We have previously discussed curious campaigns by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) like seeking to change the expression “bring home the bacon” with “bring homes the bagels.” Now the animal rights group appears to be tapping into the movement for speech curtailment and regulation by declaring the use of animals to be “supremacist” and “speciesist.” Thus, it calls for the end of the use of pig, chicken, pig, rat, snake and other terms as pejorative terms to “stand up for justice by rejecting supremacist language.”
PETA tweeted that “calling someone an animal as an insult reinforces the myth that humans are superior to other animals & justified in violating them.” The group further noted that “Pigs … are intelligent, lead complex social lives, and show empathy for other pigs in distress,” they wrote. “Snakes are clever, have family relationships, and prefer to associate with their relatives.”
As a fervent animal lover and backpacker, I have long criticized the radicalization of PETA which has become a caricature of itself. Many of us support animal rights but do not feel that we can support PETA under its current leadership and often self-defeating agenda.
The overwhelming mockery led to a push back from PETA President Ingrid Newkirk who told The Post, “The kneejerk dismissals are a reflection of the times we want to put behind us, and after ridicule comes discussion and then acceptance . . . it shouldn’t be controversial to assert that the words we use have the power to create a more inclusive world or to perpetuate oppression, and PETA is simply asking everyone to think before they speak — or type.”
PETA also argued in a follow-up Tweet further denouncing “speciesist” language.
It is ironic that Newkirk is advocating for everyone “to think before they speak — or type,” which is precisely what some of us have been encouraging PETA to consider. Under Newkirk, PETA has gone “all in” with the most extreme element of the animal rights movement. In doing so, it lost the ability to speak for the vast majority of us who favor stronger animal rights legislation and measures.
It is certainly true that pigs are smart and snakes have family relationship. Most people who say that you should not “be a pig” are not really pig haters or discriminators. They are referencing the large consumption of virtually any food by pigs as well as the conditions of the common pig pen or pig hollow. The reference to snakes is often due to their being furtive and clandestine in their movements. I expect that if these animals could speak they would tell their offspring not to be as loud, wasteful, or clumsy as a human.
The only accomplishment from this campaign is to add the pejorative reference of being “as clueless as PETA.”
Seems to bring us back around to the issue of eating the rich. Must remember to pick up some new entrepreneur chops and a filet of old money.
The real problem with eating the rich is that there just are not enough of them – that and the fact that many of them are so old they tend to be tough and stringy.. Braising is probably the best approach, it tends to break down the connective tissue. Any one have any favorite recipe suggestions?
Where is all the compassion for the poor of the world. The poor of the world eat meat. If a food product has to be imported these people can not afford to buy it. We in the U.S. have the wealth to afford nuts and berries from around the world. Some of us raise are noses at the people of the world who spend a greater portion of their day just tryin to be able to eat. They look at your nose in the air and respond with a middle finger raised in the air. You deserve it. One hundred years from now, disingenuous virtue signaling will be displayed in a museum It has truly become an art form.
Can I still call Newkirk a fruitcake or nut, or are fruits and nuts easily offended too?
There is a lot of sloppy thinking among the woke, who might benefit from spending some time on a small farm in Eastern Europe or the American Midwest. Or they could look the definition of homo sapiens, and ponder Mill’s goal of improving the living condition of those who were not well-off by providing utilities and teaching them to read. “It is better to be a human being dissatisfied than a pig satisfied; better to be Socrates dissatisfied than a fool satisfied,” Mill wrote, “And if the fool, or the pig, is of a different opinion, it is only because they only know their own side of the question.”
Something to ponder.
There’s no lipstick on this pig of a tale.
The karenwaffe are everywhere.
“Many of us support animal rights but do not feel that we can support PETA under its current leadership and often self-defeating agenda.”
With respect, Johnathan, you are conflating Animal Welfare and Animal Rights. This first link explains the difference and significance of that difference: https://tinyurl.com/y49szx54
The second link shows the logical extension of the AR view: https://tinyurl.com/y3gmspmt
It’s pretty chilling stuff.
One can only smile at such utterances.
What they do to animals in Asia, including cats and dogs, is impossible to unlook. The wet markets are an infamous example. PETA is denouncing that, and I’m glad. If PETA ditched the postmodernist BS, conservatives could be a huge source of support for PETA. Please.
Not wanting animals to suffer is not a left-versus-right thing. Why make it so?
Perhaps virtue signaling is involved.
Yep.
AR stands for according non-human animals with the same moral value as humans: Whatever “it” might be, if it is morally impermissible to do “it” to a human, it is no less immoral to do “it” to an animal. So if it is morally wrong to raise humans for food, it is equally immoral to raise animals for food.
If it is as morally wrong to kill thousands of animals in research as the holocaust, then there is a moral imperative to stop such killing . . . by any means necessary. Former ALF spokesman Jerry Vlasak MD argued that if you could kill 5 scientist to intimidate others to stop killing hundreds of animals, it was the right thing to do.
And then, there’s spaying and neutering. PeTA argues strongly in favor of that “for their own good”. But if humans and animals are moral equals, what is the argument against spaying and neutering humans, “for their own good?” Think about that: forced sterilization is a surgical procedure that tramples on the rights of animals (and humans) to the pleasures of having sex and the delights of offspring, while subjecting them to a (potentially) dangerous surgical procedure, without their permission.
PeTA kills roughly 80% of the animals they take into their Virginia shelter because they are unadoptble and too costly to keep. How about doing that with humans?
Why doesn’t the left understand how tired a lot of us are of being accused of believing white supremacy?
But apparently okay [and soon to be mandatory] to believe in black supremacy.
Perhaps the spay/neuter movement is targeting the wrong species….maybe it should look to the loony Left first!
Just Saying!
And the hits, they just keep on coming
This political correctness is out of control! I love animals. But , and I am not speaking of mistreatment, I don’t think my dogs know what a pejorative is. This ” thinking” is emblematic of the left’s preferred dogma. That is to EMBRACE victimhood. Or at least perceived victimhood. And this new administration is only to happy to help further this insanity.
Peta should go find something that warrants their attention…this just shows how inane they really are…the animals certainly don’t care….nor 98 percent of the population….final answer
A pig is a pig. Ask “Republican” Ana Navarro-Cárdenas.
I respectfully suggest people of those views please describe for the rest of us where their see themselves on the Bristol Chart & why.
https://www.health.com/condition/digestive-health/bristol-stool-chart
I mean if were go’in talk sh*t let’s talk sh*t.
PETA stands for People Even Teach Aholes.
Humans shouldn’t kill and eat animals.
Then why are they made of meat?
Liberty, don’t you understand that plants have feelings too?
Pigs call humans “DFs”. Dumb what?
Rather than dismissing Ingrid Newkirk’s comments “out of hand”, it might behoove us to give pause to her reasoning.