Animal rights advocates have long sought to eliminate cruelty to animals used in

scientific research, consumer product development, and education. But in recent years

a new breed of animal protectionist has pursued a more active approach, one that has

included acts of violence and terrorism, and that has thrust the issue more prominently

into the public eye.

The origins of the modern animal rights movement commences with the actions of

two radical groups that bloomed in the 1960 s and 70 s: the Hunt Saboteurs (HSA) and

it s militant offshoot, the Animal Liberation Front (ALF). Through these groups actions,

the landscape has turned into a war zone in which animal zealots torched medical

laboratories, firebombed fur-selling department stores, desecrated graves of long dead

hunters, and initiated attacks against gun and butcher shops. They targeted animals

used in entertainment too, and just displaying a circus poster was enough to put a shop

owner s business in jeopardy. It wasn t until 1975 when Australian philosopher Peter

Singer wrote his book, Animal Liberation, that the entire animal rights world received it s

popular mission statement. His book gave the activists a simple, rational argument to

support their beliefs. It also gave intellectuals a basis from which civilized debate could

proceed. Of special interest is Singer s popularization of the term specieism, which

animal rightists use to indicate racism against species other than one s own, of which

Singer claims is immoral and indefensible. Simply put, the main idea of Animal

Liberation is: If you wouldn t do it to a human, you shouldn t do it to an animal.

History documents that the goals of the radical element of the animal rights

movement have been served by terrorism. Prominent leaders in the mainstream of the

animal rights movement are not willing to appear pro-violence in public because they

realize they must maintain credibility and respect to function within the social structure

they need to influence. The leaders of these groups maintain working relationships

with the mainstream public by doing things that they know are socially accepted.

Famous people are known for their joining in the cause. Paul and Linda McCartney,

Kevin Nealon, Alicia Silverstone, Bob Barker, k.d. Lang; these are just a few of the

famous who use their celebrity to show their support for the cause of animal welfare.

Members of the national group PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) are

sent literature that tells them how they can do more for the animals. Just being a

vegetarian isn t enough, some of their advice suggests getting a job in a laboratory that

uses animals for research. They suggest working the late shift, apparently it is easier

to videotape and take photographs during the wee hours of the night. In 1983, ALF

took six rats used in research on Alzheimer s disease from John s Hopkins University.

In a prepared statement, ALF stated that the animals were fellow travelers on this

planet and should not be used for painful, pointless, and repulsive experiments. In

1988 ALF stole thirteen beagles from the University of California, Irvine. Eleven of the

stolen animals were involved in painless research on the effects of air pollution on the

lungs. Two of the dogs were used in a study on sleep apnea. In 1989 ALF broke into a

research laboratory and office at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center in

Lubbock. An estimated $50,000 to $70,000 worth of equipment was destroyed; five

cats trained in sleep research were stolen; and, research data and a scientist s

personal documents were stolen. The cats were involved in research, sponsored by

the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, dealing with breathing during sleeping.

Sir George Duckett, head of the Society for the Abolition of Vivisection in England,

said that vivisection is monstrous. Medical Science has little to learn, and nothing can

be gained by repetition of experiments on living animals. He said this in 1875 and

time has proved him wrong. Just in the last hundred years, vivisection (the use of

animals for research) has helped us find cures for many diseases. We have cured

rickets, leprosy and whooping cough, eradicated small pox, discovered the use of

insulin in treating diabetes, benefits of exercise on the heart, cholesterol lowering drugs

and many more. And they are still trying to find cures and treatments for many other

diseases such as AIDS and Cancer.

Despite a history of ongoing use by humans, from the earliest records forward, and

despite the respectful view of animals held by humans, it is clear that people have

never practiced anything close to a universal code of behavior toward animals. Even

when wide-spread social acceptance of a particular religion prevails, individual

interpretations of that doctrine still mark human/animal ethical relationships. Where s

the beef? may reveal the modern American position on beef eating, but our preference

for cheeseburgers and barbecued ribs is not a universal one. The sacred cow of India

bears testimony to a different standard and famines have been recorded in which

people have actually chosen to eat one another rather than violate their religious taboo

against eating a particular species. Many Asian diets include the meat of dogs, but

Americans who eat them as pets are repulsed by the idea. So it goes. In this age of

free speech where anything goes, the animal rights activists have taken their beliefs

too far causing more harm than good.