Posted by Tim Gorin on July 01, 2002 at 00:53:29:
In Reply to: Dont visit South Korea until they stop the torture to dogs and cats posted by Laura on August 24, 2001 at 02:22:14:
Just a constructive criticism here...I am an American living in Korea. I've been here for 5 years and have never once seen such animal cruelty being practiced. A long time ago, some people believed, as you said, that beating a dog before killing it (thus increasing the adrenelin and blood distribution in the body) would be beneficial to those who ate the meat. However, if it is still practiced today, it is only in the back-water countrysides. And, I know weird things happen in the back-waters of every country...I'm sure even in Australia.
So, people should be careful before making angry and aggressive attacks against other countries when they have no first hand experience. Have you BEEN to Korea? Do you know any Koreans who eat dog? YES, dog is still eaten here...but not on the scale tha the world thinks. In fact, in 5 years I have met only 2 people who have eaten dog, and they were old men who still lived relatively traditional lives.
The whole country was angered recently by a comment by American TV host Jay Leno when he made a comment about Koreans eating dogs...I try to defend such comments, but it's getting harder and harder to deny racism in the world. I'm just suggesting that people should be more careful in HOW they approach the situation. Korea is FULL of dog lovers...