Thursday, April 01, 2010

The EYM Lays Down Some Smack

A letter in the Deadly Tar Ball. The letter:

TO THE EDITOR:

Though I’m thrilled to learn that our University is attempting to provide sustainable dining, Tuesday’s article, “Local Food, Big Business,” failed to explain what that actually means.

I’m inclined to think that “sustainable food” is food produced, transported, prepared and consumed without consuming finite natural resources or damaging the environment.

The article implies that subsumed under the term “sustainable” are the terms “local,” “organic,” “smaller farms,” “grass-fed beef” and “free-range eggs.”

The first two agree with my understanding of the term, but they get increasingly ridiculous.

Eggs produced by caged chickens are no more or less sustainable than free range eggs; they are more humane, but not more sustainable.

So by using the word “sustainable” to mean so many different things, the article robs itself of any actual weight or significance.

In my eyes, “sustainable” now means “any of a variety of liberal buzzwords designed and propagated to make people feel better about themselves.”

Kevin Munger
Sophomore
Mathematics


Oh, where, WHERE did I go wrong? Clearly, I failed as a father. A kid who doesn't realize that "sustainable" is something we worship.... well, I blame the LMM. She's a lawyer, and tends to think that words have meanings, rather than emotions.

4 comments:

Carpe Web said...

Apple. Tree. Go figure.

"Command Central, we've got another blogger on radar."

Michael Ward said...

Where did you go wrong? He conceded that local farms are more sustainable. Did you raise a protectionist?

Anonymous said...

Where did you go right! You must be so proud. The EYM should start a blog.

Anonymous said...

Definitely smarter than me when I was that age. You should blog about (actually, I think you already have) the Nicholas School's pledge of sustainability. On the one hand I think it is nice to put your money where your mouth is, but on the other hand, being a long time fan of FIRE, I see potential litmus test.
-zimaroll