Soup and Slop

Growing up on a small farm has given insights into much of life. For example, my siblings and I learned the difference between soup and slop.

We kept a slop bucket on the back porch. If we couldn't finish our meal, the remainder went into the slop bucket. By the time the slop bucket was full, it contained potato peelings, greens from carrot tops, cabbage leaves with worm holes, leftovers from three days ago, and old milk from the cow. Quite nutritious for pigs, but none of us kids would dare to eat it.

My grandmother prepared very tasty soups for her grandchildren. Soups are very nutritious. They can have most colorful and tantalizing ingredients. Almost everyone likes to eat at a restaurant with a chef who can make delicious soups. A good soup is one of the joys of this world.

So what is the difference between slop and soup? Really not much as far as ingredients goes--a little bit of water, vegetables, cheese, a small amount of meat. But there is a big, big dissimilarity!

Here are some examples of soups and slops in the modern world. Remember, they all consist of the same ingredients. A good book versus a pornographic one. An intelligent opinion versus a stupid statement. A virtuous woman versus a promiscuous one. Yes, some people can't tell the difference between soup and slop.