Every June, the city of Yulin in Guangxi becomes the focus of national attention.
Not because of its amazing beauty, not because of its long history, but because of a controversial folk festival called the Lychee and Dog Meat Festival.
On one side is a noisy and lively street feast, on the other side are animal protectors with tears streaming down their faces and faces full of pain. Two completely different scenes are displayed one after another in the same city. The conflicts continue year after year, and the debate never stops.
One festival, two positions
Every year on June 21st, banners are hung on the streets of Yulin, and merchants are busy selling fresh lychees and cooked dog meat.
In the eyes of local people and many diners who come here to enjoy it, this is an extremely common folk activity.
The saying "Three rolls of dog meat will make the gods unstable" has been circulated in the local area for many years.
But on the other side, animal protection organization and dog lovers regard it as a cruel killing festival.
The positions of the two sides are completely opposite, and no one can convince the other.
In 2016, a picture of a dog lover kneeling in front of a dog meat slaughtering table spread across the Internet; in 2017, someone intercepted a truck carrying thousands of dogs on the highway, causing serious traffic jams.
These extreme events make Yulin Dog Meat Festival The conflict spread from the streets to the arena of public opinion.
Root issues behind the conflict
Upon careful analysis, the key to this conflict is not "whether dog meat should be eaten", but whether the source of dog meat is regular and legal.
News reports have exposed many situations. Among them, some shops selling dog meat cannot produce any quarantine certificate at all, some dogs are stolen domestic pets, and some people steal dogs with homemade poisonous needles.
These behaviors have gone beyond the scope of food culture and involve acts of murder, theft, and hidden dangers in food safety.
There are indeed essential differences between formally bred meat dogs and pet dogs that are regarded as family members.
But the reality is that it’s hard to tell where a plate of dog meat comes from on the market.
This creates a breeding ground for conflict, with dog lovers worrying that their pets will become part of their meal, and diners thinking they are simply eating a traditional ingredient.
Look rationally and find a balance point
On this issue, extreme behavior will not solve any problem.
Dog lovers who vandalize shops or stop cars on the highway are not only breaking the law, but also making things that were originally justified become unjust.
If dog meat merchants use poisonous needles to steal dogs and sell meat that has not been quarantined, they will be legally responsible sooner or later.
In fact, many people have sincere feelings for dogs.
I like the intelligent qualities of the golden retriever, the naive appearance of the Samoyed, and the lovable demeanor of the Bichon Frize. Anyone who has ever raised a dog knows the warm and warm feeling that companionship brings.
But this feeling cannot be imposed on everyone.
On the contrary, those who eat dog meat should also respect this emotion, at least not to kill, steal, or put other people's pets on the table.
A pragmatic approach to problem solving
to let Yulin Dog Meat Festival To truly alleviate the conflict, we need to start from several aspects.
First, Dog meat sources It must be transparent and traceable.
Regular breeding farms should have quarantine certificates, and merchants should disclose the source of goods.
Secondly, relevant law enforcement departments need to take a strict stance to crack down on dog theft and poisoning of dogs, so as to protect the property safety of pet owners.
First, and thirdly, those who love dogs should be rational in their expressions and make their voices heard through channels recognized by the law, rather than resorting to extreme means.
As those words indicate: "I do not agree with your views, but I will unswervingly defend your right to speak." Respecting each other's differences and sticking to the bottom line is the correct attitude to deal with conflicts.
Return to rationality and be well on your own
To be more specific, the controversy caused by the Yulin Dog Meat Festival actually reflects the collision of diverse values in modern society.
Whether or not to eat dogs is a personal choice, but killing, stealing, and spreading diseases are legal issues.
I look forward to the day when this festival will no longer be followed by conflicts and tears, but will find balance in rules and respect.
No matter what position you are in, always remain kind, respect others, and act in accordance with the law. These are the most fundamental bottom lines.
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