Somehow the necessities of life—sustenance and procreation—have become a part of the political arena. I would imagine that the politics surrounding food stemmed originally from greed: I want the food that you have, and I'm more powerful than you are, so I'm going to take it. This is supported by the stretch of the British Empire: they waged war for spices, tea, and, well, opium.
So then it should come as no surprise that Twenty-First Century comestibles should be political as well. But the politics is somehow different: it's not the politics of aggression, but the politics of apology. As I graze through the aisles of my local natural foods market, I am surrounded by products that are created in such a way that offends no group, plant or animal. (My wallet pays the price for this luxury.) The shelves are lined with wheat-free, gluten-free, dairy-free, casein-free, soy-free, cruetly-free, organic, vegan styrofoam that has caused no harm to the earth or its inhabitants (except, perhaps, our taste buds).
I can't help but feel that our culture is overcompensating, much in the way most European countries have banned capital punishment after hundreds of years of sporting heads on pikes. Is it possible that man has quenched his urge to conquer and consume?
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