Contemplating the origin of meatballs…

Photo from The Guardian of Mr. Rayner

I just finished reading Jay Rayner’s piece in The Guardian describing his first encounter with the pick and choose (and kill) portion of eating carnivorously and I’m taking it all in.  One quote stuck out:

So do they think the consumer should be forced to face up to the realities of meat eating? Christine is clear-eyed about that. “No, I don’t think anybody should be forced to make the connection between animal and carcass, because that might put them off and that wouldn’t be in people’s interest.”

On one hand, I strongly believe that as Americans (and Brits, I guess,  since this is an article from The Guardian), we are disconnected from our food.  Part of me wants to say that others need to see and learn these processes so we know how valuable life is, even livestock life,  and make suitable choices based on this connection.   It doesn’t come from a slick package – it comes from a big ol’ mooing methane-maker in a field.

The other part of me is saying that is unfair.  As a (predominantly) free will society, I have no right to say anything regarding someone else’s dietary preference.  You ain’t gotta know how to kill a cow.  You can go and buy it from the supermarket.  We both stop judging each other.

But I’m not sure what’s right.  Do I really need to know how my food gets to my table?  I thought I did, so I started reading about it years ago.  But I don’t think it’s right to push this belief on others, or is it?  Thoughts?