Swine and Souls: A Journey on the Elbe Bridges
As we traverse the Elb bridges, escaping the city’s confines, a momentary shadow descends upon us. In the lane beside mine, a Danish livestock truck emerges from the old Freihafen, emblazoned with the legend: H&S Westergaard, transport af levende dyr. Transport of live animals.
For a while, our vehicles roll side by side, an unlikely pair. Pigs on the road. And I.
Housed within a black Ford pickup, an automotive leviathan stretching nearly 5.90 meters in length and 2.45 meters in breadth. A battering ram of a front bumper, an open bed in the rear, spacious enough to accommodate five, perhaps six or even seven swine. This behemoth consumes a staggering 14 liters of gasoline per 100 kilometers, a testament to its environmental transgression. But as I glance once more at Westergaard’s livestock transport, I remember that humans often engage in actions that defy reason and propriety. And with that, I press down on the accelerator.
The rumble of the pickup’s engine drowns out the squeals of the pigs, a discordant symphony that echoes the dissonance within my own soul. In the relentless pursuit of progress, humanity has relegated other species to mere commodities, their well-being sacrificed for our own convenience. The pigs in Westergaard’s truck are destined for a grim fate, their lives reduced to a mere footnote in the annals of industrial food production.
As we ascend the bridge, the city sprawls below us, a tapestry of concrete and steel. From this vantage point, it is easy to forget the suffering that unfolds within its walls, the countless lives lived in darkness and despair. The economic engine that drives our society churns relentlessly, its gears lubricated by the tears of the oppressed.
I think of the pigs, their gentle eyes and playful nature hidden behind the steel bars of their prison on wheels. They are sentient beings, capable of experiencing pain, fear, and joy, just like us. Yet, we treat them as lesser creatures, their worth measured solely by their market value.
A wave of revulsion washes over me as I contemplate the abyss into which humanity has descended. We have become so consumed by our own selfish desires that we have forgotten the true meaning of compassion and empathy. The pigs on the road are a stark reminder of our moral bankruptcy, a mirror reflecting the ugliness that lurks within our hearts.
As we cross the crest of the bridge, the sun breaks through the clouds, casting a golden glow upon the river below. But the light cannot penetrate the darkness that has settled within my soul. The cries of the pigs haunt my thoughts, a constant reminder of the suffering that humans inflict upon one another and upon the innocent creatures that share our planet.
I cannot shake the feeling that we are all prisoners, trapped within a system that devalues life and promotes greed and indifference. The pigs on the road are but one manifestation of this systemic failure, a symbol of the brokenness of our society.
As we descend the bridge, I glance once more at the livestock truck, now disappearing into the distance. The pigs inside are doomed to a life of misery, their fate sealed by the cold indifference of humanity. And I, in my comfortable pickup, am complicit in this crime against nature.
I cannot undo the wrongs that have been committed, but I can vow to live a life guided by compassion and empathy. I will strive to make choices that honor the sanctity of all living beings, no matter how small or insignificant they may seem. And I will never forget the pigs on the road, their cries a constant reminder of the darkness that lurks within us all.
