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Viewing comments for Chapter 39 "Power and Responsibility"
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11 total reviews 
Comment from Michaelk
Exceptional
This work has reached the exceptional level

Fantastic! I thought you were pulling a trick like I have done before by personifying animals. Then you did it. You put a twist on a twist by showing that it wasn't animals it really was humans only on another planet.
I completely agree with 'It depends on your perspective'.
I write quite a few stories from a bit of a different perspective too.
Wonderfully done.

 Comment Written 09-Jul-2015


reply by the author on 09-Jul-2015
    Wow, thanks so much for the fantastic review, Michael. I like a different perspective, so I will have to keep an eye out for your work too. I really appreciate the wonderful rating, and your kind comments. Craig.
Comment from Gypsy Blue Rose
Excellent
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I enjoyed reading your story about the power of responsability, you did a great job with the plot; also, I like the funny cows picture. Good job!

 Comment Written 30-Jun-2015


reply by the author on 30-Jun-2015
    Thanks for checking out my story, Gypsy Blue Rose, and thanks for your kind comments as well. They are much appreciated. Craig.
Comment from Kingsland
Exceptional
This work has reached the exceptional level

This piece of writing made me cry. You have touched on some very deep emotions within this poor soul. When you put a human face to the thought mind to an animal. Their thoughts become a reality of how cruel this planet is in its thoughts on life. This is an outstanding piece of writing that has affected this reader greatly... John

 Comment Written 29-Jun-2015


reply by the author on 29-Jun-2015
    Thank you so much, Kingsland, for your wonderful review. Although it wasn't my intention to make you sad, I think it's important that we all consider how we treat our fellow inhabitants of this planet - human and otherwise :) Obviously you are someone who does care. I very much appreciate your comments. Craig.
Comment from I am Cat
Exceptional
This work has reached the exceptional level

oh... whoa.

ok, that's it. I'm leaving Texas. :(
Jeez Craig!
Couldn't you have warned me before dinner?
Don't I have enough trouble eating already?
If I have be down to celery and spinach, I"ll actually starve to death.
Hell, they haven't even fucking figured out what gluten is in Texas yet.

:(
i'm seriously depressed now.
That was probably one of the last things on the list of "What the hell isn't Cat allergic to?"

damn.

ok.
Add vegetarian to milk, dairy, egg, wheat,gluten artificial sweetener, MSG, soy, peanut and all the other allergies and intolerances... and yeah... bury me by the end of the year.

cause... I will either be killed by the Texas ranchers...
or die from malnourishment.

or just give up from lack of some sort of oral satisfaction...
(unless you have some sort of equal to or better substitution in mind?)

:)
Very well written, as your work ALWAYS is...
but I must say...

it's sort of starting to piss me off that you're usually RIGHT also.
:(

*crunches on celery stick*

*gulp*

Thanks Craig....?

>^ ^<
^

 Comment Written 28-Jun-2015


reply by the author on 28-Jun-2015
    What do you mean "usually?" LOL - just kidding!

    Thanks for the wonderful review, Cat. If it makes you feel any better, I'm in more or less the equivalent of Texas here. Thus far, I've managed to avoid the lynch mobs. But I don't know how I would get on if I was allergic to nuts and wheat and soy... apart from leafy veggies, and a bit of fruit, that's practically my whole diet!

    Enjoy your celery stick ;-)
    Craig
reply by I am Cat on 28-Jun-2015
    Celery with peanut butter... is there really a point?

    Before you say it... no ranch dressing either.

    Don't you feel sorry for what you've done?

    ;)
Comment from --Turtle.
Excellent
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Hi Craig,

read through this short bait and switch, twist of the tables to entice 'food' for thought on treatment of food, and the comfort of not having to think of it, balanced with the belief that it's a given right.

being {was telling} her to protect me,
(don't know for sure, but I wondered if there was a stronger verb for this, demanded, insisted, It's just, 'was telling' doesn't do nature's absolute drive to protect one's young justice.

I wish they'd used anaesthetic, it hurt like hell.
comma splice here. what about a semicolon? or another emdash?

a heavy tag off it; but not as much as when
(hmmm, I wondered why you opted for the semicolon here. like you wanted a more forceful pause than a comma, but know a period won't do. I don't think it's wrong, though my gut says semicolons instead of commas when you don't want to link with the coordinating conjunction. You have the coordinating conjunction. So I paused on the intent.

If I'm lucky, the metal bolt they shatter my skull
(a gruesome, well drawn description as a reminder of that which consumers are sheltered from by design)

Apparently the Alpha-Centaurians think humans taste quite delicious.
(until this point the inferences are well set to allow the reader to assume the victim of the treatment was cattle, here the table shifts to allow the cage and treatment be done closer to home.

A solid reflective inspection of uncomfortable truths that, for the most part, go ignored. Though, people are caring more what happens to what they eat, opting to pay more for food that has better conditions, in the end, it still comes down to that which is easier to not look too closely at.

 Comment Written 28-Jun-2015


reply by the author on 28-Jun-2015
    Hi Turtlestage5,
    As usual, your comments have been most helpful. Thanks for taking the time to read my story. I had intended to make this into a "tiny tale", but couldn't fit it into the 100 words -- so I just put it out there anyway. Review much appreciated - Craig.
Comment from giraffmang
Excellent
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Hi there,

Yep. I agree, everything is all a matter of perspective.
Humane they say!

I used to think free range chickens meant they were out roaming around in fields and such, but no, it just means they have a little more space.

One man's terrorist is another man's freedom fighter.

The list is endless.

A well written and thought provoking piece.
GMG

 Comment Written 28-Jun-2015


reply by the author on 28-Jun-2015
    Not only that, but even free range factories hatch eggs to ensure they have a continued supply of laying hens. The only problem is that 50% of those eggs hatch into boy chickens, for which they have no use. So generally, they are thrown live into a meat grinder at one day old. Funny what we can convince ourselves is acceptable behavior when a dollar is involved.

    Thanks for the kind review, GMG. Much appreciated - Craig.
Comment from ~Dovey
Excellent
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Perspective, indeed. You had me, hook, line, and sinker, thinking this was written from the calf's perspective. That was an excellent twist at the end, and your message is strong. Not strong enough for me to give up hamburgers, but you can keep trying ;) It is a very good read, I see no spag or corrections needed.

Kim

 Comment Written 28-Jun-2015


reply by the author on 28-Jun-2015
    Thanks so much Kim for checking out my little story. You know I'd never try to force my views down your throat (oops, maybe that's not an appropriate metaphor considering...) - the world needs heathens too ;-) Much appreciated, Craig.
Comment from meggie13
Excellent
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I like the way you personified the calf. The pain he went through when taken away to his mother to the slaughterhouse. Horrible things were done to this animal. While he was alive they slit his throat. No wonder many people are vegetarians. It is well written and like you warned there is violence in this write. This is animal cruelty.

 Comment Written 28-Jun-2015


reply by the author on 28-Jun-2015
    Thanks, meggie13, for taking the time to review my story, and for your kind comments. Much appreciated, Craig.
reply by meggie13 on 28-Jun-2015
    You are very welcome.
Comment from Dean Kuch
Excellent
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Oh, members of PETA would just eat this story up, Craig. No pun intended, of course, LOL.

It is rather cruel how many animals we love so much to eat are treated, both before their slaughter and during the slaughtering process itself. That hydraulic hammer though, it's pretty effective. I've had the pleasure of visiting a slaughter house when my son worked at one in a nearby town. There's absolutely no missing simply because there is no place for the cattle to go. They cram them into the holding bin where they're hammered. It's so tight, they can scarcely move, then...WHAM!... right in the forehead that blunt hammer plate smacks 'em down. Damn near caves in their entire head. The pressure and the force involved is so intense that many times, the cow's eyes pop out of their skulls. I learned very quickly why they wear vinyl aprons and plastic suits. Looked like men from Glad, they did.

Still, when the same application is applied to humans, well... It becomes a bit more horrific. I'm pretty sure the cattle feel much the same way.

Great story. It makes a clear and powerful point as well.

~Dean

 Comment Written 27-Jun-2015


reply by the author on 27-Jun-2015
    I've seen figures of 1-5% failure with captive bolt - i.e. require second application. And of course, that doesn't include "halal" slaughter with no stunning, or the live export trade - where they are sent to places where the slaughtermen think it's fun to kill them with sledgehammers - and worse.

    Thanks for the great review Dean. It's good to see you back on board - a few folks were getting concerned :)

reply by Dean Kuch on 27-Jun-2015
    It was my pleasure, buddy, and I'm glad to be back myself. The slaughterhouse where my son worked was very...efficient, to say the least. Nasty job, though...

    ~Dean
Comment from erspring
Excellent
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This is a very interesting post.

I must say

the mass production of

what's for dinner

truly helps the vegan campaign

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 Comment Written 27-Jun-2015


reply by the author on 27-Jun-2015
    Most of us have little to no idea what happens to something before it ends up on our plate. Thanks for reviewing, much appreciated - Craig.