A "gestalt shift"

I watched a commercial yesterday for a producer of eggs that claimed that their eggs,

"...contain less saturated fat and lower cholesterol than ordinary eggs. EB eggs are also a great source of Omega-3 Fatty Acids, lutein, Vitamin E and Iodine."

The commercial goes on to claim that these eggs contain nearly 10 percent more protein than their competitors.

As I sat there watching this short little piece of propaganda for the meat industry, I wondered what had to occur in the process - to the hen - for these eggs to take on their unique characteristics? Or more specifically, what unnatural occurrence created this egg? It is not being suggested but stated: Our eggs are different than those of company X, Y, and Z. Thus, why and how is this so? I couldn't help but asking this question - it was almost demanded of the bold undertones of the message. I'm wondering then, are others similarly quizzical, or is it just me because I'm vegan and I pay closer attention?

I have to believe, given the all-pervasive nature of the "animals-as-property" paradigm that we exist in, that it is just me (and others of like mind). I think this ignorance of the masses is necessary. To maintain business as usual, a conscious effort is being made in these animal-exploitation-is-fine political campaigns to stifle the curiosity of the public. Why?

I surmise that it's prudence; it's purely self-interest driving these campaigns of misinformation and half-truths. If we were to connect living, experiencing beings with "our food" the message gets muddied by emotion, which then, oftentimes, leads to risky questions like "Should we continue to force these creatures to suffer unnecessarily?"

I couldn't help but wonder what terrible things had to happen to those poor hens - generations of them, in fact - to ensure the production (read reproductive excrements) of these special eggs? How much can we change nature to better suit our selfish desires before there's finally a backlash? Have these sensitive beings actually taken on the form of a "living machine" today, and what, if any, ethical questions should be raised about this strange situation?

I asked these questions throughout a 30 second commercial about eggs. Bernard E. Rollin writes about the "gestalt shift" that occurs when we begin asking these sorts of questions: questions about animal ethics, taking unnecessary suffering seriously, morality, nature, etc. I think his point was proven here. When your eye's are opened to all the pain and psychological trauma that these animals must undergo just because we like the taste of them, everything is viewed in a different light. Our very humanity should be questioned. 

And further, I understand P.E.T.A.'s and the Humane Society of the United States' method, and their belief in the power of this message, a little better now. When you lift the curtain and see what and who's behind it all, you cannot help but ask questions. We can ignore the implications, but the curiosity - or perhaps disgust - is there. I hope.