Bryan Creason

Entertainment Editor

    When most people think of PETA, they think of people fighting the good fight for animals, standing up against animal testing and fighting against inhumane treatment of animals. Unfortunately, PETA isn’t as angelic as people might think. Endorsing terrorists and the use of terrorism tactics, PETA isn’t all that it’s cracked up to be.

    PETA’s main objective is the “total liberation of animals.” For most people, this sounds like a good thing; of course, most people don’t look past the disconcerting images on PETA’s website. What Ingrid Newkirk, PETA’s founder, wants is the TOTAL liberation of animals. That means no more zoos, no more circuses, no more pets, no more seeing-eye dogs. PETA’s issue of liberation isn’t the only thing questionable and deplorable. Take PETA’s billboard campaign, ‘Holocaust on Your Plate,’ in which PETA compares the mistreatment of animals such as goats and chickens to the horrors of the Holocaust. Many Jewish groups such as the Anti-Defamation League have obviously taken offense. Newkirk issued an apology, but only apologized for the ‘pain’ caused by the billboards, not for comparing the Holocaust to animal slaughterhouse conditions.

    ‘Holocaust on Your Plate’ isn’t the only irreverent PETA campaign. PETA’s Your Mommy Kills Animals! is a comic book which informs children that their mothers specifically are responsible for the death of countless cute animals. The cover illustrates a mommy slicing up a still-alive rabbit and three pictures of animals either in pain or skinned. This was marketed towards kids.

    PETA’s platform is anti-animal testing. This is an understandable position to take, but its validity goes out the door the moment two facts are realized. One, PETA’s Senior Vice-President, MaryBeth Sweetland uses insulin, a product used to combat diabetes that was tested on animals. When asked about this, Sweetland had this to say:

“I’m an insulin-dependent diabetic. Twice a day I take synthetically manufactured insulin that still contains some animal products -- and I have no qualms about it... I’m not going to take the chance of killing myself by not taking insulin. I don’t see myself as a hypocrite. I need my life to fight for the rights of animals.”

Mary’s hypocritical behavior aside, the second reason PETA’s view of animal research is deplorable is from a quote by Ingrid Newkirk herself: “Even if animal research resulted in a cure for AIDS, we'd be against it.” PETA would rather diseases such as AIDS and cancer continue than test on animals.

    The saddest thing though is that I haven’t even scratched the surface. Newkirk’s support of destroying the pit bull species, funneling funds to criminals convicted of firebombing scientific laboratories and medical research, and their support of the Animal Liberation Front, a group that can be easily compared to terrorists is deplorable. In short, PETA is anything but ‘ethical.’