Posted on 10/16/2009 1:38:17 PM PDT by markomalley
The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) is the smartest and richest animal rights group around. Unlike PETA, it doesn’t openly proselytize that old animal rights religion, e.g., sentience gives moral value, “a rat, is a pig, is a dog, is a boy,” the quote from Ingrid Newkirk and title of a certain author’s soon to be published book. This strategy has been very effective, allowing HSUS a level of mainstream respectability that other animal rights groups can’t match.
But make no mistake, HSUS is about animal rights–eventually ending all animal husbandry and human hegemony over fauna–and its head, Wayne Pacelle, is a hard core evangelist. He has a piece on Michael Vick today, that, I think, unconsciously reflects the explicit religious nature of animal rights advocacy. It is about fall, repentance, redemption, and altar calls–indeed, it is permeated with a subtle, but distinctly Christian, narrative. From his piece:
A person who committed an awful crime against animals is found out. Prosecutors take the case seriously, and the perpetrator eventually pleads guilty. The judge metes out a stern penalty, given the sentencing guidelines at the time.
Man falls. Of course, Vick acted abominably, but follow me on this. He is convicted of his wrongdoing, confesses, and suffers just punishment. But there is redemption and a public confession of faith:
And then, upon release from prison, the perpetrator comes knocking on the door of the largest animal protection group and says he wants to sign up to do community service for the anti-cruelty team. He makes the pledge public so there is accountability.
You think I am reading too much into this? Then, get the ending:
In a civil society, there must be accountability for grievous actions. But there also must be an embrace of people who are willing and ready to change – even in tough cases, like Michael Vick. We are all sinners when it comes to animals, and we can all do better.
We have all sinned against animals? Substitute God for animals in this piece, and you have a classic Christian message. Yup. animal rights is religion and Wayne Pacelle a high priest of the faith. Hallelujah!
Animals can have no rights. They can be “respected,” but that’s it.
And, of course, they make great food!
This is interesting, among other reasons, because one of FT’s regular writers had a “vegetarian = pro-life” piece in the issue before the current one.
“We have no problems with the extinction of domestic animals” - Wayne Pacelle
I certainly think a more sympathetic poster boy than Vick could be picked. I think Vick is lower than the dogs he sicced on each other.
He sounds like he’d be happier at PETA. HSUS doesn’t officially take that line.
Please don’t think that the HSUS is any better than PETA. They both have the same goals, whether HSUS is as outspoken about it as PETA is or not.
If the new management ruins HSUS, then they can’t complain they weren’t warned.
By the way they may be the “smartest and richest” but they aren’t the oldest in the USA. That honor, I believe, goes to the ASPCA.
Around dusk a few weeks back, I looked outside our home and saw an injured bird standing on the ground. It was a pigeon. It was white with brown markings. It was rather pretty. It had obviously had some damage to one of it’s wings.
I didn’t want to scare it and cause it to injure itself more, so I found a old fruit box and put the bottom half of it upside down over him. I then put a flat piece of sturdy cardboard under the box, which he was inclined to walk onto as I pretty much covered the area under the box. I then turned the box over slowly, removed the flat piece of cardboard, and placed the top of the box on with some convenient holes in it so the bird would have good air.
At this point I called the local humane society. I explained what I had and asked if they could help. A young woman arrived in about 45 minutes. I turned the bird over to her, and I explained that I didn’t think they could do anything to repair the bird, but that I was willing to, and in fact wanted to care for the bird. So if they could stabilize the bird, I would do the rest. Just return the bird to me and I will take care of him.
I called back the local humane society and explained to the people on staff there, that I DID NOT want the bird destroyed. I know that bird wings can be clipped. The bird won’t be able to fly, but it can live a decent existence with someone looking out for it.
The next morning I called in to see how the bird was doing, and facilitate picking up the bird and get a few pointers along the way.
I was informed that the bird had been killed. I asked the person why this was done after I specifically asked to have the bird back once it was well. The lady said that nothing could be done for the bird, and so they killed it.
I don’t know everything there is to know about birds, but this one could have been saved. I told the lady this, and I said I would never call the humane society again to get help with an animal and hung up.
These agencies are not what they are cracked up to be.
There’s nothing like a bleeding heart when they want your support, but when it comes to actually making things better, you’d be better off to call Charlie Manson.
Pacelle has been the president of HSUS for 5 years and been in the organization 10 years before that. He’s not exactly new.
Agree with you there. I can’t imagine anyone thinking dogs ripping each other apart was sport. Frankly, if the penalty for Vick was being mutilated like the dogs were, I’d turn my back on the ass and think he got a fair shake.
Better to know of a good veterinarian that does wild animal benefit work ahead of time. Some of these county yokels couldn’t care less.
My dog believes in dog freedom of speech.
Some of my favorite tee-shirt messages on the subject:
Meat is murder....tasty, tasty murder.
I didn’t claw my way to the top of the food chain to eat vegies.
GO MEAT!!!
Consider “VEGGIES ARE WHAT FOOD EATS”.
Dr. Jordan Rubin, author of The Maker’s Diet, says he only eats vegetarians. (plants and grass fed animals) hee hee.
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