Letters to the Editor
Penny Barrett Hornsby
Published Letters: 45 Editor's Choice: 3
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To be honest
[Read the article: Eight Belles' last run]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]I swing by this site when I can. I don't have a whole lot of time but I do like the articles and for the most part, the comments by Salon readers. I feel no need to try and explain my point of view, or the validity of my argument, to people who sit behind an opening in the wall only to pop their gun of sarcasm and belittling blather over the side and start shooting. It serves no purpose. If you want me to explain my point, I will gladly do so, but I don't respond well to barbs and chiding. I deal with enough of that in real life.
My point in regards to PETA is that it is an organization that has done an abundance of good - from getting users of gestation crates that are so small that the sow cannot turn or groom, to the reduction of usage in battery cages to going out and providing dog houses to "pets" chained in a backyard with little to no cover or comfort. Do I agree with activists throwing paint on furs? No. Do I agree with all of their tactics? No. But I back them. Because, regardless of the name of the organization (which comes complete with a full set of heavily laden baggage), there is an army of people at PETA who give their heart and soul to the cause of animal rights. They see the worst of the worst and the continue day in day out. Just like Americans. I don't honestly believe that over half this country backs the decisions of the decision makers but my point in comparing the PETA's reputation and people to the America's reputation and people may have not have been clear. I apologize. I was trying to point out that there are thousands upon thousands of decent, hardworking, dedicated citizens that do not deserve the negative labels that are being affixed to Americans by those outside our country based on our policies . Do not paint all Americans with the bush brush and please do not categorize all those people involved with PETA by the fringe activists.
And just for the record - I was saying that PETA does say milk is bad for you, as stated by Lynx, and I gave her one of the many reasons why (pus from infected udders). That morphed into "Yes, and grass is only meant for goats, not cows. How inane to think only one kind of creature can gain nutrition from a single type of food." Changing the argument from why milk is bad for you to the nutritional gain of a single food type.
I see no point in pursing an argument with someone that is changing the origin premise.
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Animal Criteria for Life
[Read the article: Eight Belles' last run]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Can I just address the "usefulness" issue that seems to rear its head pretty regularly when the topic of animals comes up? For instance Laurel talks about the usefulness of racehorses, as well as a variety of other animals - cows, etc. - and that if we didn't breed them for our own purposes, they would become extinct or lead a difficult life...the feral chihuahua would anyway from what I gather.
It's just a very good thing that we don't apply this to ourselves, don't you think? The usefulness issue, that is. I know far too many people that wouldn't make the grade and the thought of human slaughter houses does not appeal to me at all!
I just think we humans are a such an arrogant lot. If it weren't for us, well! Those pesky animals sure are lucky! Geez, if not for us where would all those battery hens hang out all day but on their luxurious 8x10 rectangle, debeaked, detoed (ouch), unable to expand her wings. Lucky girl! And cows! All the gloriously happy cows! With their rupturing udders, their endless pregnancies, their calves ripped away from them, standing on lots of their own excrement, bursting with hormones, antibiotics and pride at the mere thought of being able to be of such use to the noblest of animals.
How about animals having a right to be? Just be? Without being forced into some ridiculous money making venture, entertainment venue, or food processing plant? If certain animals go extinct because we no longer cage them, torture them, neglect them, well, I would think that wouldn't be such a bad thing.