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Veganism

A Lukewarm Defense of PETA

Sort of.

Pauline

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I’m advocating for animal rights and better arguments

I never thought I’d ever reach a point of defending PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals). In most vegan** and leftist spaces I frequent, PETA is never considered cool.

It is more shocking to find a PETA supporter than to find a vegan or pro-animal rights advocate.

People gleefully have a long list of grievances against PETA. The proud carnists (a term for omnivores coined by Melanie Joy) ridicule PETA for their ridiculous antics, such as throwing paint on fur-coats. Millennial gamers hate them for making stupid versions of beloved games. Women hate them, POC hates them, etc.

And yeah, I think everyone who’s been hurt by their misogynist and racist advertising is valid in their feelings. Messages carrying xenophobic undertones must be criticized and stopped.

But I believe people still make “people eating tasty animals” jokes attributed to people’s resentment towards PETA for challenging their love of a good burger.

Take, for instance, the latest PETA drama with BTS collaborating with…

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