STORM2K

PETA has beef with town of Slaughterville

2/13/2004

SLAUGHTERVILLE, Okla. -- Residents of this central Oklahoma community have a beef over an animal rights group's attempt to raise awareness of animal abuse.


Slaughterville administrator Marsha Blair received a letter from People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, or PETA, urging the town to change its name from Slaughterville to Veggieville.

"I am writing on behalf of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, our 800,000 members and supporters, and other compassionate Americans to ask Slaughterville to change its name -- which conjures up images of the violent and bloody deaths of terrified chickens, pigs and cows -- to Veggieville, a friendly name honoring a heart-healthy and compassionate alternative to animal corpses," the letter said.

PETA, based in Norfolk, Va., promises to donate $20,000 in veggie burgers to a school district nearest to the town, said Bruce Friedrich, director of PETA's vegan campaigns. A vegan is someone who abstains from consuming animal products.

The town was named after a grocery store run by James Slaughter in the early 20th century.

Friedrich, who once lived in the town of 3,600, said Thursday he knows the origins of the name.

"People find our requests amusing, and they chuckle," he said. "But when they're laughing, they have the opportunity to consider the animal abuse it brings up."

For Blair and other residents, the Slaughter family's lingering reputation makes the town's name a sacred cow.


I used to be a card carrying member of PETA But I have since come to my senses.

these people are dangerous. they make the islamic zealots seem reasonable

I am not a card arrying member of Peta and do not support how they go about things. BUT, I recently called them into help me recently with a vital animal abuse/neglect case. They pushed the envelope and this case did not get swept under the carpet as most of these type cases do. Had no other choice and it worked.

They are extreme and I think that what they are trying to do with the town's name is ridiculous. However, they would be an organization that I'd want to back me up if need be.

I don't think the group as a whole is bad, like I said, I was a card carrying member. But it is the extreme elements that give the group as a whole a bad name. The ones who damage personal property, injure people and other crazy things to further their agenda.

stormraiser wrote:I don't think the group as a whole is bad, like I said, I was a card carrying member. But it is the extreme elements that give the group as a whole a bad name. The ones who damage personal property, injure people and other crazy things to further their agenda.

I agree with you on that!! Dang we did it again. LOL!!

Lindaloo wrote:

stormraiser wrote:I don't think the group as a whole is bad, like I said, I was a card carrying member. But it is the extreme elements that give the group as a whole a bad name. The ones who damage personal property, injure people and other crazy things to further their agenda.

I agree with you on that!! Dang we did it again. LOL!!

What is this world coming too????

I agree with you too Anthony. The extreme measures that they take also casts a bad light on other groups like the ASPCA an others.

Head for the hills!!!!!!!!!

Come on now. I was a vegetarian for 6 years. I still like to eat predominately vegetarian, but will eat meat. I don't seek it out so much. I prefer to eat animals I know (I know it sounds sick) but that's because I know how they were raised and what went into them. It also helps me to appreciate their sacrifice for me. Have you ever read " The Jungle" by Upton Sinclair? It sheds a whole new light on the meat packing industry.

Maybe we should start a vegetarian recipe thread in the community forum. Whenever I cook a special dinner for someone, I whip out my cookbooks and have a feast fit for a king, but with no animals.

stormraiser wrote:Head for the hills!!!!!!!!!

Come on now. I was a vegetarian for 6 years. I still like to eat predominately vegetarian, but will eat meat. I don't seek it out so much. I prefer to eat animals I know (I know it sounds sick) but that's because I know how they were raised and what went into them. It also helps me to appreciate their sacrifice for me. Have you ever read " The Jungle" by Upton Sinclair? It sheds a whole new light on the meat packing industry.

Maybe we should start a vegetarian recipe thread in the community forum. Whenever I cook a special dinner for someone, I whip out my cookbooks and have a feast fit for a king, but with no animals.

Go for it! You never know how many may contribute.

I'm not a vegetarian - I love meat but it does distress me as to how the animals are treated.

I remember reading "The Jungle" in school. That was a disturbing book.

I read it too. I mentioned it back in Dennis' post about the BSE in Washington.

I didn't stop eating meat after reading it and if that didn't make me stop, I don't think anything else could. But I do like vegetarian dishes also, especially Asian stuff.