Since the dawn of the modern world, human beings have had the desire to lead a happy, healthy life. Who of us has the right to take that away from them? God obviously made us all different for a reason. We should be not only accepting, but embracing others no matter how (or with whom) they live their lives.
People wish to argue religion. They believe that being gay is a sin. These people have failed to realize that Proposition 8 supports discrimination. In the voting leaflet, it states exactly “eliminates right of same-sex couples to marry”. If a man wants to marry a man, that’s his business. I accept and even support his decision. No one is going to die if he marries his partner; no one is going to get hurt. However, if he is prevented from marrying his partner, everyone around him will get hurt. His family, his friends, and the man he loves are all going to be devastated. I believe that the worse of the two is intentionally inflicting this kind of pain. I don’t know about you, but the God I believe in is forgiving and wants all of his children to be happy. Even more, he wants us to bring each other happiness. Others argue that when gay people get married, the world will end. So what? If you have been good all your life, then you will go to Heaven. I would die right now to go to Heaven. If being gay is a sin, than God will deal how he sees fit. Proposition 8 is such a Christian idea; it comes straight out of the Bible. But why should an Agnostic or an Atheist have to abide by a law created from a faith they don’t believe in? It cannot be possible that we would allow religion to rule government. There is a great variation of religion in this country, and it is unreasonable that those people be governed by Christian morals and ethics.
Many of you have seen that commercial where the little girl shows her mother the book titled King & King. The spokesperson goes on to say that schools will teach that it’s all right to have same-sex marriage. Children are not going to grow up and marry the same sex because they taught that it was accepted. If they’re gay, then they’re gay and there is nothing that school can do to change it. Besides the point that it is okay (which can lead to debate among many), that argument is ridiculous. My classmates are concerned that children will be taught about gay sex in the Family Life classes. From my experience, those classes are about reproduction. Same-sex couples cannot reproduce, so it makes no sense that it will be taught. Even if that was included in the curriculum, the class is optional. If parents are so concerned, then they should teach their kids themselves about how babies are made. Have fun explaining, parents.
Restricting any group of people from doing something is bigotry. No matter which way you put it, that’s prejudice, and a bigger crime against humanity than being gay. The Nazis started out restricting Jews from riding bikes, and then from using public transportation. Where does it end? When will the intolerance end? It is up to every individual to ensure that every citizen in the United States receives fairness and equality for all, which was written in the Constitution. The pursuit of happiness must remain in sight of everybody, no matter their religion, race or sexual orientation. Don’t take away someone’s right to marry the person they love.   Read More »

The campaign for animal rights is growing stronger than ever, thanks to groups like Peta and SPCA. Peta, the more radical of the two, will stop at nothing to free animals from the horrors of research labs and slaughterhouses. There is no doubt that their work has helped save thousands of animals from inhumane deaths. Where do they cross the line? At which point do their "ethical ways" prove brutal and illogical?
Peta receives 25 million dollars as a combination of donations from celebrities and "do-gooders". One would think that Peta would use the money to house and feed all of the domestic animals that enter their care. However, that is not the case. In the year 2000, Peta euthanized 75.6% of adoptable animals. The numbers have been steadily increasing, until the numbers reached a whopping 90.7% in 2005. The same year, two Peta employees were arrested in North Carolina after two detectives witnessed them dumping animal carcasses behind a shopping center. While being processed, the detectives found that these two “ethical” workers had euthanized 34 animals in the back of the van, without having even registered the animals at the Peta headquarters. Earlier that day, witnesses remember the workers promising the shelter workers that they would try to find homes for these animals, puppies and kittens included. Among the 34 animals discovered, Ahoskie police found euthanasia drugs and digital photographs of dead animals. It’s true; there is an overpopulation crisis in animals throughout the United States. Too often, the kindest solution is to euthanize animals. There is simply not enough space in shelters. The disturbing thing is that the workers didn’t even give the animals a fighting chance. There was absolutely no reason for not having taken them to the headquarters. How is being given a shot and then deposited in a dumpster dignified? I thought the whole foundation of Peta was to give animals the dignity they deserve. The defendants were cleared of 21 felony accounts of animal abuse but convicted with illegal disposing of dead bodies. They served 10-days in jail and will be on one year probation. In my opinion, they should have been charged with greater indictments. One of them continues to work at Peta.
Peta’s campaigning consists of gruesome photographs of skinned foxes and horrifies foxes. On their website, they posted one worker’s undercover visit to an Iowa pig farms. How he managed not to vomit right then and there I will never understand. The level of cruelty placed upon these innocent pigs (whose only crimes were being born pigs) was enough to make me swear off meat for the rest of my life. It is important that people see the torture that goes on behind factory doors. Nevertheless, many of the advertisements are directed to children. For instance, I came upon a gruesome article which depicts a 1950’s toaster-wife cartoon piercing the flesh of a rabbit with a colossal butcher’s knife. The title was Your Mommy Kills Animals! and proceeds to ask children how many animals their mothers have murdered for their fur coats. Don’t get me wrong; I am completely opposed to skinning of animals for the sake of vanity. I just don’t think that Peta should make children fear their mothers.
Many people are defending Peta. There is great controversy within the animals rights supporters. On one hand, you have the people who say that the Peta people have only animal interests at heart. On the other hand, you have the bloggers that say Peta is full of a bunch of hypocrites who like the idea of animals more than the actual animals. Whatever the case, it is up to the individual to decide who their donations go to. You don’t have to join an organization to take a stand against animal cruelty. If you don't have time to protest in fron of a cosmetics company, at least research and make sure that your money goes to an organization that helps the animals entrusted to them. SPCA euthanized less than 4% of their animals. It’s organizations like these that make real differences.
For more information, visit petakillsanimals.org