Update: PETA Explains Criticism Over Obama Fly Swat
Filed under: animals — Michael Parrish DuDell @ 11:48 am
June 18th 2009
Earlier this week, my partner in crime Michael d’Estries told you about an Obama fly swat that rocked the world.
Here’s how it went down: during an interview with CNBC, President Obama killed a fly that was buzzing around the set. In response, many news outlets reported that PETA was publicly condemning Barack for his actions. But that’s not really the WHOLE story.
In an effort to bring some clarity to the situation, PETA released a statement saying:
“As we all know, human beings often don’t think before they act. We don’t condemn President Obama for acting on instinct. When the media began contacting us in droves for a statement, we obliged, simply by saying that the president isn’t the Buddha and shouldn’t be expected to do everything right—if not for that, we would not have brought it up. It’s the media who are making a big deal about the fly swat—not PETA. However, we took the opportunity, when asked, to point out that we do offer lots of ways in which to control insects of all kinds without harming them. There is even a chapter in PETA President Ingrid E. Newkirk’s book, Making Kind Choices, about how to rid your home of “uninvited guests.” ‘
“We support compassion for all animals, even the most curious, smallest, and least sympathetic animals. We hope that everyone will take inspiration from Nobel Peace Prize winner Dr. Albert Schweitzer, who included insects in his realm of compassion and would stop to move a worm from hot pavement to cool earth.”
I’ll be honest — I’m with PETA on this one. I mean how else should an organization that defends animals — all animals — react to this sort of incident? What are your thoughts on the story now that you’ve heard both sides? Chime in and share, share, share!
I just killed like 100 million organisms by scratching my eyebrow… should I expect a PETA bull-shit-storm?
I’m an animal rights activist, though I’ve never supported PETA and their practices. I believe that they make a circus out of the issue.
I just want to explain that I do not care about animals more than people. We should be doing more to help less fortunate people such as those at Darfur. I just do not understand why so many think that in order to care for people we must be ignorant toward animals. Why not help both?
Besides, I believe that our attitude towards animals reflects a lack of respect toward life in general. If people refused to tolerate animal suffering, imagine how the world would react to human suffering.
We are not here to protect all animals from every possible harm — ANIMALS KILL ANIMALS!
I don’t understand why we hold ourselves to such ridiculous extremes (due in thanks to PETA), we are just animals ourselves after all.
Anyway, does anyone listen to PETA’s extremism anymore these days?
Obama is not the Buddah and we are not all Buddists. Thank you PETA for revealing (once again), that you are really just a radical religious organization!
Come on PETA, the President had a stupid fly flying around-a fly. i don’t think it really matters that a fly was killed that day. PETA is the most ridiculous organization that i know of.
Ok let me get this straight…..
Global warming: No one gives a shit
Dictators in Africa: No one gives a shit
Death of poor people: No one gives a shit
Fly being killed by Obama: EVERYONE GIVES A SHIT…..
mann what has happened to us…i mean theres so many other pressing issues in the world but killing a fly is like headlines….
-_-