Michael Lippman

Okay, so I posed the question yesterday, does "barbecue" deserve some kind of special dispensation in the whole discussion of beef and pork production and consumption? 

I'm sure by now it's obvious that my answer is ... yes. 

We humans obviously have a special relationship with these members of the animal kingdom (cows and pigs) and that relationship involves some kind of karmic connection whereby ... we get to eat them.  (And, in return, they get to survive as a species.)  This in itself is not the problem.  The problem is the horrible treatment of these animals in our modern industrial society.  As Sue Miller (of "Let's Be Frank" grass-fed hot dogs) points out, 'it is dubious whether, given the choice today , these animals would agree to tie their fate to the human race'.

But, the art of barbecue, with its long, patient procedures, its zen-like logic and illogic, its reverence for every aspect of the cooking process, its ability to inspire awesome debate, opinion, judgment and appreciation -- is certainly honoring the special relationship of animal to man.  There is not much food on our planet that is more "blessed" (which is simply a function of consciousness, attention, reverence) by those cooking it and by those eating it ... than bbq.