Shrink-wrapped PETA

If all the shrink-wrapped PETA members in the world were laid end-to-end, it would be good to just leave them that way.

I realize that this subject is strikingly fresh (can you see the expiration dates on the PETA packages?) But I thought I should escape from Intelligent Design for a spell and comment on un-intelligent activities, like being shrink-wrapped and put on public display.

When I first saw this picture, my reaction was the usual, “What are these crazy people up to now?” Then I thought, “At least this is fairly harmless (except for the danger of suffocation) and less disgusting than splashing blood on fur-clad ladies or handing out leaflets to small children, telling them that their parents are murderers for roasting turkeys or going fishing.”

Then I decided to see if engaging in these embarrassing activities is all that PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) does as an organization. So I Googled and found their website http://www.peta.org/ —or I should say sites, for they have literally dozens. I was quite surprised to find out how big the organization is and how much they do, not only by way of silly and offensive demonstrations but also in more legitimate educational and legal persuits.

The PETA sites also gave me new insight into the extraordinary amount of animal cruelty that goes on in the world and in numerous industries, many of which we don’t or would rather not think of as animal abusers: food, entertainment, cosmetics, medical research, education and many more. I know that you would benefit from—and be shocked by--perusing PETA’s material.

Of course, PETA’s very evolutionary “we’re all relatives” philosophy makes them go way too far. Their descriptions of animal groups are precious. Fish, for example are portrayed as, “ smart, sensitive animals with their own unique personalities. They have excellent memories and can learn to avoid nets by watching other fish in their group and can recognize individual “shoal mates.” Some fish gather information by eavesdropping on others, and some even use tools. Says marine biologist Dr. Sylvia Earle, “They’re so good-natured, so curious. You know, fish are sensitive, they have personalities, they hurt when they're wounded.” Enjoy more at: http://www.goveg.com/amazingAnimals.asp

PETA encourages people to be vegetarians, especially vegans, as even the dairy industry is rife with cruel practices, and “milk is for babies.” And that may be a good thing. The vegans I know look fairly bright-eyed and bushy-tailed and make me look sicker than I actually am.

From a biblical viewpoint (the only one that really counts) flesh eating was permitted after Noah’s day because God’s curse on the ground had made it ever more difficult to get sufficient nourishment from the degraded plant kingdom. (See Gen 1:29-31 and 9:1-4 for the before and after commands.) But also see Paul’s warning against dietary and other prohibitions in I Tim 4:1-5--legalism kills grace!

The world offers an almost infinite variety of dietary advice, as a visit to the diet and cooking section of a book store will reveal—no meat, no dairy, no grain, high this, low that, no this, all that. Try these for varied titles:

The No-Grain Diet by Joseph Mercola (Was he also the author of that old song, "Get out of the wheat field, Nelly, you're running against the grain"?)

The Maker's Diet by Jordan Rubin (I don't think the Intelligent Designer designed this one. And it mostly likely excludes my favorite sandwich, the Rubin Grill.)

Kill It & Grill It: A Guide to Preparing and Cooking Wild Game and Fish by Ted Nugent (I think Ted and Shemane look even more bright-eyed and bushy-tailed than the vegans I've met.)

I guess there is no end to the making of diet books. Pick whatever suits your taste and doesn't kill you right away.

Well, we have wandered far and wide in this bloggeration. Now I should go and see if there are any PETA-approved tidbits in my cupboard for lunch—or maybe I'll find some sensitive, good-natured sardines.)

p.s. OK, I suppose I shouldn't make fun of all those special and varied diet plans that folks dream up. Some of them have probably been of great benefit to those who have the discipline to stick with them. It is true that our love for carbs has caused a pandemic of obesity and diabetes in this country, and maybe that no-grain diet may be a solution. So if you think you can do it, by God's grace, go to it.

The Maker's Diet is supposed to be biblically based (post-flood, because it includes meat) and it saved the author's life. It does get expensive, so I'm told, with all the supplements required, but it probably works for its stick-to-it-ers.

As for Ted and Shemane's program, they say that they haven't eaten store-bought meat in thirty years. If you live where you can hunt and have a yo-big freezer, and you can look those wonderful game animals in the eyes and shoot'em anyway--more power to you.