I’ve always held a pretty dim view of zealots and activists. I mean, I just don’t see the logic behind losing your ever-loving mind in the process of trying to teach someone else a lesson or bring them around to your point of view. Truth is, the further into zealotry and activism you drift, the farther away from logic and reason you stray. Consequently, I’m less inclined to listen to you, or give any credence or merit to anything you might say – you’re insane.
To illustrate my point, just take a glance at Ingrid Newkirk’s Last Will & Testament here. For those who don’t know, she’s the president of PETA. That last link goes to the wikipedia page describing PETA, not their actual home page – I don’t want to be responsible for sending any traffic to those morons.
Here’s some of the more fascinating and down right insane parts of this womans last will:
“That the “meat” of my body, or a portion thereof, be used for a human barbecue, to remind the world that the meat of a corpse is all flesh, regardless of whether it comes from a human being or another animal, and that flesh foods are not needed; “
“That my skin, or a portion thereof, be removed and made into leather products, such as purses, to remind the world that human skin and the skin of other animals is the same and that neither is “fabric” nor needed, and that some skin be tacked up outside the Indian Leather Fair each year to serve as a reminder of the government’s need to abate the suffering of Indian bullocks who, after a life of extreme and involuntary servitude, as I have seen firsthand, are exported all over the world in this form;”
“That in remembrance of the elephant-foot umbrella stands and tiger rugs I saw, as a child, offered for sale by merchants at Connaught Place in Delhi, my feet be removed and umbrella stands or other ornamentation be made from them, as a reminder of the depravity of killing innocent animals, such as elephants, in order that we might use their body parts for household items and decorations;”
Yes, this is a woman of reason, devoted to a good cause, who rationally and compellingly explains her position and persuades others to join her noble cause.
/sarcasm.
Jeezus. I really don’t even know what to say, other than I want to know where to buy a wallet made out of this woman’s skin. That’d be awesome.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m all for treating animals and other people, and plants – hell, even inanimate objects like stones and dirt – in a respectable fashion. In the case of plants and animals, that simply doesn’t extend to not eating them. I mean, from my point of view, the human body has basic chemical requirements, the same ones it’s had for millions of years. Meat fulfills some of those requirements nicely. Can the same requirements be fulfilled without meat? Sure, but it’s a pain in the ass and involves all kinds of unnatural things like tofu and soy derivatives.
I get that poeple find many things to be passionate about. If you’re really interested in making a differerence, why not start with logic and reason. You might actually get somewhere.
