THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT 
              Copyright (c) 1997, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: Friday, January 17, 1997              TAG: 9701180019
SECTION: FRONT                   PAGE: A12  EDITION: FINAL 
TYPE: Letter 
                                            LENGTH:   35 lines

FROM PETA TO PETALS

Using PETA's clear and logical reasoning, I offer an idea for a splinter group to cover an overlooked area. Hence PETALS, People for the Ethical Treatment of Lawns and Shrubs. How long can we permit the continued abuse of lawns and shrubs for our amusement and pleasure?

The cycle of torture is continual: Spring, we tear at lawns with power rakes and dethatchers, ripping plants out, removing them from loved ones and killing them. Then the survivors are inundated with chemicals and manure, and to what end? To make them grow, so we can with ironic cruelty mow them down. And what of weeds? Don't weeds have rights too (another good splinter group)?

Summer, we tend our lawns, but why? To walk on.

Fall, the cruelest time of year - we kill off the old, weak and infirm, just so we can reseed and start a new generation of enslaved plants to satisfy our needs.

Winter, the lawn lies dormant, regaining strength for the cycle of terror to begin again.

And shrubs? Many come from nurseries (the puppy mills of the plant world). With nary a background check, shrubs are sold off to anyone with money.

And what about the ritual slaughter of Christmas trees every year? Some families make it a barbaric outing: They select a tree and kill it and bring back the slowly dying remains tied to the roof of their car, all the while singing songs.

This is a cruelty that can be remedied. Let your lawns grow free! Let nature take its course! We can no longer subjugate lawns and shrubs to our desires! PETALS now!

D. G. FULLMER

Virginia Beach, Jan. 4, 1997