The chicken flu epidemic is horrible because of the shortage
of meat in Cambodia. Many people over there love meat, especially chicken, so it is a tragedy that
the sick chickens are in turn infecting people. Because of the meat craving, a substitute had to
be found! Many were discussed: cats, dogs, horses, cows, elephants, monkeys. However, none of those
seemed realistic because of their relative scarcity, especially the latter two. As a result, rats
were chosen. Chicken has long been an accepted meat source, but rat? The very idea
makes one want to grimace. Whereas chickens, although ugly, are relatively clean animals and take
care of their bodies and abodes rats are one of the filthiest mammals known to mankind. They root
around in trash, eat old, rotten sneakers and coffee dregs. They live in slums and everything old
and worn out.
The very idea of eating rat meat in place of chicken is revolting to many residents of
Cambodia. Chicken, when cooked, smells wonderful, especially when combined with the aroma of carrots
and potatoes or some other delectable assortment. Rat, on the other hand, smells like burning rubber
and sulfur mixed together. Few people can even stand to eat rat, merely because of the mindset taking
place in order to actually chew swallow this "other white meat".
Both chicken and rat meat are white, but the comparison stops there. Chicken meat is savory
and aromatic, but rat meat is hard and tough like leather, and smells about as good as rotten eggs
steeped in vinegar.
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