| Monday, August 17, 2009 |
| PETA to world: Whales SUCK!!!11!!!!1!!!1! (And women still do, too...) |
I know I'm quite late on this and many others have already covered it, but I couldn't let it pass because it's one of PETA's more egregious stunts as of late. I shan't post a picture of PETA's latest piss-smelling billboard, but it's in Jacksonville, Florida and has an illustration of a fat-ish woman in a bikini. The emblazoned hate message on it is "Save the WHALES. Lose the blubber. Go vegetarian."
One woman in Jacksonville reported being so upset by it that she forwent a trip to the beach with her family -- and even though I'm vegan, and with street clothes on look reasonably thin, I can honestly say I'd probably do the same if I saw a billboard like that on my way to the beach. I simply do not look like a supermodel when I wear a bikini, and although I love swimming, I always feel horribly self-conscious in a swimsuit, such that things much smaller than this can tip my decision on whether to go to the beach. It's particularly shitty because I have a lot of upper body problems that could benefit from more swimming (ZOMG an unhealthy thin person!!! Call the Body Police!) but it is not often that I feel up to the emotionally grueling task of having my exposed body publicly judged while I'm just trying to enjoy myself. And quite frankly, the fact that PETA would probably claim the message isn't targeted at me doesn't make a whit of difference as to how hurt I feel when I see it; PETA's billboard is hurtful to ALL women and ALL fat people and ALL people who have eating disorders or body dysmorphic disorder, regardless of whether we're vegan, vegetarian or omnivorous.
Furthermore, what's with the fucking speciesism, PETA? How is trivializing the anti-whaling movement and appropriating it for your stupid everybody-hating billboard going to help any, you know, actual whales? The humorous context of "Save the Whales" on this billboard only serves to further the ridiculous, over-the-top way that environmentalists are portrayed and perceived in our culture. Also, as a commenter at Shakesville notes, "I really don't follow the logic of that billboard. How does losing weight 'save the whales' if by whales they mean fat people? Isn't their point that they'd be getting rid of fat people? Logically then this billboard should read 'Wipe Out The Whales'! But of course somebody might read that the wrong way and a cute animal (because they rarely care about any other kind) might get hurt. So instead they insult a significant portion of the population and look stupid."
Funnily enough, a few weeks ago a friend of mine sent along the following e-mail, and it seems appropriate to re-post it here. I don't know how true the story behind the French gym is, but what matters is the awesomeness of the words themselves:
Recently, in a large French city, a poster featuring a young, thin and tan woman appeared in the window of a gym. It said:
"THIS SUMMER DO YOU WANT TO BE A MERMAID OR A WHALE?"
A middle-aged woman, whose physical characteristics did not match those of the woman on the poster, responded publicly to the question posed by the gym.
To Whom It May Concern:
Whales are always surrounded by friends (dolphins, sea lions, curious humans). They have an active sex life, they get pregnant and have adorable baby whales. They have a wonderful time with dolphins stuffing themselves with shrimp. They play and swim in the seas, seeing wonderful places like Patagonia and the coral reefs of Polynesia.
Whales are wonderful singers and have even recorded CDs. They are incredible creatures and virtually have no predators other than humans. They are loved, protected and admired by almost everyone in the world.
Mermaids don't exist. If they did exist, they would be lining up outside the offices of psychoanalysts due to identity crisis.. Fish or human?
They don't have a sex life because they kill men who get close to them. Therefore they do not have kids either. Not to mention, who wants to get close to a girl who smells like a fish store?
The choice is perfectly clear to me; I'd rather be a whale.
The orcas are watching you, PETA, and they do not approve.*
*(Yes, I know orcas are not technically whales, but sometimes an empress just wants to post orca pictures, ya know?) |
posted by The Venerable Vegan Empress @ 6:42 PM   |
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| 3 Comments: |
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Thanks for kicking ass! I'm a newbie blogger (and sick-of-PETA vegan feminist) looking for a community, so rave on. :)
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Fabulosity, VVE! I love your post, am disgusted by PETA and the world keeps spinning on its axis. Whales and feminists and vegans rule!
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"Whales and feminists and vegans rule!"
oh yes, i hope all people will understand this one day!
vegan-feminist-anti-peta-greetings to you!
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Name: The Venerable Vegan Empress
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If you have any ideas for an article here or would like to write a post, I'd love that! I work full time, volunteer and take classes at my city's university, so I don't work on this project nearly as often as I'd like. Just send me a comment with your contact info -- I approve all comments before posting, so if you include info that you don't want published let me know and I won't publish your comment.
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Thanks for kicking ass! I'm a newbie blogger (and sick-of-PETA vegan feminist) looking for a community, so rave on. :)