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Regional - End vegan and animal rights fanaticism
Commentary by Mac Olsen
for Smoky River Express
It’s time to put the fanatical vegetarians and animal rights activists in their place, as they’ve been pushing their weak-kneed, bleeding-hearted liberalism on society for too long.
All those who love to eat meat, please say “aye.” The ayes have it!
All those who enjoy going to rodeos to watch saddle bronc riding, bull riding and tie-down roping, please say “aye.” Again, the ayes have it!
Translation, we who accept these activities as moral and legitimate should not be condemned, badgered and threatened by the fringe groups who do not understand their appeal.
Let’s take the issue of vegetarianism first. I am outraged by people like Pamela Anderson who condemn companies like KFC for selling their chicken products. Anderson’s a well-known vegetarian and she may not like meat, but she should stick to acting and quit imposing her beliefs on those who believe otherwise.
Granted, there was a BSE incident in 2003 and the cattle industry had to change the type of feed it gives to livestock. But that is a very rare circumstance and health legislation federally and provincially ensures facilities like slaughter houses and packing plants are inspected for cleanliness and monitoring of disease.
One company has taken an active role in eliminating the chance of bad meat consumption. Since August 2008, Maple Leaf Foods has voluntarily recalled many of its meat products over concerns about listeria. That company should be commended for its active monitoring of and willingness to recall its products.
Sure, it highlights the need for vigilance in monitoring food products and processing. But extremist vegetarians should not be allowed to use it to harp their excessive propaganda on society.
Now, for the subject of extremist animal rights activism and I put the Humane Society of Canada in that category. This year, the organization condemned the Calgary Stampede as being “brutal” against horses and livestock and went so far as to call on the CBC to not broadcast the event.
“It’s a form of violent entertainment (in which) animals are abused and exploited,” Sinikka Crosland of the Canadian Horse Defence Coalition told the National Post.
True, there have been horse deaths in chuck wagon races at the stampede in recent years, which is tragic.
But the use of horses and livestock in the rodeo is legitimate. It calls back to the time of the open range, the excitement of the roundup, lassoing a wayward horse or steer and the challenge of staying on a horse or bull for the heart-pounding eight-second ride.
In the same article, Barry Cooper calls animal rights activism a fallacy.
“These people who lodge these complaints … are philosophical illiterates when it comes to animal rights because there is no such thing as animal rights. It’s something these people have invented as an analogy with human rights.”
Well said.
I have covered the Elks Pro Rodeo in High Prairie since 2007 and I see the appeal and legitimacy of those who engage in it. But I also have no doubt the owners and trainers give top priority to the safety of the animals.
Only when animal cruelty, such as beating or starving a horse, is proven beyond a reasonable doubt is there a case for prosecution and condemnation. But the rodeo does not qualify as a form of animal cruelty.
Thus, a line has to be drawn against the extremist vegetarians and animal rights activists.
As Nancy Reagan would say, just say “no” to the fanatics.
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