What is Al Sharpton doing merging with PETA?

[napi21]

I have always really liked Al, and he has one of the best minds for quick responses that I've ever seen, but what's the deal with him pushing for a boycot of Kentucky Fried Chicken because PETA sants that?

Al, what in the world are you doing???

[Eric J in MN]

1. Do you believe that chicken can feel pain?

If so, why not treat them better?

[Jakey]

2. Probably deciding...

whether he wants his swag extra-crispy or regular.

[shoopnyc123]

3. Link?

[justiceischeap]

6. Link

http://wireservice.wired.com/wired/story.asp?section=Breaking&storyId=986209&tw=wn_wire_story

Why shouldn't Sharpton speak out for PETA and chickens? Has he not always spoken up for those that can't? What's the difference if he's speaking up for human's who don't have a voice or chickens? The way animals are treated before slaughter is horrid and if his voice can lend some humanity to that process then good for him.

If you want to know why Sharpton is doing it, watch the video he narrated for PETA, pretty muchs sums up his position.

[rpannier]

4. He's endorsing the boycott

Because of YUMM foods lousy record at the places that provide the chicken. I support what Al is doing.

[napi21]

9. But PETA is a really crazy bunch!

There are many things wrong with the way we slaughter animals in this country, and it doesn't stop there! The chicken processing plants in North Ga have been cited repeatedly for locking their employees inside which is against all the fire regulations, but they still do it!

Beef aren't slaughtered in any better way than poultry.

PETA doesn't just argue those points, they want all the killing to stop.

Well folks. That's just going to happen! You will never force the American people to just eat vegies, bread & rice!

I guess I'm just wondering why Al has jumped on this band wagon? He's so good at making arguments on the current Shrub ideas, what ever they happen to be at the time. I don't understand why he's not doing that, and choosing the PETA thing to promote.

[rpannier]

13. I guess on this issue I agree with PETA and Al

The way they treat those chickens is appaling. I'm not much of a meat person. I always try to avoid it whenever possible.

[livinginphotographs]

14. Slavery will never end! I mean, come on!

Hopefully, people will evolve. At some fucking point.

My hope is that two hundred or so years from now, we'll look back on this period of animal enslavement and wonder how those barbarians could tolerate it.

PETA does want all the killing to stop, but they're pragmatic about it. They've gotten McDonalds to use more humane methods in killing their chickens, and they're hoping to do the same with KFC.

Look, I don't like PETA. I've got some personal experience with them that isn't too positive, but I really resent DU'ers attempts to discredit the entire animal rights movement based on PETA. Occasionally, PETA does some good things.

[blondeatlast]

29. That's your opinion, which I happen to mildly share.

But the man can speak for whom he chooses.

[CrispyQ]

34. PETA would like people to stop eating meat

and they try to educate people as to how thier daily dietary choices have a huge impact on other living, feeling creatures. But they are not just about trying to get people to consider a veg way of life. They are always very celebratory when one of their campaigns makes a difference in the treatment of food animals. You may hate PETA, but they have accomplished many good things for animals. Also, you have to admit that you know who they are & what their message is, in spite of the fact that you may disagree with it.

[apple_ridge]

37. You haven't quite figured out the purpose of opposition yet,

have you? If PETA wasn't out there pushing for more humane treatment, the situation would be twice as bad.

So you probably think those crazy Sierra Club members go to far, too? Maybe we should do away with them also?

Oh yeah, and how about those wacko NOW members? They actually want equal rights!

[napi21]

43. You have me all wrong.

I am a foster mom for poor unwanted dogs. I have saved 15 in the last 2 years, as a volunteer for a rescue group. The dogs we save mostly come from shelters and puppy mills. We pay all the vet bills to make them healthy and spayed of nutered, and then find them loving homes. You don't need to try to tell me about not caring for the welfare of animals.

I admit, PETA is a recognized organization, and they have good intentions. They just carry them way to far.

BTW, my husband grew up on a farm, and always wanted to buy a steer to raise and butcher. He never did because he said I would make friends with it and wouldn't let him kill it. He's probably right. How could anyone feed an animal every day, clean out his stall, and not care if he was killed, let alone eat him!

My initial argument here wasn't so much against PETA, as it was against Sharpton. He is very good with words. There are so many other things he could be so much more helpful with, why is he fooling around with PETA?

[Piperay]

19. So do I

he is standing up for the 'underdog' which is the decent and moral thing to do.

[jdots]

5. I was one of 73 people who voted for him

We should email him and ask him because he would tell us.
He was the only person who spoke at the convention that made me proud to be an American because he had the guts to get up thier and talk from his soul.Naturally the scum bag press sellouts didn't hear a word while they were getting thier instructions to belittle him after he spoke.

[livinginphotographs]

7. Uh, gee, I don't know

Maybe because Al actually has the balls to speak up for the little guy, whether it's a minority, a poor person, or a chicken who is tortured and mutilated throughout its short life to become food on someone's plate.

I support Al Sharpton 100% in this endeavor.

[Historic NY]

8. HUmmmmmm I live in NY and Al...........well he is for AL.....

I can't begin to tell you , just check for yourself or ask other Ny'ers.

[msgadget]

10. I'm usually the first one to point this out

but in this case I think it's a win for PETA to have someone other than an actor hawking their cause. Keenan Wayans is a member but I don't think their membership is heavily populated with black members and KFC has a lot of restaurants in black communities.

A busy guy, our Al.

[livinginphotographs]

11. Russell Simmons is involved.

And Kwesei Mfume has endorsed the anti-KFC campaign.

I'm not trying to be judgmental, but I'd really like to understand NYC'ers animosity towards Al Sharpton. The "baggage" argument rings a bit hollow with me, especially since we've got a president who was a drunk with a coke problem, and before him a president who "didn't inhale." How long does it take to forgive someone?

[msgadget]

15. Great points, Living

I like Mr. Sharpton for his ability to gather and move crowds of people. He's ALWAYS the ONLY one to speak to the heart of what concerns America. He uses the politicians and they use him.

What I don't like are his vapory foundations and organizations. I find it hard to wholeheartedly respect certain types of preachers because their shadiness can overshadow the very real messages they carry. So, we need him and I know he's got to eat, but I don't like the hustler/preacher aspect of his persona.

[Adelante]

25. Check

It is astonishing to any New Yorker how little the rest of the country knows about Al Sharpton.

[ott]

12. Go Al!

Any effort made to quell the suffering of sentient, feeling beings gets a thumbs up in my book.

[3lefts]

16. Hmmmm....PETA

If PETA had their way:

1) Every dog, cat, hamster, gerbil, goldfish, etc...would be roaming freely about this country.
2) Does your child have a pet? Sorry, it must be free.
3) Do you use makeup? Not anymore. Animal testing would be outlawed.
4) Have you been cured with a drug? Sorry, that won't happen anymore. Testing on humans, not animals, is insane.
5) Do you gamble at the track? Put that slip down, horses are now free to walk the streets.
6) By the way, we need that seeing eye dog back.
7) Stop that spaying and neutering Bob Barker.
8) No sweetie the circus is not in town tonight.
9) I know you love Seaworld honey, but it's closed. Here, have a stick.
10) Yo, Snoop Dog, those Now and Later Gators will land you in jail.
11) Sorry Shaq that full length fur just got you ten years.
12) DO NOT swat that mosquito that is sucking blood from your arm.
13) Don't even think about building a better mousetrap.
14) I don't care if termites decreased the sale price of your house by 50%, they have a right to be there, put the exterminate down.

Ok, I'm done.

[rjx]

21. You promise?

No more KFC for me!

[justiceischeap]

22. If PETA had their way

Just wanted to point out that, though your points are amusing to read, many are wrong.

1, 2) PETA would love to see a utopia, however, they are realists and being so, know that it is unsafe for every animal to walk the earth simply because of domestication.
3) There are many companies that produce make-up without animal testing, so ummm, make-up isn't out, sorry
4) Animal testing has many issues, mostly, there is no animal in the kingdom that matches the human system. So all animal testing at the end of the day, does not make humans safer. There are many new ways to test drugs that don't require testing on animals. John Hopkins is spearheading this movement.
5) Yes, I'd imagine PETA would be against horse racing. It's bad for the horses, it's bad for the jockies and it's bad for the people that blow what little income they make on it.
6) Don't know about their stance on working animals but I certainly don't hear much from them on that front.
7) PETA has a program called SNIP, Spay and Neuter Immediately, Please, and spay and neuter animals on a daily basis. You are just absolutely wrong on this point.
8) Circuses are bad for any animal involved in it. I'd love to see circuses with animals shut down. Think about if you post incorrect data about something and someone came to you and used a bullhook on you. Not a pretty picture. If you have to induce pain to "train" an animal, then you have no business touching that animal IMO.
9) Wouldn't it be nice if Seaworld actually left the animals in the wild from where they came? How about we yank you out of your home and dump you in a tank for people's amusement.
10, 11) There really is no reason to kill animals for their fur or skin. It is a status symbol and nothing else. As far as Shaq's fur coat, imagine someone attaching jumper cables to your testicles (if you have them) or up your anus to electrocute you before they rip your skin off.
12, 14) PETA takes no stance on bugs.
13) PETA offers a humane mousetrap. Remember, we have overtaken wild animals habitats, not the other way around.

[DeaconBlues]

23. bravo

Nice rebuttal. People around here sure do go off the deep end when something about PETA is posted, and its good to see someone state what the organization actually stands for instead of hyperbole.

[ernstbass]

27. Good post - I think PETA does many good things

[blondeatlast]

30. Brave of you to post the profile...

Usually they appear after a while, though...

[Djinn]

44. here we go again with the PETA myths

Every dog, cat, hamster, gerbil, goldfish, etc...would be roaming freely about this country.

total lie - PETA has plenty of info pet-care (they refer to companion animals) so clearly they don't want all pets released

2) Does your child have a pet? Sorry, it must be free.

wrong see above

3) Do you use makeup? Not anymore. Animal testing would be outlawed.

they do not and never have advocated the complete banning of ALL animal testing, they advocate the banning of POINTLESS testing. We already know that shampoo doesn't kill people any reason we need to keep sticking it rabbits eyes? I have a dresser groaning under teh weight of make-up and beauty shit not ONE animal was poked, prodded, starved or injected to make any of it - there are HUNDREDS of cruelty free companies out there.

PETA recognises that many of the tests are obsolete and unnessecary

4) Have you been cured with a drug? Sorry, that won't happen anymore. Testing on humans, not animals, is insane.

please provide a source in whch PETA says they wish to see the banning of ALL animal testing.

5) Do you gamble at the track? Put that slip down, horses are now free to walk the streets.

personally I don't support horse racing but PETA, once again for the hard of comprehension, DO NOT advocate the "freeing" of all animals

6) By the way, we need that seeing eye dog back.

sigh...another outright lie

7) Stop that spaying and neutering Bob Barker.

actually they advocate the spaying of companion animals

8) No sweetie the circus is not in town tonight.

many circuses do not use animals anymore - please explain why it isn't cruel to transport a lion across the country in a cage barely larger than itself?

HOwever PETA only call for an end to CRUELTY, if it were possible to keep wild animals in transit healthily it's be fine

9) I know you love Seaworld honey, but it's closed. Here, have a stick.

again see above

10) Yo, Snoop Dog, those Now and Later Gators will land you in jail.

guess this is a US thing coz I've NO IDEA what you're on about there

11) Sorry Shaq that full length fur just got you ten years.

looks like from here on in they just get stupider and stupider...hey did you hear PETA wants to hunt down everyone that ever ate meat and electrocute them to death....no really I read it on a internet forum
:eyes:

[Skittles]

45. what crap

f***ing crap

[Negatron]

17. PETA hurts Democrats

In the minds of average Americans, PETA extremists are identified with liberals, progressives, and Democrats. We will need to successfully distance ourselves from such groups if we are to make any progress with swing voters and indies.

[Piperay]

18. Then the average American is even stupider

than I realized because I have personally known more rethugs that belonged to PETA than Democrats. I was involved in the animal rights movement for years going back to Raygun's reign and at least more than half the people in it were rethugs and the ones who weren't ranged from Libertarians to Communists with a few Democrats in the mix.

[Negatron]

20. From that perspective, you're right.

The average American IS even stupider than you realized, because it's a fact that "the animal rights agenda" is virtually indistinguishable from the rest of the (allegedly) liberal agenda, which translates to "commie, hippie-loving, peacenik, animal rights, tree-hugging, gay tax-and-spend lefties." They have a dedicated AM radio media that reinforces this viewpoint all day, every day.

Personally, I support animal rights. I think it's just common sense and the right thing to do. However, I don't support PETA, simply because I see them as getting carried away and losing touch with the reality of how things are accomplished in America. PETA may do some good for animals rights, but I think they end up doing just as much harm. Every time they pull some outrageous stunt or say something that makes even most Democrats cringe, the concept of animal rights is discredited by association, and that's unfortunate.

[Name removed]

39. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Piperay]

41. That is not the case

where I am in CA and I don't appreciate being called a liar...MY experience is that there were more repubs, maybe your experience is different but that doesn't make either a lie. :eyes: :mad:

[blondeatlast]

31. Let's see; so did Civil Rights, Feminism, safety net programs,

anti-war protestors...

Ooh, they might HURT us! Make the bad people go away! :eyes:

Look, I'm no PETA fan, but give me a break. If we can't rise above that (somewhat false) perception, we may as well give up.

[blondeatlast]

24. No fan of PETA's, but why shouldn't he? He's entitled to speak

for anyone or organization he chooses--and he's a damn fine spokesman, too.

I may not like PETA, but they are entitled to quality representation as much as any org.

[smbolisnch]

26. Because he's given up on people.

He's decided to help in the effort to end animal abuse, so naturally he has no room left for humanitarian causes. /sarcasm.

At least, many people would have you believe that you can't have equal compassion for both people and animals. I think it's GREAT that Al is lending his voice to the cause. What's wrong with that? Is it really so radical?

Can you please explain to me why it's not a good idea for him to show some compassion for animals just because PETA is involved and you don't like them?

[blondeatlast]

28. If I could stomach the RW "think tanks" I'd look the TP up.

After all, raising the issue on FR won't generate any "fun." :eyes:

Even here, there's not much controversy. Like 'em or loathe 'em, the concession seems to be that he can speak for whomever he chooses.

[blondeatlast]

32. "Merge?" I happen to agree with PETA on this issue, and I speak to others

about it.

I also have benefitted from animal derived medicines (now DNA origin) which PETA vehemently opposed.

Does that mean I "merged" with PETA?

I don't think they'd have me...

[LWolf]

33. Is that really what he is doing?

Is he really advocating a boycott of KFC because PETA says so, or is it because there is good reason to boycott KFC?

I'm not a PETA member, never read their stuff, and have basically ignored them for as long as I've been aware of them. Yet, I've boycotted KFC for years. Does that automatically make me a PETA lover?

Or, could it be that, whether or not everyone can agree with their methods, PETA gets things right sometimes? Perhaps it's not about the group, but the issue involved?

This is a perfect illustration of why the American political system is broken, in my humble little opinion. No one can focus on issues separate from parties and "groups."

Try to discuss an issue anywhere; here on DU or anywhere else, without it becoming a party issue instead of a human issue. Should this discussion be dominated by an argument about PETA and/or Sharpton, or should it be a discussion of the issue?

What is the reason for the boycott, and is it a valid reason? If so, would you rather PETA didn't recognize the issue, so we could boycott without "taint," or are you glad they are taking part?

What is more important? The issue, or who chooses to address it?

[Swamp Rat]

35. "Trapper Keeper will now merge with Al Sharpton..."

[Stop_the_War]

36. boycott KFC -- READ THIS ---

KFC is owned by YUM! Brands, which also owns Taco Bell, Pizza Hut, A&W Restaurants, and Long John Silvers. Taco Bell has a long history of ongoing exploitation of Florida tomato farm workers. This website (http://www.organicconsumers.org/corp/exploit122704.cfm) gives this information:

Florida farmworkers who pick tomatoes for corporations such as Taco Bell
have faced 25 years of nearly stagnant wages. Today, a farmworker must
pick and haul 2 tons of tomatoes to make $50 in a day without even the
most basic worker protections, including overtime pay or the right to
organize. According to the US Department of Labor, the median annual
income for farmworkers is an appalling $7500 per year, lagging far behind
the official poverty line. Worse still, the CIW has uncovered and helped
prosecute 5 modern-day slavery rings in the Florida agriculture industry,
liberating over 1000 captive workers and garnering national and
international attention to the issue of American indentured servitude in
the 21st century. For Novak and Yum Brands, a little PG-13 titillation is
clearly out of bounds, but grinding poverty and decades of the worst labor
exploitation this country has to offer, well, that couldn't possibly be
their concern.

If that's not enough to make you angry at YUM! Brands, you should know that the CEO of Yum! Foods Inc, David Novak, is a right-wing Christian fundamentalist who has donated millions to the Republican Party. From the same website as linked to above:

You see, Yum Brands CEO David Novak is a member of a very large
evangelical church, Southeast Christian Church, the largest church in all
of Kentucky. Southeast Christian is a beacon for so-called "moral values". As Ms.
Posner mentions in her article, Southeast Christian sent busloads of
people to lobby the Kentucky legislature in favor of an anti-gay marriage
amendment this year.

Here is the website again:
http://www.organicconsumers.org/corp/exploit122704.cfm

[donsu]

38. well, I thank him and I back PETA

I stopped eating chicken almost 30 yrs ago because of the terrible way the chickens were raised and killed and for the terrible working conditions the mostly women workers were under. and the crappy pay they got. and for the antibiotics feed to chickens and the samonella they carry.

go Al and PETA

[Judi Lynn]

40. You're absolutely right. It's been known for around 30 years by many

almost anywhere in the U.S. what KFC has been doing to get their product as cheaply and quickly as possible, and make the largest profit.

When my husband was in the States on leave from the service in 1970, he made a point of contacting KFC over some info. he'd just learned about the horrendous conditions under which they were handling these suffering birds. He did it to vent his disgust and anger, and hoped it would help.

Thirty years later, it's still going on. We haven't used that product in decades, either,like you.

Good for Al Sharpton. He always gets the complete attention of the racists among us, who will be there to rave against whatever he's doing, because they hate him. I think he's great. He's no fool, unlike those who sit on their bums and dream about how much harm they'd like to do a man who does give a damn about his community.

[KnowerOfLogic]

42. What's wrong w/ that? I give Sharpton credit for having the courage

to join them. I think that on some level we all know that the treatment of animals by humans is disgraceful, but as long as we just keep ridiculing anybody who says so, it makes it a lot easier to enjoy that chicken sandwich.

[theboss]

46. Check his bank account

Sharpton always has an angle.

[double_helix]

47. as wacky as PETA seems sometimes - I'm happy they exist

when I see disturbing stories of animal abuse, like the KFC thing.

The cowardly punks who hurt animals for fun infuriate me. They need to be dealt with.

And I'm a conservative leaning independent - not a Naderite-vegan-PETA-extremist type. There's nothing wrong with eating meat as long as the animals are raised and slaughtered humanely, but such a standard is hard to bring about without tough laws and social/cultural pressure.

This is not a liberal or conservative issue - it's a human values/ethics issue.

[The Stranger]

48. Look up the word "coalition."

And please don't post again until you have some appreciation for politics. And history. And Civil Rights. Also, throw in Animal Rights.

Thanks!