People who REALLY Suck: PETA (The People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals)

Before I start, I want to make it absolutely clear that I support, in principle, the Societies for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and other, legitimate organizations who are truly concerned with the well-being of animals. Furthermore, I am completely neutral on the topic of people choosing to live vegan lifestyles. As long as you're not evangelical about it and are simply abiding by the dictates of your conscience without infringing on the rights of others, I have no problem with you (such as Moby). My main concern for those who live a vegan lifestyle is that they be intelligent about it. I hope those who do so find and avail themselves of alternative sources of fat-soluble vitamins, particularly those in the B-complex, for the sake of their health. The consequences of failing to do so can be devastating not only for themselves, but for any children they may have, as deficiencies in B-vitamins have serious neurological consequences, especially for infants and children.

By that same token, I want to make it absolutely clear that I do NOT support extremist groups for whom animals are merely their prop, particularly those with ties to those who have, in the past, had direct dealings, including but not limited to membership therein and/or in their "support groups", with ecoterrorist organizations such as the Animal Liberation Front, et al. PETA, that means you and your ilk. There is never a justification for terrorism, and the only thing that separates the ALF, ELF, etc., from other terrorist groups is the type of bullshit in which they believe. Though this link has more to do with the Humane Societies of the United States than PETA, the points are still salient. I'm sure we all remember with disgust bordering on rage their "Holocaust On Your Plate" ad campaign, though the reasons for its cessation would be humorous if it weren't true. PETA even gained mention for its alleged support of the ALF on the website of an anti-terrorism consulting firm based in DC. They certainly have provided monetary aid to the Earth Liberation Front, and have an uncanny knowledge of some ALF activities extremely shortly after they take place, so any potential ties to the ALF would, to this humble observer, seem believable and consistent with past patterns of behavior by PETA. For more information on these and other questionable and downright stupid actions by PETA, please visit AnimalRights.net. Also, there are more interesting though more generic articles at the Foundation for Animal Use Education.

Those, however, are sites owned by opposing groups. It may be more interesting to see what they have to say in their own words. Read this article they've written about Animal Testing. Despite their contention that animal research is of limited usefulness in treating and curing human diseases, the truth is quite the opposite. A partial listing of the benefits to both humans and animals derived from animal testing is available here. Also, I'm sure everyone is familiar with the use of insulin to control diabetes, a treatment that has saved numerous lives and would not have been possible without animal testing and insulin derived from animal sources. PETA may try to talk a good game, but their actions and their own words betray them.

And now that I'm done writing on this topic, I'm want a huge glass of milk, which I'll drink while deciding whether I want a 2-lb. steak lightly charred on the outside and dripping blood with a nice fat stack of garlic bread with butter oozing from it, and maybe as a midnight snack, battered sticks of cheese fried in lard, with some horse-derived gelatin for dessert. And after that, I'll be thankful for the coronary bypass procedures perfected on animals many years ago and the pacemaker which was similarly tested so that, if I were of a mind to do so, I could do it all again.