Hello, List,
Some time ago at the request of a publication, I began an article on
Animal Rights and PETA which I didn't complete due to a change in the
interest of the publication. (I wrote about something else instead).
This was couched as an article for the general public, so please
understand the format.
So, here is the beginning of my draft:
*************************************
I was standing next to the crates that held our current show hopes and
dreams; more importantly our beloved pet dogs. My spouse was picking up
a catalog for the day's show. Over the loudspeaker came the
announcement that there was a dog loose from its crate. I stiffened.
Accidental? My spouse returned to tell me that while at the secretary's
booth he'd overheard that this was the second dog found loose that day.
We looked at each other. I remember vividly the thought that crossed my
mind when I said to my son "this is why we NEVER leave the dogs
unattended".
My thoughts flashed back to a grade school conference during which I
happened to be waiting in the hall for a teacher and first saw pamphlets
from the group named "PETA". The name was very disarming; "People for
The Ethical Treatment of Animals". It engaged my attention and drew me
to read about alleged mistreatment of farm animals replete with
photographs that would sicken the strongest stomach. Of course I was
drawn to read more; who doesn't want animals treated "ethically"?
Years later I realize that there is a huge difference between groups who
are for the humane treatment of animals and those who call themselves
"Animal Rightists".
At that time, I remember thinking only how very appalling it was for
children to see such graphic atrocities and that it wasn't my idea of
education. I would later come to fear and loathe PETA and its
activities, misuse and manipulation of media displaying "atrocities"
with a passion. (More on how some of those "atrocities" are arranged by
PETA photographers as propaganda a bit later.)
I can't prove that PETA or its offspring group ALF (Animal Liberation
Front) was at the dog show I attended. However, a first hand account
from a breeder judge who attended the dog show cluster in San Antonio,
Texas in 1994 explicitly implicates them in such activities:
"�.PETA representatives attended the San Antonio AKC cluster, leaving
handouts regarding their opinions of dog showing and dog breeders on set
ups, stuck in car windows, etc��.These ended up flying off vehicles or
blowing off the set ups and becoming more debris for the city workers to
clean up. While I was at dinner, PETA representatives entered the
facility and turned loose several dogs, including my Australian Shepard
bitch. Fortunately, a friend saw my bitch loose and caught her before
she could make it out of the building. The Best In Show winning brace
of Manchester Terriers did manage to escape the building and were found
wandering near the Alamo several hours later. I believe they managed
to let loose about six dogs before someone came in, witnessed the people
in action and scared the individuals out of the building."
So, who ARE these people called "PETA" and their counterpart spinoff
group "ALF"? An excellent question, and one that won't be answered
without a lot of digging around. If you go to PETA's website at
http://www.peta-online.org and examine their mission statement under the
subheading "About PETA" you will find this statement:
"People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), with more than
seven hundred thousand members, is the largest animal rights
organization in the world. Founded in 1980, PETA is dedicated to
establishing and protecting the rights of all animals. PETA operates
under the simple principle that animals are not ours to eat, wear,
experiment on, or use for entertainment. PETA focuses its attention on
the four areas in which the largest numbers of animals suffer the most
intensely for the longest periods of time: on factory farms, in
laboratories, in the fur trade, and in the entertainment industry. We
also work on a variety of other issues, including the cruel killing of
beavers, birds and other "pests," and the abuse of backyard dogs. PETA
works through public education, cruelty investigations, research, animal
rescue, legislation, special events, celebrity involvement, and direct
action."
It is those "special events" and "other issues" that are not
elaborated upon here. The distinction between the groups who advocate
humane treatment for animals and the "Animal Rights" movement isn't
simply a debate between right thinking individuals or groups but it is
actually the distinction between those who work for better conditions
for all animals and terrorists.
My own boss must have thought this group a great and worthy cause when
he donated money to them. He is an ethical vegetarian and studied
ecology prior to his current career. He had no clue about their real
agenda. I suspect if I polled my neighbors I would find many who
donated money to PETA having read the above mission statement or
similarly crafted brochures. Most of these brochures also have a
terribly sad looking animal in dire straights on them or at minimum an
animal whose looks plead with you for help. (Remember I promised the
"bit later on" about how the photography is arranged?) More from the
judge who attended the San Antonio cluster:
"Earlier that day, I saw a PETA representative walking around
photographing dogs. He made no attempt to hide his association with
PETA and was asking owners permission to photograph the animals. What
the owners of these dogs did not see, but I did notice as I was stuck in
foot traffic behind this fellow, was the fact that the PETA photographer
was "setting up" the shots so that the dogs appeared to be in situations
that did not really exist. For example, I watched as a Beagle exhibitor
placed three Beagles in an exercise pen to go to the bathroom. These
are used at San Antonio as there is no outdoor grass or exercise area.
Immediately after the Beagles finished conducting their business, the
photographer snapped the shot. To the uninformed, it would look as if
three dogs were living in a tiny cage in their own feces and urine. The
fact that the exhibitor was there to immediately remove the dogs and
pick up the feces and change out the paper and cedar shavings was not
noted."
If you think that my use of the word "terrorists" above is a bit strong,
I refer you to the "Congressional Statement Federal Bureau of
Investigation on the Threat of Terrorism to the United States" dated May
10, 2001:
"Special interest extremists. Special interest terrorism differs from
traditional right-wing and left-wing terrorism in that extremist special
interest groups seek to resolve specific issues, rather than effect
more widespread political change. Special interest extremists continue
to conduct acts of politically motivated violence to force segments of
society, including, the general public, to change attitudes about issues
considered important to their causes. These groups occupy the extreme
fringes of animal rights��." "In recent years, the Animal Liberation
Front" (ALF)-an extremist rights movement-has become one of the most
active extremist elements in the United States. Despite the destructive
aspects of ALF's operations, its operational philosophy discourages acts
that harm "any animal, human and nonhuman". Animal rights groups in the
United States, including ALF, have generally adhered to this mandate. A
distinct but related group, the Earth Liberation Front (ELF) claimed
responsibility for the arson fires set at Vail, Colorado, ski resort in
October 1998 that destroyed eight separate structures and caused $12
million dollars in damages. In a communcation issued after the fires,
ELF claimed that the fires were in retaliation for the resort's planned
expansion that would destroy the last remaining habitat in Colorado for
the lynx. Eight of the terrorist incidents occurring in the United
States during 1999 have been attributed to either ALF or ELF. Several
additional acts committed during 2000 and 2001 are currently being
reviewed for possible designation as terrorist incidents".
As it happens I am a staunch supporter of the environmental groups who
work to save wildlife; "freeing" dogs and burning buildings (think of
the environmental damage done there) has no relation to real ecology.
And, as it happens, some dogs do get killed in traffic when "freed"
leaving one wondering about just how much harming animals is
discouraged.
On that note, the recent statement by president of PETA, Ingrid Newkirk
to the Boston Globe concerning mailings of razor blades to medical
researchers by an animal rightist group which calls itself the "Justice
Department" doesn't sound harmless. She seemed to condone the incident
saying "if experimenters feel afraid now, that is nothing compared with
the fear, harm and death they have inflicted on their victims".
********************
This is as far as I got. I must say that the mailings of razor blades
was about as clearly a terrorist act as any of which I've heard. While
PETA didn't claim responsibility for it, they clearly condoned it. They
foot the legal bills for ALF on a regular basis....if you are wondering
where your money is going when you donate to them.
This was to be followed by information on PETA's "got beer" campaign (in
which they suggested to college students that they should drink beer
instead of milk), and their recent commentary on Foot and Mouth Disease
in which they were quoted as hoping it would hit the U.S. (The thought
being that it was better for cattle to get ill and die then to be in
thrall to humans).
I hava much hard fact data if anyone wishes to research any of these
incidents.
Suze
--
Suze at Llawen Cavaliers
"...I have seen that in any great undertaking it is not enough for a man
to depend simply upon himself." -Isna Ia-wica
"Thought comes before speech" Luther Standing Bear
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