"Sean C" <redhawk@hvc.rr.com> wrote in message
news:060920030400399042%redhawk@hvc.rr.com...

I recently had a conversation with two members of PETA (People for
the Ethical Treatment of Animals) and I was shocked at the casualness
that these people had towards the idea of blowing up research
laboratories and even killing researchers if that is what it takes to
"liberate" animals. PETA is opposed to animal experimentation of any
kind in all scientific research, and they are also against the
domestication of animals. They feel that all domestic animal species,
including pets, must be allowed to die off as they are unnatural--the
product of genetic manipulation by humans--and that these animals
suffer immensely because of this (this is actually true in some
instances--dachshunds come to mind). Needless to say, they are also
against seeing-eye guide dogs for the blind or the use of trained
macaques for paraplegics.

To me, these PETA people are dangerous fanatics and have links to one
bona fide terrorist organization--the Animal Liberation Front--and
are vocal supporters of other fanatics who advocate the killing of
scientists. It is interesting that the two I spoke to claim to be
"spiritual, not religious" and had all kinds of nasty things to say
about religion. The irony being that PETA's philosophy is pretty
supernaturalistic in itself, and is as bad as any religion. Their
ignorance and dogma threatens to throw us back to the Dark Ages as
sure as any religion.

I questioned if all scientific experimentation should be done on
humans, like the Nazis did, and one of them offered that that
abortion clinic murderer should be used as a test subject. They
appparently failed to see the connection between this guy's killing
humans because he thinks a fetus is the equal of a person and the ALF
killing people because they think lab rats are the equivalent of
people (note: I don't believe the ALF has actually killed anyone, but
merely threatened it).

I am a hard core leftist, but the utter lack of critical thinking
skills of many ideologues on the left makes me cringe sometimes.
They're as bad as the fundies, in my view.

Then you are as bad as the fundies for using two members to pigeonhole
an organization with a broad stroke of your bigottted paintbrush.

And, just for your information, PETA has no official religious stance. Why
would it? Again, you are taking the views of your extremist friends and
arbitrarily applying it to an organization of millions. This is very akin
to fundamentalists who say all atheists are immoral because of Stalin.

turk

"Sean C" <redhawk@hvc.rr.com> wrote in message
news:060920030400399042%redhawk@hvc.rr.com...

I recently had a conversation with two members of PETA (People for the
Ethical Treatment of Animals) and I was shocked at the casualness that
these people had towards the idea of blowing up research laboratories
and even killing researchers if that is what it takes to "liberate"
animals. PETA is opposed to animal experimentation of any kind in all
scientific research, and they are also against the domestication of
animals. They feel that all domestic animal species, including pets,
must be allowed to die off as they are unnatural--the product of
genetic manipulation by humans--and that these animals suffer immensely
because of this (this is actually true in some instances--dachshunds
come to mind). Needless to say, they are also against seeing-eye guide
dogs for the blind or the use of trained macaques for paraplegics.

To me, these PETA people are dangerous fanatics and have links to one
bona fide terrorist organization--the Animal Liberation Front--and are
vocal supporters of other fanatics who advocate the killing of
scientists. It is interesting that the two I spoke to claim to be
"spiritual, not religious" and had all kinds of nasty things to say
about religion. The irony being that PETA's philosophy is pretty
supernaturalistic in itself, and is as bad as any religion. Their
ignorance and dogma threatens to throw us back to the Dark Ages as sure
as any religion.

I questioned if all scientific experimentation should be done on
humans, like the Nazis did, and one of them offered that that abortion
clinic murderer should be used as a test subject. They appparently
failed to see the connection between this guy's killing humans because
he thinks a fetus is the equal of a person and the ALF killing people
because they think lab rats are the equivalent of people (note: I don't
believe the ALF has actually killed anyone, but merely threatened it).

I am a hard core leftist, but the utter lack of critical thinking
skills of many ideologues on the left makes me cringe sometimes.
They're as bad as the fundies, in my view.

Then you are as bad as the fundies for using two members to pigeonhole an
organization with a broad stroke of your bigottted paintbrush. Despite
accusations by conspiracy buffs, PETA has never been linked to the ALF.

it were linked, you can be sure the organization would be prosecuted. If
you have some evidence to this link, I'm sure there are plenty of government
organizations that would wish to talk to you.

means that you have sent in a donation, pretty much the same as becoming a
member of the United Way, police charities, etc. For you to automatically
assume that these extremists are somehow policy-makers for PETA or even
largely representative of membership is ignorant at best and deliberately
slanderous at worst.

PETA is about shining a spotlight on the plight of animals. In this effort,
it is a masterful organization. Despite criticism of some of it's campaigns
("Got Beer?" comes to mind), the organization is very accomplished at
getting publicity. PETA deliberately enters into controversial campaigns in
the hopes of getting people's attention. Unfortunately, doing cozy little
fundraisers doesn't draw the press anymore, so PETA takes a more proactive
approach to it's campaigns, and although it does tend to polarize opinions,
it does get people talking.

And, just for your information, PETA has no official religious stance. Why
would it?

arbitrarily applying it to an organization of millions. This is very akin
to fundamentalists who say all atheists are immoral because of Stalin.