Blogging is probably going to be light for the next few days, because my DSL modem is on the fritz, which hampers my ability to track down URLs and check sources — punishment, no doubt, for my many, varied and significant sins . . .
But I do think you should know that the Foundation for Biomedical Research has joined the fray by launching an ad against PeTA, one that is directed towards the Hollywood celebs. who seem so impervious to an objective reality. Here's what the FBR press release has to say:
Contact: George Goodno of the Foundation for Biomedical Research,
202-457-0654LOS ANGELES, July 25 /U.S. Newswire/ -- A provocative ad campaign launched today in Weekly Variety advises Hollywood celebrities who support People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PeTA) to "fire their publicist" in light of the 62 felony animal cruelty charges that have been brought by police against two PeTA employees.
The ad appears on pages 1 and A7 in the "Annual Philanthropy Issue" of the fabled trade magazine. It lists the names of 50 celebrities serving on the Honorary Committee for PeTA's 25th Anniversary celebration, including Pamela Anderson, Christina Applegate, Alicia Silverstone and Victoria Principal, and suggests: "If your name is on this list, fire your publicist."
"Some people say there is no such thing as bad publicity," cautions the Foundation for Biomedical Research, and refers readers to the recent gruesome discovery of dead dogs and puppies in North Carolina, allegedly killed in the back of a van, stuffed in trash bags, and tossed into a dumpster by PeTA employees.
Said FBR President Frankie L. Trull: "We believe that many of the stars on PeTA's Honorary Committee simply don't know what they're supporting. Chances are, they lent their names to this ubiquitous animal rights organization out of genuine compassion for animals, but would be shocked and appalled by the indiscriminate killings of homeless pets.
"The implications of the PeTA Death Van Scandal are dark and disturbing. And the fact that PeTA has neither condemned nor denied the charges casts grave doubt on the credibility of this organization," added Ms. Trull.
View the ad at: http://www.fbresearch.org/deathvan.
Though it is a fact of life, I continue to be puzzled that there are people among us who can be influenced into supporting a bizarre cause simply because some Hollywood luminary attaches his/her name to it. The skills necessary to be a fantastic actor, one of which is the talent to create a fantasy world, then to enter it and — well — act as if it were real, don't necessarily have much to do with political or social wisdom.
I'm very pleased that the FBR has seized the moment as they have. I hope their ad will change the minds of some of the glitzeratti who have staked out such a huge piece of self-discrediting turf — or at the least will provide them sufficient motivation to distance themselves from PeTA.
But if nothing else, the ad will probably cause others of them to pause, and some who might otherewise have lent their name or donated funds to PeTA may not now do so.
This is all to the good — sunlight is the best disinfectant, and the FBR's ad is a bright ray indeed, and it's well-focussed to boot.
Still, I can't help but think of how FBR could improve on their fine beginning . . .
For example, they might want to consider taking out one or two additional ads, the better to target more diverse audiences. Why not place an ad in PeTA's own "Animal Times"? Or possibly in "Bite Back"? The former ostentaciously promotes a "cruelty-free" world, the latter is uncompromising in its views about what should happen to animal abusers . . .
Brian