2. Pleasure or Pain? In many parts of the world, parents and caregivers will routinely stroke or otherwise stimulate a child's genitals as a means of relaxing them or calming them down. It's often a normal bedtime routine, similar to the way a parent in this country might rub a child's back or stroke their cheek. Other parents in other cultures commonly stroke or manipulate a child’s genitals while breastfeeding. If you tried to make the argument that the activity was abusive, they would probably look at you like you were crazy. After all, you don't hear any complaints from the kids, and as suprising as it may seem to people in our cluture, such youngsters seem to grow up without any problems, becoming happy, healthy adults. (Langfeldt, 1981, p43; Freud, 1995)
3. Salad With A Side of Crickets How do you like your pasta? Topped with meatballs? Alfredo sauce? Would you like one topped with crickets? How about a salad adorned with larvae? Or here's a real treat: roasted fire ants. Whether or not your stomach is growling or churning probably depends a lot on where you live and how you were raised. If the thought of eating bugs sounds unpleasant to you, ask yourself: Why? After all, a cricket, cockroach or beetle (all considered delicacies in many parts of the world) are essentially the same thing as shrimp. Perhaps bugs are just too creepy-crawly and alien looking to be appetizing. But then again, how attractive is a lobster? Those buggy eyes, the antenna, the pinchers, the numerous legs...lobster is little more than an oversized bug that lives in the sea. Plus, bugs pack way more protein per pound than beef or chicken, and are actually better for the environment.
The point is, if you're like most people in the United States, you were utterly repulsed at the thought of eating bugs. Yet that wasn't because eating a bug is any ickier than eating the other things we eat here, but IT ONLY SEEMS THAT WAY because we were raised with a different perspective. To kids elsewhere, roasted fire ants are a sweet delicacy that they'll chase after like candy. (Richmond/Walsh, 6-9-08; PBS, 6/14/2009) All around the world, more than 1,400 insect species show up on menus. (NGC, 9-28-08) In China, you'll find that scorpions and barbecued dragonflies are commonplace. You might also want to stop by a local joint for some donkey penis or brain while you're there. (Wise, 2008) By the way, if you're still utterly repulsed by the idea and snuff up your nose at the idea of eating bugs, we have news for you: you're eating bugs and don't even realize it. Most of the food products we consume contain an allowable degree of things such as fly eggs, maggots, or other insect parts. All told, "you're probably ingesting 1 to 2 pounds of flies, maggots, and mice each year without knowing it." (Levy, 2009) Yummy.
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