Today's Gary Bogue Column: More PETA letters

[Guest guest]

From the Contra Costa Times:

http://www.bayarea.com/mld/bayarea/living/columnists/gary_bogue/3212846.htm

 

Posted on Tue, May. 07, 2002

GARY BOGUE

PETA tactics inspire some varying opinions

 

Winners don't eat wieners.

-- Ingrid Newkirk, " Save the Animals! " (1990)

 

THE PETA DEBATE

 

Here are a couple of differing views of PETA and sad

cows from readers in response to Friday's column.

 

PETA'S CUTTING EDGE

 

Regarding your comments about unhappy cows, we have a

few thoughts of our own.

 

We don't support many of the outrageous stunts that

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals have

performed to publicize their agenda, nor do we embrace

a vegan lifestyle, but their efforts appear to have

spearheaded advancing social change occurring in this

country about the humane treatment of animals.

 

For example, PETA picketed McDonald's restaurants a

few years back offering " unhappy meals " -- cartons and

contents characterizing suffering cows -- to

McDonald's customers.

 

It made the 6 p.m. news, and whether or not we thought

it was a meaningless gesture on PETA's part,

McDonald's now has very specific policies in place

about how their beef suppliers must treat livestock.

Soon after, Wendy's and Burger King followed suit.

 

More recently, McDonald's expanded its program to

include the humane treatment of chickens. (Stories

on this subject can be found on National Public

Radio's Web site at www.npr.org. Use the key word

McDonald's in the NPR archives.)

 

PETA appears to be on the cutting edge in recognition

of animal welfare. Sure, the pouring of blood on fur

and protests at the stores selling fur coats offended

many of us, and PETA was publicly ridiculed, but fur

coats are all but obsolete for the right reasons.

 

We believe this sea of change will continue to happen

over time, with Europe setting the pace. In England,

for example, McDonald's advertises that they only buy

free-range chickens. True, the bird doesn't retire out

there in the pasture but at least it had the chance to

breathe fresh air. (Dick & Pat, Oakley)

 

STOP PETA SILLINESS

 

I was wondering if you or your readers would write

anything about PETA and the dairy cows.

 

You said that although PETA does some pretty silly

things, they also do some good. Well, if you have

any pull with them, you should tell PETA to quit doing

silly things. It just detracts from their good

efforts.

 

I'm a California gal, born and raised. I'm in my early

50s and have always had relatives who lived in the

countryside. So, I've seen dairy farms and cows

grazing in fields many, many times. (Yes, I can tell

the

difference between a cow and a steer!)

 

I was somewhat surprised about PETA's accusations. I

suppose there are " corporate " dairy farms with

deplorable conditions for the cows, but I do think

it's an injustice to the family-run dairy farms to

lump them into the same category and say that all

dairy farms are bad.

 

My first reaction when I read the news article was

negative. Even in retrospect, it is still negative.

I'm

inclined to think there was another motive behind the

attack.

 

I understand the majority of PETA members are vegans

in the strictest sense -- dairy products are taboo.

Along come some humorous commercials promoting milk

and cheese that people find amusing. So a stop has to

be put to that nonsense! That's where PETA falls down

in my eyes.

 

The Humane Society, SPCA and ARF have all received

contributions from me over the years. Why? Because

they do not get involved in crusades that border on

the ridiculous.

 

Don't get me wrong. I am very much against animal

abuse. If there are dairy farms where cows are forced

to roam on manure piles, put them in the spotlight and

let's do what we can to change it.

 

But don't attack an organization that's trying to sell

its product, or legitimate dairy farmers who treat

their cows humanely. (Marsha, Concord)

 

 

Gary's here Tuesday-Friday & Sunday. Questions,

comments to Gary, c/o Times, P.O. Box 5088, Walnut

Creek, CA 94596-0087; 925-977-8582; see old columns at

www.bayarea.com/mld/cctimes/news/columnists/; e-mail

garybug.

 

 

 

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