"HOT LIPS" SAYS FOWL IN THEIR OWN ABU GRAIB

Chicago has gone to the dogs, or make that, the geese. Egged on by former "M.A.S.H." star and animal rights activist Loretta "Hot Lips" Swit, the Chicago City Council's Health Committee has approved an ordinance banning the serving of foie gras, a pate made from the liver of ducks or geese, in Chicago restaurants. The fowl, said Swit, suffer no less than have prisoners at Abu Ghrab.

Swit quoted Chicago Sun-Times columnist Laura Washington as saying that creating the delicacy "may not be pretty, but it pales by comparison to problems like Abu Ghraib, police brutality and racial profiling."

"Are we ever going to forget the memory of that girl smiling, holding a tortured prisoner on a leash and enjoying it? . . . She grew up with the acceptance of this kind of behavior in whatever form it was, whether it was torturing a cat or a dog or seeing somebody doing it and looking the other way," Swit said.

"If we look the other way -- if we say, 'It's a guinea pig. It's a mouse. Who cares? It's a kitten. Whatever,' then why are we surprised at the existence of inhumane acts directed toward each other? Violence begets violence. Brutality begets brutality. Inhumanity is a disease."

Indeed, Hot Lips. The nexus between the manufacture of goose liver pate and rough treatment of war prisoners is - dare I say it - searingly evident.

A U.N. inquiry into the ethical ramifications of foie gras is rumored. And the day after committee hearing, the restaurant of a local chef who testified against the proposed foie gras ban was vandalized.

Such fowl play has occured previously, in San Francisco.

If you are in Chicago, you can show your support for the chef, and for freedom of the palate by dining at his fine establisment, Cyrano's Bistrot and Wine Bar.

If anti-foie gras activists are contemplating additional steps before the vote of the full city council on the ban, I'd advise they NOT bring in Bea Arthur.

What is it with washed-up sitcom actresses and foie gras, anyway?

Hat tip, on proposed Chicago foie gras ban: Rosenblog reader David Jackson.

TECHNORATI TAGS: CHICAGO, FOIE GRAS BAN

TO COMMENT: The regular "comment" feature is not in operation. E-mail comments to address under "Contact" on main page masthead, and I'll add them, here.

Michael McClellan: I'd swear that was an April Fools post if it wasn't dated October 30th.

The next time I'm in the Windy City, I'm definitely eating some foie gras at Cyrano's.

And by the way:

"Indeed, Hot Lips. The nexus between the manufacture of goose liver pate and rough treatment of war prisoners is - dare I say it - searingly evident."

Laughing. Out loud.

Posted by Matt Rosenberg at October 30, 2005 11:43 AM