Being a facebook fan of PETA I learned of this news story hosted on creative loafing.
The news in brief?
In Midlothian, VA a woman armed with a chicken suit and a vegan pie showed her colors as a PETA member by pieing Ronald McDonald a Mcdonald's grand opening at the Hancock Village Shopping Center.
I was actually somewhat shocked to see that someone who manages PETA's facebook linked to this event as a positive story.
Now don't get me wrong, as protesting is certainly an important right people have in this country. I even thought it was funny and most likely harmless. However an act like this is considered an act of violence. Sure, the pie to the face is a classic gag even more exciting to some when veganized, but it's this sort of behavior that gives protesting a bad name when viewed by those who do not yet support animal rights activism. I think it's fair to say that a big portion of the American public have the attitude that PETA serves to interrupt their happy and animal-product-consuming lives. People who consume animal products consider their lifestyles as their right, just as protesters know that safe non-violent demonstrations are theirs. It's my opinion that posting this as if it were some sort of step forward in the fight against animal cruelty.
Quite simply this is a protester stepping dangerously close to the line of unsafe and violent protesting from a legal standpoint. A loud display of ridiculous behavior better suited to a three stooges film in their heyday. Knowing several average meat eating Americans (and formerly being one myself) I think I can safely say that this is not something the opposition will be quick to take seriously.
Let's keep our standards when voicing our opinions. Creativity should be utilized to maintain the effectiveness our message.
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I agree with what is posted. What could giving Ronald McDonald a pie in the puss possibly accomplish? What I did notice, though, after reading the article was the fact that PETA got the opportunity to be interviewed for the article and talk about the inhumane slaughter of chickens. I think these silly tactics are precisely why PETA does what it does, i.e., to get the facts printed in articles. And, obviously, it works!!! I wouldn't mind slamming a pie in the face of a Ringling elephant trainer ;)))
I very much agree with your statement "Creativity should be utilized to maintain the effectiveness our message." I thinks it's good to be able to disagree with activist tactics and to challenge them when appropriate. I have never pied someone or been pied myself, but I am almost certain pieing won't solve anything in the long run, except a sugary face. Whether or not this was an official PETA activist/employee, PETA's posting of this article serves as an endorsement of this activity. That said, we all know that animals are treated with way more violence than a pie in the face. However, we should all be focused on what will bring results that will help animals. It would be tough to show how pieing Ronald helps animals.
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