Spam- not the idiom for unsolicited junk mail unworthy of our glorious inbox.
If a gentile, were to theoretically walk into L&L (Hawaiian BBQ spot- coincidentally two blocks from my office in the financial district) and orders two spam musubis (my personal favorite), he/she is simply ordering lunch. But if a Jew (or rather, a prospective convert) were to do the same thing, he/she is making a theological statement by blantantly disobeying kashrut. The act of eating is more than a mere act of sustenance. It brings awareness to our ability to be the "superior species" and eat only those which are deemed appropriate. I argue this, couldn't spam (or pork in general) be eaten in order to recreate that same level of awareness? For me, and many other Hawaii residents / transplants to the mainland, the act of ordering and consuming spam musubis transcends time and space. Spam reminds me of my mother. My mom usually lets my dad take care of the food department. Regardless, my mom still makes the best spam musubis. She would make it for special occasions, ie field trips to the beach. For me, spam musubis remind me of simpler times. When I didn't care how much sand was mixed into my musubi. What I cared about was knowing that my mother had sacrificed precious hours of sleep in order to loving make me something special.
Bottom line: If I can see and acknowledge the creator's hand in foods (and also humble memories of my Hawaii childhood) deemed not kosher, then I don't see a problem with eating treif. Furthermore, in an anatomy and physiology class in high school, I dissected a baby pig. I know baby pigs look like puppies. Yet I still choose to eat pork. I realize the inherent hypocrisy, but at least I have made a conscious decision. Why should I have to reconcile the tension between eating spam (or the more difficult, bacon!) and living a meaningful Jewish life? This argument goes beyond the issue of kashrut, but addresses the degree to which people subscribe to religious ideology and how it conflicts with previously held beliefs. If Judaism prides itself on being a religious, social and cultural movement that evolves in accordance with time, and with the needs of its people, this should include those with different dietary concerns. Maybe I am just being radical, but at least I have some friends out there in cyber space who understand!
