Slaughterhouse murals
Re “Fabled Farmer John plant set to shut down,” June 11
Ithat the Farmer John slaughterhouse in Vernon, southeast of downtown Los Angeles, is considered an iconic building in Southern California. Despite the foul odors emanating from within, it will be missed by some.
I wonder if it would be missed as much without the mural of all the cheerful pigs, which could not be a more inaccurate representation of the building’s purpose.
As silly as the mural is, it serves an important function. It distances us from the reality of what happens in a slaughterhouse, and from the uncomfortable thoughts that we repress when we eat animal products.
A more humane way to deal with these unpleasant thoughts is to eat less meat. Yes, we need lighthearted animal murals, but they should represent our compassion toward animals. Kristen Kessler
Ventura