Of all groups that could be classified as "fanatical", none stand out as much as those that devote their lives to the protection of the "rights" of animals.
These groups fall into two broad categories and the difference can be best illustrated by the following example. A car is speeding down the street where a small child and a cat are both in the roadway. The car can’t stop--all the driver can do is swerve and hit one of them. A regular animal rights wacko would say that it doesn't matter which one; both the child and the cat are living things, equally deserving of life. An extremist wacko on the other hand would say that the child should be hit. The cat, unlike the child, will never grow up to drive a car, use an aerosol can, vote Tory or do anything else that will bring certain destruction to the planet.
An animal group in California recently objected to the use of the term "pet ownership". They want it replaced by the term "pet guardians" because ownership connotes slavery. Slavery! That not only insults everyone whose ancestors were once slaves, but everyone who opposes slavery. Where not too long ago black slaves were treated like animals, these loonies now want animals to be treated like blacks. To use a phrase made popular by Mel Lastman, "they're nuts".
One of the more vocal groups is the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals or PETA. They launched a pre-Christmas campaign to provide shelters with "animal free" food to feed the homeless at Christmas. Leading this endeavour was Martin Sheen, father of Charlie who was one of former Hollywood Madam Heidi Fleiss' best customers. Once known as an actor himself, Martin will be remembered as a guy who never found a cause that was too crazy for him to lead.
PETA makes the argument that as the multicultural makeup of the US changes, the homeless consist of more people who, for religious or cultural reasons, do not eat meat. But the real reason for PETA's crusade is found in a statement made by Bruce Friedrich, the group's "vegetarian" co-ordinator. Friedrich was quoted in the National Post as saying, "We're trying to make the holiday a time of thanks for the animals as well."
That it what it is really all about--the animals, not the homeless. All over North America turkeys can be singing the praises of PETA knowing that they didn't end up on the plate of some homeless person. And people who don't know where their next meal is coming are obviously rejoicing in the fact that they saved the life of some poor innocent fowl. Turkeys are more important than people. As for the homeless; to paraphrase Marie Antoinette, let them eat tofu.
The irony is that animals do not have "rights". If they did, mice could sue cats whenever one of their relatives became cat food. If we have the right to kill spiders, but not torture dogs, it is because society (that's people for all you wackos) decided that. Making it illegal to burn down a house does not give the house "rights".
It is a sad commentary when some people spend more time and resources caring about chickens and squirrels than they do about other people.
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