Wherever bacon is involved, things are bound to escalate.
This was once again highlighted when an aggrieved local took to Facebook after discovering that her go-to grocery store no longer stocks pork.
Mellie Botha, a Christian, stated that the Muslim-owned store was undermining his religion by not stocking bacon. “They don’t sell pork or any related products such as bacon, viennas or polony,” he wrote onto Facebook’s Laevelders group.
“I call on the Christian community in Nelspruit…to support me in boycotting the store,” he pleaded.
What followed was a comment storm with admonishing, rediculous and downright hilarious statements. It quickly became clear that, to some, logical reasoning fades in the presence of pork and, more particularly, bacon.
“Don’t allow this to steal your joy. Rather drive to another store,” advised Adele Strydom.
By George. So bacon is a prerequisite for happiness?
Okay, then.
Martin Strydom posted only this.
Elize Delport replied with a dialogue.
“Friend: I like your lip gloss.
Me: Thanks. It’s bacon grease.”
The Online Bacon War ignited a host of discriminatory comments based on race, religion and everything in between. Once again, the people of Mbombela proved that they excel at being Facebook trolls.
Hester Weyers marveled at the intolerance among those who commented.
Another user, Suzelle Toerien, had a message for prospective boycotters.
So, what have we learnt today?
Not much, really…
We realised that the lack of access to bacon can elicit one hell of a public outcry. I have not seen a local outcry of this magnitude in water shortages, crippled access to basic education or the plight of the poor and starving recently.
Some make the right to bacon sound like a basic human right.
My goodness. We have a long way to go.
