Pryor Daily Times (OK)
Fanatics with money - a dangerous combination
Column by Kathy Parker
September 10, 2002
http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=5316488&BRD=1826&PAG=461&
dept_id=104305&rfi=6
Probably everyone in America has heard of PETA by now. That stands for
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals.
This bunch of zealots condemns scientific research involving animals,
the wearing of fur and leather, eating anything that once had a
heartbeat and the euthanization of any animal. Add to that their tirades
and disruptions at rodeos, circuses, zoos and on fishing boats and what
you've got is a bunch of people (largely an urban lot, I figure) who are
trying to generate publicity, get themselves prominently displayed in
the media and who must need something constructive to keep them busy.
With the advent of the Internet, it is possible to gather up loads of
information that would have previously been inaccessible or almost
impossible to ferret out. With the help of Progressive Farmer's Web
site, some interesting information concerning PETA is now available.
An Associated Press story stated that out of the 2,103 animals "rescued"
by the cult in 1999, 1,325 of them were put to sleep anyway. Well, maybe
that was because they just didn't have the money to save any more of the
critters. A nonprofit do-gooder outfit like PETA is surely operating on
a shoestring, isn't it?
Hardly. During 1999, PETA had a budget of over $17 million, with cash
reserves of over $4 million. Although they rush to defend lab rats and
snapping turtles if cameras are rolling, PETA seemed oblivious to the
death sentence handed down to 1,325 dogs and cats.
PETA spends a pittance on animal shelters, $3,955 of its $12 million in
1995 and $6,100 of $10.9 million in 1996 according to their tax forms.
Wonder where all that money is going?
Well, in 1995 they sent $70,500 to Rodney Coronado, a convicted arsonist
and self-avowed member of the domestic-terrorist group calling itself
the Animal Liberation Front. He served a five-year federal prison
sentence for an animal rights related firebombing at Michigan State
University. Worse, PETA is proud of its ties to domestic terrorism and
makes regular donations to fringe groups such as the American Earth
Liberation Front. That outfit has been named a domestic terrorist
organization by the FBI.
So these PETA members have turned into terrorists under the guise of
"protecting" animals. Throwing blood on someone's clothes does nothing
for any animal. Breaking windows, bombing research facilities (where
there are animals inside) and blowing up cars does nothing for any
animal - except for the human animal craving notoriety.
Obviously ethical treatment is an oxymoron in PETA's case. Blowing up
things and ruining people's belongings has nothing to do with working
toward actually helping animals, and as far as the money goes, those
millions of dollars just seem to be disappearing instead of furthering
the "cause." The whole bunch would be a joke if not for the fact that
they are scary and have money - a dangerous combination.
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