(articles) The PETA/Michael Moore issue

[London Down]

http://blog.peta.org/archives/2007/06/dear_michael_mo.php

http://blog.peta.org/archives/PETA_letter_to_Michael_Moore.pdf

I think they make a few good points. Maybe calling him an "elephant" and referring to him as a "fat, bearded dude" aren't the right way to go, but the message that meat is a factor is valid and the way they present it is, mostly, calm and diplomatic. Still, the tabloids insist on doing what they do best: overreacting to everything and making animal-rights activists look like tools.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/19079604/

PETA did anything but attack Michael Moore, and they never used the phrase "You're the sicko". But maybe I'm looking at this all wrong.

[concept]

It's asinine "letters" like this that will continue to drive good, open people away from PETA's message. While Moore is known to be anti-animal rights activism, there was absolutely no need to stoop to the level in the letter. Absolute shame.

I'd bet an anti-PETA movie is in the near future. Just fuel to the fire for all of the ignorant out there, and PETA will be part to blame for these disrespectful letters. Too bad. PETA could otherwise be a worthwhile organization.

And just to think I was offered a job there. Glad I didn't take it.

[Bof]

Maybe calling him an "elephant" and referring to him as a "fat, bearded dude" aren't the right way to go,

An 'elephant in the room' is quite a common expression, meaning that someone has overlooked something that should be very obvious.
And, he calls himself fat. :yes:

[petal9]

I havent seen sicko yet so i probably arent in a posititon to comment, but i was under the impression his film is about the poor state of the health care system and not about individuals health or his own health or health and dietry habits. Im not sure why they would attack him over this, guess i'll just have to wait till i see the film to know.

[SuperChicken]

I didn't find the letter that offensive; it is basically the truth. Michael Moore is obese, talks openly about his fondness for meat, and then makes a movie about the healthcare crisis in the US (allegedly without acknowledging diet or personal accountability). Since Michael Moore is in the business of publicly exposing politically incorrect "truths" - seems appropriate to me.

[Treehugger267]

Done in poor taste and mean spirited. Name calling just bothers me even if there is some truth behind it.

[SuperChicken]

Done in poor taste and mean spirited. Name calling just bothers me even if there is some truth behind it.

There is really no name calling though. The only mention of the word "elephant" is in the sentence: "Although we think your firm could help reform America's sorely inadequate healthcare system, there is an elephant in the room, and it is you." It goes on to congratulate him on the movie, suggests that his fans want to see him healthy, lists several healthy reasons to go veg, and PETA offers its help.

Regarding the elephant remark, it's a figure of speech. Michael Moore is grossly overweight making a movie about health. As Wikipedia describes it, "The elephant in the room is an English idiom for an obvious truth that is being ignored."

I don't read that as calling Michael Moore an elephant, making fun of his weight. Maybe I have thick skin though?

Here's a direct link to the full letter if it has not been posted: http://blog.peta.org/archives/PETA_letter_to_Michael_Moore.pdf

[Treehugger267]

I just don't think that because he wants to shine light on our health care problem that he should be poked fun at. I don't know, it's always bothered me when people are mean toward overweight people. And yes, I understand that it is a major problem with our health care costs. Just my own personal weirdism.

[kentauros]

I'm guessing that the message was not lost on Moore. I say this because I watched an interview Amy Goodman did with him on Democracy Now! He mentions at the end how he had begun to change his eating habits, joking about eating those brightly colored and crunchy things called "vegetables" :D He also said was getting in at least a half hour to an hour walk every day and had lost 30 pounds so far. Maybe he started this before the letter from PETA, so maybe they should be made aware of this bit of info :)

[Seusomon]

Although I think the article on the PETA site was disrespectful, I thought the actual letter was fine, written with professionalism and just a touch of gentle humor of the type that Moore would probably enjoy. I also heard the Democracy Now interview, so I think he has no difficulty appreciating the connection between lifestyle and health. I doubt he'll go vegetarian, but the point is just for PETA to get a little publicity out of the interest in his new film. No big deal.

[truepeacenik]

it's the battle of the media wh0res!
that will get neither any useful benefit. No one who isn't already involved in veg*anism or animal issues cares what PETA has to say, and no one is going to go see Sicko just because it hacked PETA off.

[Bof]

No one who isn't already involved in veg*anism or animal issues cares what PETA has to say,

I'm not entirely unsure what this doesn't mean but using phrases like 'no one....' is patently ridiculous, or possibly not.

[Sketchy]

I love how MM drives around drumming up support for Unions struggling to save jobs (The Big One) eating at Fast Food restaurants the whole time (notoriously anti-union establishments).

Old Mikey used to be a hero to me but he has exposed himself as a hypocrite and a fraud. The best thing that can happen is that he gets sick is forced to accept that his own choices (reflections of his being a 'typical American') led to those problems. How long do you think Mike will wait for care in that event? Will he be holding the door for old ladies and veterans or checking in to a private facility where we can't see him or hear from him until he launches another half cocked diatribe about a problem he seems unwilling to work to change?

[Diana]

.PETA could otherwise be a worthwhile organization.

And just to think I was offered a job there. Glad I didn't take it.

PETA is just one more corporation. These are the people who had a campaign against meat called "holocaust on your plate", and who now support controlled atmosphere killing, which is plain and simply a request that poultry "farmers" gas their chickens. I wonder if they suggest that they use Zyklon B. It would be laughable if it wasn't just plain sick.

Screw PETA.

Michael Moore looks very unhealthy to me. It's funny that he made a movie called "sicko".

[truepeacenik]

I'm not entirely unsure what this doesn't mean but using phrases like 'no one....' is patently ridiculous, or possibly not.

can you find an omni who cares in a positive way what PETA has to say?
it's media whoring.

[Music Girl]

I'm not a big fan of either PETA or MM, but I think they both would have alot more credibility if they would dim down the shock value of their campaigns. Is exaggerated truth still truth? I wonder about this sometimes.

[Bof]

can you find an omni who cares in a positive way what PETA has to say?


Yes :yes:

[Bof]

I'm not a big fan of either PETA or MM, but I think they both would have alot more credibility if they would dim down the shock value of their campaigns. Is exaggerated truth still truth? I wonder about this sometimes.

Whatever you think of them, they've both been a big influence for good / change.

[Bof]

PETA is just one more corporation.
Screw PETA.




It's ridiculous to dismiss PETA by making statements such as the above.
How many people have gone veg. because of PETA? I'm sure that it would be in the thousands; maybe tens of thousands; maybe more. How many animals has that saved?
In Australia, we spent decades trying to get the wool industry to stop mulesing sheep. PETA got an undertaking from them to stop the practice within months. That alone is enough to make me a PETA supporter.
If you don't know what mulesing is, and why ending it should be a high priority, have a look at:
http://www.animalsaustralia.org/default2.asp?idL1=1273&idL2=1632
PETA will remain on my donations list. :yes: