International Eat An Animal For PETA Day
I probably shouldn't do this, but y'know, it's practically impossible to resist. When I started International Eat an Animal For PETA Day last year, the news was picked up by a vegan site that took extreme offense with my idea, and started a message thread. I've been getting hits from that site again. Some fool started up a year-old discussion, and the vegans are pissed all over again. Well, gee. I should apologize or something, I suppose.
I've always believed in "live and let live". Just because someone doesn't believe as I do...well, that hardly makes that person wrong. I support the concept of vegetarianism. Veganism is a bit too "out there" for me, but I can understand the appeal for some folks. When I moved to Texas almost seven years ago, I was a vegetarian. Of course, it's a fair bit easier to live a meatless lifestyle in Portland, OR, than it is in Seabrook, TX. Eventually, I decided that I missed seafood and poultry, and living in a coastal town, this seemed a reasonable choice. Call me a traitor, but that was my choice- and perhaps that is the lesson here.
I support PETA, in a general sort of way. They do many good things, but they take themselves WAY too seriously, and their methods leave much to be desired. It's easy to consider PETA members crackpots, because their methods frankly don't speak to any sort of moderation. Some people actually do believe in something called the Food Chain, and that we as humans happen to be sitting at the top of said chain.
Extremism in the defense of anything is no virtue, and PETA does itself no favors by being so over the top. Today, then, many of us will be having a bit of fun at PETA's expense. It's just too bad those folks don't have a sense of humor. I was going to invite them over for some fish and chips, but I don't want anyone chanting in the street or pouring blood in my driveway. Maybe next year, guys....
Look, if you feel so strongly that meat is murder, then stick to your vegetarian lifestyle. Think less of the rest of carnivorous humanity if you must, but let's leave the judgemental condemnation at home, shall we? We don't expect you to live as we do, and you have no right to expect us to live as you do.
In the meantime, I've got two words for y'all today: POPCORN SHRIMP. Party on, Garth....
