Lone Tree

Lone Tree

I have often been told that you should never discuss religion or politics in public, because it might start a fight.

I believe the reason those two subjects start fights so easily is because they are so important. Your own personal religious beliefs and political ideologies determine a great deal of who you are. Even if you have no particular belief, that determines much of your approach to life. Furthermore, the prevailing religious and political ideas of the country you live in and of the world as a whole are fundamental to determining the conditions of the country and the world as a whole.

I conclude that people with any real interest in the world or its future have to discuss religion and politics. Even if it starts a fight.

Tuesday, July 13, 2010

Wonky PETA Wars

Mary C. Pearl received Senator William Proxmire's "Golden Fleece" award awhile back for applying for funding to research how rhesus monkeys behave in the wild. The "Golden Fleece" is given to the person or group Proxmire believes begs for money to pay for bogus science. Personally, I don't think Pearl's research idea was bogus. Rhesus monkeys were widely used in laboratories and it makes sense to have a base line for how they'd act if they weren't trapped in wire cages in colorless, sterile rooms.

Her recent article in Discover magazine, April 2007, touches on the confusing, hypocritical world of political fighting over animal rights and government funding.

She faults The Center for Consumer Freedom web site for "misleading polemics designed to alarm animal lovers." The site's reference to PETA's killing of "defenseless creatures" is based on PETA's practice of "humane euthanization of unwanted dogs, cats and other pets at a PETA-run animal shelter."

Wait. What's wrong with The Center for Consumer Freedom holding PETA's feet to the fire on this one? If it's ok to kill "unwanted dogs, cats and other pets" living in a PETA-run animal shelter, then why isn't it ok to kill cows for food and mink for fur? I don't get it. What's the difference?

It's a mad, mad world all right.

No comments: