kycowboy
08-09-2005, 11:21 AM
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals has never been subtle. In fact, the flamboyant anti-meat organization is often downright rude in its activism.
Examples include a cartoon booklet for kids, "Your mommy kills animals," that portrays "mom" as a crazed killer; public nudity to protest sheep shearing; and tasteless anti-milk ads that try to link public figures suffering from prostate cancer -- Rudy Giuliani comes to mind -- with milk consumption.
These tactics used by PETA are designed to grab attention. We're sure the organization regards them as humorous. They're not, of course. Shock is no substitute for wit.
PETA's latest campaign is against KFC. It claims the fast-food outfit allows its meals to be killed in an inhumane manner.
PETA has been in Utah demonstrating at KFC stores. Several days ago, 10 demonstrators, including a person dressed in a big-chicken costume, had a noontime protest at a Logan KFC.
It was a pleasure to see how Logan's KFC customers responded to the PETA intrusion. They politely accepted the PETA protesters being there and came in greater-than-average numbers for lunch. According to news reports, the Logan KFC had to call in reinforcements to handle the early-afternoon rush. One local restaurant manager joked that he wished PETA would protest at his place. By all indications, the PETA Logan protest was chicken-feed.
We applaud Logan for its handling of the PETA demonstration. KFC employees were briefed on how to handle a peaceful demonstration. Two officers were stationed nearby in case things got out of hand. Those coming for lunch were polite and respectful to the peaceful PETA protesters.
It seems PETA had little impact in Logan. Tremonton's Marco Carillo, one of the PETA 10 at the Logan demonstration, says the community's tepid response to his message is due to ignorance. "People just don't understand," he was quoted in an Associated Press article.
We agree with Carillo. We don't understand, either, the logic behind a human being dressed in a big-chicken costume hovering nearby while lunchers enjoy a meal.
While we don't agree with PETA's tactics, the group does make one valid point: It behooves all in the meat processing industry to periodically re-examine their efforts to make certain their tactics are civilized and humane.
On a final note, we salute the sentiments of KFC luncher Rusty Smith, who remarked in the article on the pitiful PETA demonstration, "I think there's a place in this world for all of God's creations ... right next to the mashed potatoes."
Now, that observation -- unlike PETA's many campaigns -- shows considerable wit.
Examples include a cartoon booklet for kids, "Your mommy kills animals," that portrays "mom" as a crazed killer; public nudity to protest sheep shearing; and tasteless anti-milk ads that try to link public figures suffering from prostate cancer -- Rudy Giuliani comes to mind -- with milk consumption.
These tactics used by PETA are designed to grab attention. We're sure the organization regards them as humorous. They're not, of course. Shock is no substitute for wit.
PETA's latest campaign is against KFC. It claims the fast-food outfit allows its meals to be killed in an inhumane manner.
PETA has been in Utah demonstrating at KFC stores. Several days ago, 10 demonstrators, including a person dressed in a big-chicken costume, had a noontime protest at a Logan KFC.
It was a pleasure to see how Logan's KFC customers responded to the PETA intrusion. They politely accepted the PETA protesters being there and came in greater-than-average numbers for lunch. According to news reports, the Logan KFC had to call in reinforcements to handle the early-afternoon rush. One local restaurant manager joked that he wished PETA would protest at his place. By all indications, the PETA Logan protest was chicken-feed.
We applaud Logan for its handling of the PETA demonstration. KFC employees were briefed on how to handle a peaceful demonstration. Two officers were stationed nearby in case things got out of hand. Those coming for lunch were polite and respectful to the peaceful PETA protesters.
It seems PETA had little impact in Logan. Tremonton's Marco Carillo, one of the PETA 10 at the Logan demonstration, says the community's tepid response to his message is due to ignorance. "People just don't understand," he was quoted in an Associated Press article.
We agree with Carillo. We don't understand, either, the logic behind a human being dressed in a big-chicken costume hovering nearby while lunchers enjoy a meal.
While we don't agree with PETA's tactics, the group does make one valid point: It behooves all in the meat processing industry to periodically re-examine their efforts to make certain their tactics are civilized and humane.
On a final note, we salute the sentiments of KFC luncher Rusty Smith, who remarked in the article on the pitiful PETA demonstration, "I think there's a place in this world for all of God's creations ... right next to the mashed potatoes."
Now, that observation -- unlike PETA's many campaigns -- shows considerable wit.