Animal activists encourage discussion
Tweet
Bruce Friedrich
As a vice president for policy and government affairs at People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, or PETA, I have debated animal protection issues around the world, frequently engaging with representatives from the meat, fur, animal-experimentation and circus industries.
But a funny thing started happening about seven or eight years ago: The other side stopped showing up.
Although PETA is always happy to discuss and debate animal rights issues, animal exploiters are no longer willing to do so. I believe their newfound timidity may have something to do with the fact that their positions are so transparently indefensible and the public can see right through them.
One would think, however, this reluctance would not extend to academia. Surely university professors should welcome an open and respectful forum to discuss the issues with which they work.
On numerous occasions, representatives of MSU’s Students Promoting Animal Rights attempted to arrange for a forum to include Jeff Armstrong, dean of the MSU College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, and myself. I was prepared to argue that animal use is not necessary and modern slaughter methods and factory farm confinement practices are cruel. He would have no doubt taken the opposing view as chairman of the United Egg Producers Scientific Advisory Committee for Animal Welfare and as an adviser to McDonald’s on animal welfare issues. Considering he lends his name and prestige (and his MSU affiliation) to these methods and practices, he seemed to be the ideal advocate for those who support animal use. Sadly, Armstrong flatly refused to participate.
If Armstrong wanted to be honest with the students and himself, he would have acknowledged support for “a holistic perspective” (as was stated by the United Egg Producers Scientific Advisory Committee for Animal Welfare) that includes all stakeholders means support for hearing all opinions, not just the ones he approves.
In the interests of disclosure, I should mention PETA recently lifted its moratorium on its campaign against McDonald’s (this happened after Armstrong had already rejected the forum invitation) because the company’s suppliers cram mother pigs into crates too small for them to turn around in, cram hens into tiny cages that cause their muscles and bones to waste away from lack of use and kill chickens using a method that guarantees every year millions of birds will still be conscious when they are immersed in tanks of scalding-hot water to be de-feathered.
It’s understandable why representatives of the meat industry would be afraid to hold an open and honest forum, but if Armstrong believes he is doing honorable work, it’s less clear to me why he refuses to participate. My father has been in academia for more than 40 years and I have the deepest respect for university communities, which traditionally foster the free exchange of ideas. My respect for and knowledge of academic institutions makes Armstrong’s bizarre rhetorical gymnastics on behalf of himself and anyone else he could think of who might be appropriate for this forum all the more difficult for me to understand.
Animals living on factory farms and dying in slaughterhouses face abuses so severe they would warrant felony cruelty-to-animals charges if dogs or cats were the victims instead of cows, turkeys, pigs and chickens.
Chickens killed for KFC and McDonald’s are bred to grow so large they can barely walk and frequently suffer crippling leg deformities. At the slaughterhouse, they are dumped out of their transport crates and hung upside down by their often bruised and broken legs, which are forced into metal shackles.
Every year, billions of them have their throats cut while they are still conscious, and PETA investigations have proven repeatedly that sadistic abuse on the part of workers is the norm.
Despite Armstrong’s refusal to debate the issues surrounding factory farming, I encourage all students and faculty to attend the Meet Your Meat forum 7 p.m. Thursday in B102 Wells Hall. Students and representatives from the agriculture department are especially welcome to attend.
Hopefully, through lively audience participation, we can still have the robust discussion that these issues warrant. And Mr. Armstrong, in case you change your mind, we’ll save you a seat in the front.
Bruce Friedrich is PETA’s vice president for policy and government affairs. Reach him by e-mailing Ryan Hulling, college campus coordinator for peta2.com, at RyanH@peta2.com.
Commentary
Add your $0.02, go to the comment form or follow the comment feed
formerstudent
(04/07/09 7:59pm)Report
PETA’s campaigns disgust me. This article below shows some of their hypocrisy, as well as lack of sensitivity to even their own animal kind (ie PETA’s campaign in Germany also in the article). I get that they are trying to make a point meat is murder. But the shock and awe the demonstrate is just as disgusting as fire and brimstone preaching.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/celebritynews/5106600/Peta-under-fire-over-claim-that-it-kills-most-animals-left-at-its-US-headquarters.html
DO IT YOURSELF
(04/07/09 8:13pm)Report
PETA and D. Bobby love to tear down others.
If you had a real pair — YOU would actually do something. Like producing meat that is “humanely” produced. Or replace the money raised for children’s charities by circuses.
Oh. That would require real work? You can’t do that?
Never mind. You’re useless, like teats on a bull.
DO IT YOURSELF
(04/07/09 8:13pm)Report
PETA and D. Bobby love to tear down others.
If you had a real pair — YOU would actually do something. Like producing meat that is “humanely” produced. Or replace the money raised for children’s charities by circuses.
Oh. That would require real work? You can’t do that?
Never mind. You’re useless, like teats on a bull.
MFR
(04/07/09 8:29pm)Report
Great piece! Looks like a great forum.
peta
(04/07/09 8:48pm)Report
Peta is the SI unit for quadrillion. As in “All of you losers could use 1 petaword arguing for or against animal rights and never change anybody’s mind so don’t bother.”
peta2
(04/07/09 9:35pm)Report
Sorry. I should have said it is the SI prefix.
Jerrod
(04/07/09 9:41pm)Report
Let’s be honest PETA. What percentage of animals did you “humanely” kill? That would be 95%. Animal rights my butt. You and your kind are at least one step below YAF.
John
(04/07/09 10:34pm)Report
This discussion looks interesting. Why wouldn’t the Ag dept want to show up? Sure makes them look cowardly.
John
(04/07/09 10:38pm)Report
P.S. – It doesn’t seem like lashing out at PETA for having to euthanize animals (as all shelters do) is a good strategy for meat-eaters. We all know that eating meat involves killing animals, right? Probably in much more cruel methods than euthanasia too, I’d wager.
Dani
(04/07/09 10:40pm)Report
Oh man, I’m totally going to this event.
formerstudent
(04/07/09 11:50pm)Report
I understand like all shelters they have to put animals down. But I just am against PETA’s actions as far as campaigning. What they did in Germany is an outrage and they use most of their media outlets to guilt people into feeling a certain way. PETA treats their animal rights campaign like a Right to Life campaign. No one is ever going to say I’m for then unethical treatment of animals, just like no one is going to say I’m for killing unborn children. They’re attempting to back the AGR Dean into a corner, just like Right to Lifer’s back those who believe in a woman’s choice into a corner.
dognamedannie
(04/08/09 12:26am)Report
Looks like a great forum. If more folks saw the cruelty behind the scenes on factory farms, there would be more vegetarians in this world. Great work PETA! Check out www.GoVeg.com for more info!
He is right on one thing....
(04/08/09 2:22am)Report
“Although PETA is always happy to discuss and debate animal rights issues, animal exploiters are no longer willing to do so . . . “
This is like saying that although Hamas and Al Quaeda are alway happy to discuss and debate antisemitism, that Jews are no longer willing to do so.
John
(04/08/09 7:15am)Report
formerstudent, it looks like you might want to go to this forum then. If you’re so outraged, tell them! I believe a wide range of opinions is what they’re seeking.
Interesting
(04/08/09 8:05am)Report
Yes PETA is known worldwide for their openminds
(in case anybody is wondering that was sarcasm)
To Dr. Armstrong
(04/08/09 8:10am)Report
In this time of economic crisis I would like to thank you for not wasteing time by getting into a pissing contest with the same people who bankrolled the fire bombing of anthony hall (yes PETA I know it it was never proven, just like OJ was not not found guilty of killing his wife)
Or...
(04/08/09 8:19am)Report
“Although PETA is always happy to discuss and debate animal rights issues, animal exploiters are no longer willing to do so. I believe their newfound timidity may have something to do with the fact that their positions are so transparently indefensible and the public can see right through them”
OR…maybe, just maybe, they just realize that you’re an inconsequential and irrelevant fringe group of lunatics, not worthy of debating. Kinda like the same way that 99% of people ignore the Wells Hall preacher or the homeless guy who wants to convince us all that aliens are eating our brains…
Vice President of PeTA
(04/08/09 9:20am)Report
As Vice President of PeTA (People for the Eating of Tasty Animals), I say this guy (Bruce F.) is a FREEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAKKKKKK!
Nerd!
Jack
(04/08/09 9:28am)Report
I’ll debate you Bruce. How about this for a topic, bacon is delicious. I’ll argue the affirmative.
Brian
(04/08/09 11:00am)Report
Or how about these topics:
A) Steak is delicious
B) Ham is amazing, as are hamburgers
C) my life would not be as pleasant without the occasional Chicken Noodle Soup
I will be on the affirmative side of all arguments.
And why will no one debate you?
A) He is a scientist, helping the world. Why waste time debating with some nut job?
B) PETA uses illogical and unproven claims as “evidence” that a vegan lifestyle is better for you. Where are the articles that supports your superbowl ads claim that vegans have a better sex life? PROVE IT! USE SOME DAMN FACTS!!!
Mehoff
(04/08/09 11:24am)Report
Brian –
Here’s a fact that speaks against vegans having better sex lives: I, in my lifetime, have never seen an attractive vegan woman or guy. It’s an ugly crowd. their sex lives are…well…gross.
farmgirl
(04/08/09 12:44pm)Report
When I originally read this article, it proved to me just how good PETA is at rewording and getting a different portrayal on animal agriculture. Now, their VP is cowardly slandering our own dean of CANR in hopes to try to get him to come out on thursday for the discussion. I commend Dr. Armstrong for turning down this opportunity because I feel that it was yet again, just another way for PETA to corner people of agriculuture and publicly try to ridicule us! No matter what, each party will NEVER agree with one another. As a livestock producer myself, you have to pick and choose your battles wisely; however, you should never turn down the opportunity to show them how things operate – showing the good, the bad and the ugly.
I appreciate the comment above about PETA actually helping out and not just exploiting through a rigorous vegan advertising campaign.
PETA SUCKS
(04/08/09 12:50pm)Report
Hey Bruce, Here’s my view on farm animals……fun to pet, better to chew. Go back to California with all the other hippies. We don’t care what you think or what you have to say.
go away hippie
(04/08/09 12:58pm)Report
I’m SICK and TIRED of these far left nutjob DUMMY-crats crying about how it’s evil to feed ourselves. Go hug a tree PETA, you’re just as intolerant as the atheists.
Jack Meoff
(04/08/09 1:24pm)Report
their sex lives are…well…gross.
their wimmins don’t shave .. anywhere.
dang.