The PETA Principle: Lab Rats Over Sick Children
PETA's habit of placing lab animals above human life is so extreme that the group's president and co-founder, Ingrid Newkirk, is on record stating: "Even if animal research resulted in a cure for AIDS, we'd be against it." And Newkirk's group has supported the violent destruction of scientific research facilities. In its IRS filings, PETA has admitted funneling over $70,000 to Rodney Coronado, a convicted arsonist who burned down a Michigan State University research lab.
My niece has pet rats. I've had pet mice along with a variety of other rodents (along with dogs, cats, fish, birds, a snake, and turtles). Rats are cute and can be both affectionate and intelligent. I would come down with both feet on anyone who mistreats or abuses a pet of any type but putting the value of an animal's life over that of a human's is extreme.
We are responsible for the welfare of animals but not at the expense of human lives. How much do you have to hate humanity, and by extension yourself, to think that the life of a rat is worth more than that of a child?
Posted by marybeth at February 2, 2004 05:44 PM PETA