Imagine you're back in the fourth grade. Your teacher thankfully accepts a requests from your local drug/abuse awareness agency (for me, it was D.A.R.E.), and you spend a half-hour or so every week for a month or so learning about the dangers of drugs, what's a good touch or a bad touch, and what to do if a civil evil such as this should rear its ugly head. Occasionally, you'll get something that's supposed to be fun, like a corny comic book or an activity booklet where Billy has to navigate this maze to get away from the drug bullies or something like that.
Basically (for me, anyway), I got the point. I don't do hard drugs, I've learned to stop at two rum & cokes, and, to my knowledge, I've never sexually molested anyone.
Now, let's change the simulation a bit. What if PeTA, the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, visited your class instead? You don't get those corny activity books or anything, but you do get this:
Take a good look at these pictures, they're pretty important later on.
That's right, kids. Your parents are evil because, at some level, human society relies on animals to progress.
Now, let me get one thing straight right off the bat: I do NOT support the mistreatment of animals. In fact, I've recently made a number of lifestyle changes that support better treatment of animals, such as eating only cage-free eggs and making fun of people who wear forest camouflage while not in the forest (I'm assuming that hunting has something to do with the popularity of forest camouflage). It's my belief that animals are living beings, just like us, the only difference being that we have thumbs and higher brain function.
I'm also not against vegetarianism. Everyone's allowed their own views on what they should and shouldn't eat. What I am against is the way PeTA gets their message across, by villianizing those who don't share their viewpoint and using completely unrelated themes to support their message.
I believe that nature has its own process, and death belongs in there. If we weren't supposed to die at some point, then why do we die at all? We die, our bodies decompose, fortify the earth, new life begins, and the cycle begins anew. You could go so far as to say that the earth eats us and uses our bodies for nourishment. If that's the case, what's the big deal if I eat a steak or two? Fun fact: the last steak I had came from a local organic farm and came from a cow that was hand-fed. According to those comic books up there, I'm evil because that's what I do: eat, thus supporting the murder of animals for nourishment.
Also, and I'm not exactly sure where this came from, but someone at PeTA had the great idea that nothing draws up support for your cause quite like public nudity. Don't believe me? Try Google Image Searching "PeTA."
I remember the last time I had to buy human flesh from the grocery store. It's always a little awkward when you have to buy parts from your own species, am I right, guys?
The recurring motto in all of these images is celebrity supporters stating "I'd rather go naked than wear fur." Here's my question: when was the last time anyone who wasn't in charge of a group of prostitutes worn fur and taken seriously? Didn't that go out of style in the 70's or something like that?
PeTA, I'm not against what you stand for. Animals should be treated fairly, just like all other living things on this planet. However, there's a reason cheetahs aren't the dominant species of the planet. There's a natural order here on Planet Earth, and no matter how many celebrities you undress, fur coats you throw paint on, or horrifying images you produce will change that. If you want me to actually support you, present intelligent research in a fair and respectful forum instead of going straight for shack value. Until then, I'm really looking forward to 10-cent Wing Night at the nearby bar.
