It is shit like this that makes it hard for me to sympahthize with these guys.  As much as I support animal rights, and as much as I wasn't a supporter of public financing for this balpark, I personally think the brick ought to be torn out.

-- Modified on 4/17/2004 3:29:09 PM

Penn & Teller, in their new season of Showtime's series "Bullshit", did a well-deserved hit piece on PETA.

It's important to remember that PETA's avowed goal is to raise "animal rights" to the point where they would outlaw zoos, people owning any pets, and service animals such as seeing-eye dogs. Anyone donating to PETA should be aware that this organization, if it gets its way, would have no compunction 'liberating' your dog or cat.

On PETA's website, they make repeated allusions between the Holocaust of WWII and our current use of animals. The logical conclusion is that one is then morally justified in using violent actions to prevent animal research. Indeed, Penn & Teller found that PETA paid ~$70K to one Rob Coronado of their 'action' arm, the Animal Liberation Front (ALF); Coronado was convicted of the firebombing of a Michigan research laboratory.

Hypocrisy is a mainstay of PETA. On the one hand, they vigorously (sometimes violently) oppose any medical research performed with animals. On the other, a diabetic vice-president of PETA has no problem using animal-derived insulin to treat her diabetes - she claims that her life must be spared so that she can carry out her work saving 'other' animals. Also interesting is their purchase of a large frozen meat locker, probably used to store the ~1,000 animals that they've had to 'put to sleep' at their national headquarters. When the ALF conducts one of their raids, there is often no provision for caring for the liberated animals.

-- Modified on 4/18/2004 5:52:51 AM

I know someone who has been a PETA member for years, and she is unbelievably kind to animals (she has sacrificed much of her nest egg for a sick dog she found), but she looks at PETA, the organization, as a "take the good with the bad" scenario.  She would never sacrifice her pets, and she knows that PETA are extremists.  She just thinks that they help balance things and that they bring some things to light that are good, which they have.  It is just a pity that they are so heavy handed in the other direction.

Talk about bringing back memories. Hate mail was the best part of the site.

They bought a brick, and included a message.  The Padres cashed their check and approved their message.  It was not PETA's responsibility to insure that the message conformed to the Padres norms, it was the Padres' responsibility.  And they did.  It just so happens that there is an embedded anagram in the brick.  Big deal.

attempt to advertise a boycott.  (I'd hardly call it an invasion.)

HE HE I hope they paid prime $$ for the silly advertisement!!

WOOF!

Elise [email protected]

It does look like PETCO was viewing the "brick" with a detached sense of amusement. Except for violent incidents by the ALF (and then hit both PETA/ALF with the RICO conspiracy laws), maybe laughing them off is the best way to go. No doubt that drives them crazy, especially when they're dressed up in their chicken suits. Which reminds me, it's about time for that chicken dinner....

I will try to be more literal next time, Professor. :P

Some of those Chicas are pretty hot, those fur protesters possess FINE muffs!

Elise [email protected]

One would think it goes against the spirit of the issue.