Editor:
Today I remember that Tuesday morning as if it were yesterday. I sat at my desk having my coffee listening to the morning broadcast when suddenly the announcement was made: “A plane has just struck the World Trade Center.”
I thought to myself, “It must have been a prop plane.” It didn’t take long before the entire scope of my thoughts had been opened to the reality of the situation. It wasn’t an accident, it was terrorists.
America sees terrorism through different eyes since that Sept. 11th 10 years ago. Today we recognize that terrorism is a global reaching problem. Terrorism comes in different forms and backgrounds, but all boils down to a basic mindset: a belief that their cause is the correct and only one, which is why they are commonly referred to as “extremists.”
Terrorist’s give not a care for anything but that one moment of singular notoriety. Animal extremists are not much different. Their core values are misinterpretations of reality. Their focus so intense on their own beliefs that they fail to listen or believe there are other paths.
Recently HSUS’s CEO was interviewed on a radio talk show called The Animal House. During his interview he made several extremist remarks that you cannot ignore. He equates animal agriculture to slavery and child labor.
“Historically, you get slavery, you get child labor, you get lots of terrible things. This is what we’ve done with many animal use industries.”
He eludes that the Constitution of the U.S. and Bill of Rights extends to animals, saying “Well, we can’t suspend these values when it comes to animals, because we know too much, and we have so many options.”
HSUS proclaims to be an animal welfare organization but their deeds do not follow, they contradict it. While asking the America public for money to support the dogs rescued in the Mike Vick case, HSUS was lobbying to have them euthanized.
In 1993 Pacelle was interviewed for a book titled Bloodties: Nature, Culture and the Hunt. When asked if he envisioned a future without pets he responded, “In fact, I don’t want to see another dog or cat born,” and “I don’t have a hands-on fondness for animals … To this day I don’t feel bonded to any nonhuman animal.”
Yet in the radio broadcast in August he states, “I thought, you know, that I had a particularly important and noticeable connection to animals when I was a kid …” and “I thought the differences that animals exhibited augmented them in my eyes, and I thought well, they’re different, so that makes them even more exciting and all the more worthy of protection.”
Deep down we are kind to our fellow humans and our animals, whether they are agriculture, pets or exotics. In light of the 10th anniversary of 9/11, remember to give a moment of silence for those that lost their lives. Also remember the thousands of animals that have fallen victim to animal extremists like the HSUS.
Keith Campbell
Frazeysburg, Ohio
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“Deep down we are kind to our fellow humans and our animals, whether they are agriculture, pets or exotics.” But this is not so at all! I’m not here to defend hsus or peta or any other group – But to simply speak the truth about the victims caught in the web of human “use” and exploitation.
These are not “our” animals! They may be called property by those who benefit from that definition – But the reality is these beings exist for their own purpose – Not ones we FORCE upon them.
Given so many alternatives to meat, dairy, eggs, wool, leather, rodeos, circuses, etc. – It’s unconscionable to continuing breeding beings just to kill. Enough already. Lets put our science, our skill and capital into options that beneficial to the planet, to our health and to the reduced amount of suffering in the world. High time to evolve to a better way… Blood and flesh used as “products” just isn’t it!