Stop Museum Slaughter of Pig to Reenact Life in 1850

[Guest guest]

Hi folks,

Please send a quick letter, email and/or fax to he!p this

2-year old pig.

Thanks,

Sprout

 

//MESSAGE FOLLOWS:

 

SOURCE: FARM SANCTUARY (For more information, please contact David

Cantor in Farm Sanctuary's Investigations Department at djcgside

 

BACKGROUND (written by Mary Zoeter, Animal Network):

Farm Sanctuary has learned of an unfortunate plan by the Frontier

Culture Museum, of Staunton, Virginia, to kill a pig on November 24,

2000, as part of an " exhibit " aimed at teaching visitors what it

was like to live in Virginia in 1850. Staff plan to shoot in the head a

 

two-year-old pig raised on the Museum's farm without visitors seeing

the actual killing, just to be able to make foods and candles such as

farmers a century-and-a-half ago might have done.

 

Imagine the outcry if, just for " realism, " a museum about life in 1850

flogged someone to show what slaves endured; kept dogs unvaccinated,

covered with fleas and ticks, and tossed scraps to them out the door to

show how dogs lived; and kept children on the premises with rickets and

rotting teeth! Yet when it comes to pigs, the Museum deems " realism "

absolutely essential.

 

We have spoken and written to a Frontier Culture Museum spokesperson

who admits the Museum is very selective about what it chooses to exhibit

and not to exhibit about life in 1850. But the Museum still refuses to

cancel the taking of a pig's life merely to teach what can easily be

learned without killing.

 

Please send the sample letter below pointing out that pigs' lives are

valuable and it is not the animals' fault few people recognized that

fact 150 years ago. Explain problems with teaching people it is okay to

kill healthy, intelligent pigs. Tell them pigs need their help, not

their bullets, due to horrible factory farm conditions right now, in

2000.

 

We hope to be able to report that, thanks to you, this senseless

killing has been prevented and will not take place in future years.

Please write soon-November 24 is just around the corner. Thank you very much!

 

SAMPLE LETTER:

Please take a moment to personalize and send the following sample

letter. It must be received before November 24th to stop this horrible

event. Remember to add your name & address & forward widely.

 

====================================================================

TO:

Rhonda Howdyshell, Public Relations Manager

Frontier Culture Museum

P.O. Box 810

Staunton, VA 24402-081

E-Mail: rhowdyshell

Fax: 540-332-9989

 

Dear Ms. Howdyshell:

 

I am writing in reference to your plan of killing a 2 year old pig on

November 24, 2000 as part of an " exhibit " aimed at teaching visitors

what it was like to live in 1850.

 

This type of inhumane treatment and unnecessary killing of animals is

absolutely outrageous. Certainly there are other ways to teach about

life in the 1800's without having to kill an innocent animal.

 

I strongly urge you to cancel this horrific plan. I will make sure to

let my family, friends, and colleagues know about The Frontier Culture

Museum's complete disregard for life until I hear that you have decided

against killing an animal as part of an exhibit.

 

I look forward to hearing that you have cancelled this brutal, violent

and unwholesome event. We already have enough violence in our society.

It would be far better to present our children and community members

with an example of caring animal husbandry and concern for all living

beings. Please don't contribute to the endemic problem of lack of

concern for life and set a responsible example.

 

Sincerely,

 

 

END MESSAGE//

[Guest guest]

When I went to Jamestown, they said that they occasionally slaughter a

pig as part of the reenactment, but they did do it in front of

families and children, which I think is good.

I don't condone them killing the pig, but if they are going to do

it, they might as well let people see it so it wont be so easy for

people to keep living in denial.

I also understand the comparison btwn killing the pig and whipping

blacks for reality, but I must admit there is a difference for most

people- society at large still has no problem with killing animals, so

this argument unfortunatley would have no effect on most people.

At Colonial Williamsburg they have had reenactments of slave

auctions. It caused a bit of a controversy, but bc CW is not just for

entertainment, but a place of academic study of American History, most

people feel it had historical value. I, of course wouldn't want them

to replay the revolution with real bullets, nor do I want pigs to die.

-G

[Guest guest]

yes, i got the same letter from Rhonda Howdyshell....i guess it's just a

form letter they are sending everyone!?!

 

Kelly~Norfolk

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[Guest guest]

I sent off the letter to Rhonda Howdyshell, public relations manager for the

Frontier Culture Museum, and this is the reply I got. Did anyone get the same?

 

-----------------------

We appreciate knowing your feelings about animals and particularly about your

views on killing a farm animal (the 1850s American farm pig) for foodways

demonstrations, consumption and education.

I wanted you to know that we have invited personnel from the Farm Sanctuary park

to visit our museum to see our heritage breed preservation programs, discuss

viewpoints, and see our living history programs in person. I know that we can

learn a lot from each other. We think that sharing the story of how our

ancestors had to survive is an important aspect of our mission.

Truthfully in the planning of our programs and the presentation of living

history, we continue to give thought and evolve on how to best accomplish this.

We appreciate your input towards that planning.

I think it is commendable that people such as yourself advocate for their

beliefs and lifestyles and of course have the freedom to do so. After all, it

is on just that premise that our country was founded. I wish you well.

 

 

-----------------------

 

> Farm Sanctuary has learned of an unfortunate plan by the Frontier

> Culture Museum, of Staunton, Virginia, to kill a pig on November 24,

> 2000, as part of an " exhibit " aimed at teaching visitors what it

> was like to live in Virginia in 1850. Staff plan to shoot in the head a

>

> two-year-old pig raised on the Museum's farm without visitors seeing

> the actual killing, just to be able to make foods and candles such as

> farmers a century-and-a-half ago might have done.

--

 

Free email services provided by http://www.goodkarmacafe.com

 

 

 

 

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[Guest guest]

Yes, I got the same, and so did another woman on another elist. She and I both

sent second communications in response to this form

letter telling us how great we are...

 

Deborah

 

 

I sent off the letter to Rhonda Howdyshell, public relations manager for the

Frontier Culture Museum, and this is the reply I got.

Did anyone get the same?

 

-----------------------

We appreciate knowing your feelings about animals and particularly about your

views on killing a farm animal (the 1850s American

farm pig) for foodways demonstrations, consumption and education.

I wanted you to know that we have invited personnel from the Farm Sanctuary park

to visit our museum to see our heritage breed

preservation programs, discuss viewpoints, and see our living history programs

in person. I know that we can learn a lot from each

other. We think that sharing the story of how our ancestors had to survive is

an important aspect of our mission.

Truthfully in the planning of our programs and the presentation of living

history, we continue to give thought and evolve on how to

best accomplish this. We appreciate your input towards that planning.

I think it is commendable that people such as yourself advocate for their

beliefs and lifestyles and of course have the freedom to

do so. After all, it is on just that premise that our country was founded. I

wish you well.

 

 

-----------------------

 

> Farm Sanctuary has learned of an unfortunate plan by the Frontier

> Culture Museum, of Staunton, Virginia, to kill a pig on November 24,

> 2000, as part of an " exhibit " aimed at teaching visitors what it

> was like to live in Virginia in 1850. Staff plan to shoot in the head a

>

> two-year-old pig raised on the Museum's farm without visitors seeing

> the actual killing, just to be able to make foods and candles such as

> farmers a century-and-a-half ago might have done.

--

 

Free email services provided by http://www.goodkarmacafe.com

 

 

 

 

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