. I screamed. “For heavens sake, eat this dog next.”
Written in response to Charli’s 99 word flash fiction prompt:
March 25, 2015 prompt: In 99 words (no more, no less) include a juxtaposition between the ordinary and natural worlds. It can be civilization and nature; an edifice and a nest or cave; a human act and a natural occurrence; acculturation and adaptation. Compare or contrast as the prompt leads you to write.
Respond by March 31, 2015 to be included in the weekly compilation.Rules are here. All writers are welcome!
Reflections and Nightmares- Irene A Waters (writer and memoirist) 
Whoa! What a heavy story! Was this when you were in Vanuatu? It really hit me hard – in a good way. The one time I went to Cambodia I was overwhelmed and bit shaken by how many people lived with so little. It made me realise just what dumb luck it was to be born in a first world country to parents who could afford a decent living. Perspective is everything, isn’t it?
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Yes this comes from Vanuatu. I can understand you being overwhelmed in Cambodia. When I was there I was probably used to that aspect but what got me was the ongoing fear and disbelief as to what had happened. Fear is a horrible thing to live with. We don’t know in Australia just how lucky we are. To be born here with the privileges we have and not live in poverty, in or near a war torn country. I have to stop rambling before I get on my soap box. Perspective certainly is everything. 🙂
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Gah! This is so disgusting, the end had me laughing out loud with surprise. Well done.
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Thanks Sarah. Glad to have taken you from disgust to laughter in 99 words.
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Looking at the world from the other side of the stars where light seems to be all shadows?
Thank you for the other point of view. Gives one pause.
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Yes I think we often judge before we know the reality. I was amazed at what I considered luxuries by the end of my time in Vanuatu…. and it wasn’t things like shops and electricity.
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Horrific story in many ways, but the ending was a chuckle. I have a hard time watching animals being slaughtered also. I can’t stand their suffering.
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Yes it is just horrific. I think if I had to do the killing I would definitely be a vegetarian.
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This is such a sad story, so well told, Irene. And so thought provoking.
It’s interesting that we are horrified to see the slaughter as you describe, but are quite happy to eat the meats that are served up to us on a plate, “oblivious” of its origins and the fate that befell the animal. If the animals are bred for it, and our methods of slaughter more “humane” does it make it any more palatable? My daughter would say not. She is a vegetarian. I could be a philosophical vegetarian, but I do like the taste of meat. Why does seared flesh smell so good? That children suffer due to lack of protein in their diet is a tragedy, or worse. It is easy, as you say, for we Westerners to look without compassion upon their needs.
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Yes I know if I had to do the killing I would definitely be a vegetarian and yet although I don’t eat much meat I don’t have any qualms about that which I do eat. We are so caught up in what the society we live in considers right and proper that we close our minds to why others might take a different stance. Putting ourselves in their shoes can give us a totally different perspective and with understanding we can accept perhaps but at least not hate.
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Those are very wise words, Irene. Understanding and acceptance are so important, they will be what it takes to eradicate hate. Your story has helped develop that understanding.
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Thanks Norah. It would be a wonderful world if we could eradicate hate and I’m humbled that you think my 99 words has helped.
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Yes, tourism to poor countries give people a very warped view. In Holland eating horse meat is very accepted with horses being killed in the same manner as other large animlas.
On the other hand the much loved sport of horse racing is much less practised in Holland as here. Some might well believe that horse racing is cruel too.
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Yes you really have to understand the culture. It’s a hard one because we think of animals as people in this country and that is a good thing simply because we have the money to be able to pay vet bills and keep certain animals off the menu. This is a real luxury. And yes horse racing can be cruel and we have just found out how incredibly cruel dog racing can be.
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This certainly gives an education on how food is prepared, putting it nicely, in certain parts of the world. Great ending to your flash Irene…heavy story this, I admit, I don’t like to think about but should…
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I don’t normally think about my dinner either. This was just a little confronting.
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You write dark humor so well! I did not know that about blonde children and the connection to a lack of protein. It is an eye-opener to learn about the impact of starvation and food choices. So sorry I missed your pingback! I should have been suspicious not seeing your name last night but I was tired! It’s included, now.
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That is okay Charli. I ‘ll make it easier for you and put it in a comment. The ping backs can get lost in amongst all the comments. Thank you for the compliment that I write dark humour. Some things I feel are best dealt with in this way. It was sad that people here suffered protein deficiencies as they could have prevented it easily by fishing. They weren’t fisherman though and because everything grew so well in the volcanic soil they were predominantly vegetarian with meat eaten predominantly on feast occasions. The occasional chicken was used at other times. The children as a result suffered from protein deficiencies more because they did not know a lot about diet.
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Most times I get a message on the pingbacks, but I’ve missed several lately. And usually, I’m reading your posts but I got behind.
Amazing that they didn’t fish or intuitively crave what they were lacking. The Inuit traditionally have no “leafy greens” yet by eating narwhal blubber they get the nutrients we would get from vegetables.
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Yes it is strange. The next island down from us was a tiny rock (a nightmare to land a plane at) but as it had no soil they survived from the ocean. A small amount of trading occurred between islands and possibly in earlier times the men may have hunted. They certainly attempted to get birds with bow and arrow but birds were rarely seen. I think they had been hunted out.
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Great flash, but I really wouldn’t have understood its complexity without your previous explanation. You’re absolutely right, we have no right to complacently judge others when we haven’t got a clue what we’re talking about. An effective lesson in tolerance and understanding. Thank you for sharing 🙂
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Thanks Luccia. Some stand alone so easily and others not so well. But glad combined it made some sense. Tolerance and understanding are crucial I think if we are ever to live in harmony.
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