Food Inc.

I watched the documentary Food Inc. over the weekend. I hope you get an opportunity to see it. There are many wonderful and disturbing aspects of the film, but here are three things that stuck out most to me.

• There are scenes in this film of chickens and cattle that made me want to scream and weep. Now I know I’m biased because I’m a vegetarian, (for ethical and religious reasons) but even if you eat meat, I think you should be horrified at some of the ways in which many animals are treated in the process of them making their way to your dinner plate.

• More effectively than I've seen done by another other film, Food Inc. weaves together a host of seemingly unrelated issues to form a tapestry of injustice. How we treat the environment and the animals in it effects how we treat fellow human beings. The role the agricultural industry plays in our political system effects our justice system. Our quality of health is directly related to our food prices and food options, which are directly related to what farm subsidies are lobbied for by big business.

• My favorite scene in the film takes place when some Wal-Mart representatives meet with a few organic dairy farmers who have a contract with Wal-Mart and Stonyfield Farm. The crazy thing is that the farmers themselves intentionally don't shop at Wal-Mart. They’re sticking it to the man, but they’re sleeping with him too. As I wrestle with the challenges of being a Christian and being involved in politics, perhaps I can learn a few things or two from these farmers who are simultaneously boycotting a company, while helping it to expand its more eco and animal friendly product line.