DATE: Thursday, September 4, 1997           TAG: 9709040022

SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B10  EDITION: FINAL 

TYPE: OPINION 

SOURCE: BY PATTY LaROSSA 

                                            LENGTH:   61 lines

PETA IS NOT CRUELTY-FREE WHEN IT COMES TO CHILDREN

At 7:30 a.m. last Thursday, cars were already pulling into the parking lot of the Food Lion at 6206 N. Military Highway in Norfolk. It was easy to pick out the auditioners. The kids were sparkling - clothes with no wrinkles, ice cream spots or grass strains - and the parents looked wary. Would their kid sing the jingle? Or would he or she hide behind mom's knee?

All of this is probably what the crews of the 10 Oscar Mayer Wienermobiles are used to, since they've hit over 100 cities this summer in the Oscar Mayer Talent Search to find just the right kid to be in a television commercial next year. They're probably used to the hopeful parents . . . the shy, but eager kids . . . and PETA.

The auditions weren't scheduled to begin until 9, but as soon as the Wienermobile pulled up, and ``Patty the Pickle'' and ``Mike the Mustard'' and crew got out, the kids were lining up. The Oscar Mayer crew got them signed up, passed out numbers, and then went over the rules. The first rule given was to ``Have fun!'' They did several fun songs and exercises with the kids, and then went over the rule about being a good audience and being quiet while each child took their turn at the microphone. But maybe the PETA people, who were gathering a few feet away, couldn't hear the rules. The second rule was ``QUIET ON THE SET!'' But maybe PETA couldn't hear them for their chanting and breaking out of their picket signs.

Then it was time for the kids to brave their stagefright and sing the jingle of their choice, either the Oscar Mayer Wiener jingle or Bologna song. The first little boy came up. He looked only about three years old. While he sang the Oscar Mayer Wiener jingle, his mom held her breath, and the kids in the audience quietly watched. However, the PETA people loudly joked and talked among themselves.

When he finished, the audience applauded. Then the PETA people started their obnoxious singing. They used some original words of the jingle, and changed some, to come out with a twisted version of the song the little kids were trying to sing.

We could barely hear kid number two singing, but the PETA protesters were just getting warmed up. By the time my 4-year-old daughter Madeline was singing, the audience couldn't hear her at all. ```Mike the Mustard'' assured us in the audience that the microphone picked up a three-foot radius. So it would pick up the child and not all the rude PETA singing.

Rude? Yes. Don't get me wrong. I believe in freedom. I'm glad we live in a country where groups like PETA can have an opinion and express it. But guys, let's get a grip. What good does it do PETA to be rude to children, thereby alienating their parents?

My daughter Madeline didn't understand. She's too young to understand. And she's also too young to be introduced to such issues. Yes, I teach her to be kind to her kitty cat. But the cruel treatment of animals is an adult issue. Not an issue for my 4-year-old, who was very hurt that those people were so rude.

After we got into our car, I tried to explain to her that some people get so caught up in things that they forget and leave their good manners at home. The children in the audience had better manners than PETA did this morning.

Maybe instead of concentrating so much on the ethical treatment of animals, PETA needs a little class time on the ethical treatment of children. MEMO: Patty LaRossa lives in Chesapeake.

Send Suggestions or Comments to webmaster@scholar.lib.vt.edu