PETA Sucks

I really hate PETA. In fact, although an environmental historian and someone who cares deeply about the environment, I can't stand the whole animal rights movement. There are many reasons for this--from its puritanism to its ideological inconsistencies on which animals deserve protection to its flirtation with anarchism in the 90s to its rampant sexism. The utter tone deafness of PETA is really shocking.

And now, in the wake of George Tiller's assassination, PETA has reached a new low.

A national animal rights group plans to erect billboards in Wichita urging people on both sides of the abortion debate to go vegetarian.

One version of the billboard says, "Pro-Life? Go Vegetarian." The other says, "Pro-Choice? Choose Vegetarian." Both feature a photo of three baby chicks.

Lindsay Rajt, campaign manager for People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, said the billboards were prompted by the recent shooting death of abortion doctor George Tiller, who was killed Sunday at his church.

"The discussion of the value of life is front and center right now in the public conversation," Rajt said today.

"We think we would be irresponsible if we don't talk about how we're all guilty of extreme cruelty to animals every time we sit down to a meal that includes meat.

Um, no. Equating meat with killing an abortion doctor is simply immoral. And I'm sure that people who believe differently than myself think the same thing about comparing meat to fetuses. What do they think they will accomplish here?