Rachel Ann has a little comment quiz today. My answer ended up way too big for a comment section so I'm posting it here. This way has a side benefit - maybe some of y'all can head over to Rachel's place so she gets more participation.
Here are my answers to her questions:
1.PETA--what is the first image that comes to your mind hearing the name?
Domestic terrorism.2.How do you react emotionally?
Generally with disgust.3.Do you agree or disagree with PETA's overall message?
Do they even have an overall message? Some of their specific messages, like handing out buckets of blood and comic books saying "Mommy murders dogs", leave me relatively speechless.4.Do you agree or disagree with how PETA presents that message?
You could safely classify me as part of the "disagree" group.5.Are (or were) you a vegetarian?
No. I thoroughly enjoy meat in all of its delicious variety.6.Do you own any pets?
Um...yeah. The current pet count is 14. 7 of those are of the dog and/or cat variety. The rest are decorative - birds and fish and suchlike.7.What rights over animals do you think humans should have?
All of them.8.Is experimentation on animals always wrong? Sometimes wrong? And if permissable when, what types of experiments, and how should they be conducted?
No, experimentation on animals isn't wrong. It is necessary for scientific advances and to promote certain economic factors. That said, I use Aussie hair products partially because they don't do animal testing. I'm happy to support a cosmetics company that goes through the expense of alternative product testing. That is MY choice as a consumer.9. To what uses can we put animals? (Pets only, aide animals etc.)
Animals should be put to whatever use can be found for them. Pets, farm animals, food source, guide dogs, helper monkeys, medical and biological testing. Whatever works.10. Including PETA, what animal rights groups (if any) do you support?
I don't support PETA in any way, shape or form. They are reprehensible. Come to think of it, I don't support any animal rights groups. Animals don't have rights. I do support our local animal shelters.
Summary:
All of that above makes me look like I torture bunnies for the fun of it. That is completely untrue. I torture bunnies for the large cash rewards.
Heh. Just kidding, it really is just for the fun of it.
There I go again. Serious now...
Animals are not people. They do not have rights. However, people do have the responsibility to care for an animal when they accept that burden. If you get a pet you have the responsibility to care for that pet. It is the dog's owner who is responsible for making sure that dog doesn't bite a kid. It is also that dog owner's responsibility to feed and shelter the dog. The way that a person (or a company, for that matter) cares for his animals says a world about him.
PETA disgusts me on many levels. They are so over the top with propaganda and bald-faced lies that it amazes me when otherwise intelligent people fall for their bullshit. They openly give money to ELF, a known terroristic organization. They promote illegal action by their members. They encourage assault and sabotage. I do not for the life of me understand how they have escapted federal prosecution on racketeering and domestic terrorism charges.
PETA animal shelters are not no-kill shelters. Isn't that the height of hypocrisy? PETA shelters in Florida kill more animals every year than all other shelters in Florida combined. Instead of finding homes for animals they spend millions of dollars on child propaganda every year. They truly disgust me.
Thanks Jim,
as so often happens with me I blog on topics that come up in e-mail lists. This one regards PETA and whether or not they are a good organization.
If and when I get a few more answers I'll let you know my position and why I asked.
Again, thanks Jim for posting this, and I really would enjoy participation from others, either by doing as he did or posting on my blog....
Thanks to all who take part
All of that above makes me look like I torture bunnies for the fun of it. That is completely untrue. I torture bunnies for the large cash rewards.
Heh.
That sad thing is, some of these people believe that is literally true.
OK,I do not agree 100% here.I DO believe animals have rights.They have the right to be treated accordingly and not like a piece of shit.I think considering the fact that animals can not speak for themselves,they should have at least a few basic rights a/k to be treated with respect to their purpose.
PETA can kiss my ass however.
PETA animal shelters are not no-kill shelters. Isn't that the height of hypocrisy?
Did you see the story where PETA employees were taking animals from shelters, killing them and dumping them in a dumpster?
Yeah, that's ethical treatment...
Well put, Jim.
I have all the sympathy in the world for people who love, care for, and raise animals. But I lose patience over the "rights" argument. Simply put, these are ANIMALS. They are not capable of understanding the concept of rights. They are not capable of higher reasoning (come to think of it, some humans fall in that category). They were put on this earth for OUR use.
That being said, they should be treated with dignity and respect and, in the case of experimentation, they should not have to go through anything more uncomfortable than what a human subject should go through.
Diamond Dave, you are correct: some people are not capable of higher reasoning. Many humans (young children, the mentally handicapped) cannot understand the concept of rights. Does that mean they don't have rights? Of course not.
I agree that animals "should be treated with dignity and respect". Isn't that another way of saying animals have rights -- not all the rights that humans have, but at least the basic right to be treated with dignity and respect? Just like all those humans who are not capable of higher reasoning.