THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, April 10, 1996 TAG: 9604100008
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A12 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: Medium: 52 lines
The animal-rights group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, which will soon move its headquarters to Hampton Roads, announced a campaign to ban sport fishing and the catch-and-release method. Fish coordinator to the group, Tracy Reiman, is quoted as saying, ``Fish are animals. Just because they don't scream doesn't mean they don't suffer. Fish have the brain capacity to experience fear and pain, have sensitive nerve endings in their lips and mouths.
Experts have published voluminous studies showing not only the nerve endings of an unborn child but also its heartbeat, physical development and brain activity, so much so that one cannot escape the inevitable conclusion that when an unborn baby is having its brain sucked out by a doctor, it hurts.
In no way am I putting down groups like PETA. In fact, my public-interest law firm has fought tooth and nail to defend PETA's First Amendment right to speak its message. But I find PETA's logic inconsistent.
For instance, Hollywood is well-known for its affinity for the animal-rights cause. It is also well-known that much of Hollywood is politically liberal and supports President Clinton's administration. The logical inconsistency occurs when a group that fights for the life and well-being of animals supports an administration that threatens to veto a bill to ban partial-birth abortions of unborn children.
It is inconsistent to be pro-animal life and not pro-human life. Regardless of religious beliefs, we ought to be able to agree that human life is at least as precious as animal life. It is inconsistent to be stirred to compassion when an animal suffers but totally unmoved when one of our own kind is ripped apart.
To cite one example, Eddie Vedder, lead singer of the group Pearl Jam, made a mass appeal for all high-school students to protest the use of frogs in their biology classes. Yet his musical group sponsored concerts whose proceeds went directly to pro-abortion organizations. Mr. Vedder sees dissecting a frog as immoral; but dissecting a human baby is obviously well within his comfort zone.
It would behoove PETA to change its name to PETL (People for the Ethical Treatment of Life). After all, just because you can't hear babies scream in the womb doesn't mean they don't suffer.
KEITH A. FOURNIER
Executive director
American Center for Law and Justice
Virginia Beach, April 4, 1996 by CNB