Letter writer: Pig roast fundraiser needed rethink

Graphic by Lori Deaton

Considering that pigs are among the most sadistically abused (and intelligent) beings on the planet, it is bewildering that a dead one be roasted at a fundraiser that is addressing brutality and victimization [“Native Kitchen Hosts a Benefit Pig Roast,” June 1, Xpress]. It served no one and only alienated potential supporters.

I hope that Our VOICE is more sensitive in its future fundraising efforts.

— Nancy Lanctot
Asheville

Editor’s note: A response from Our VOICE Executive Director Angelica Wind appears in the letter, “Fundraiser Aids Efforts to End Sexual Violence” in this issue.

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22 thoughts on “Letter writer: Pig roast fundraiser needed rethink

  1. Kipper

    Correct me if I’m wrong, but it was Native Kitchen that hosted the event, and donated proceeds to Our Voice. Would the author of this letter prefer that Our Voice refuse the donation?

  2. Stewart

    I doubt they would accept a donation of the proceeds of a dog or cat roast. What’s the difference?

    • boatrocker

      If Stewart=Stewart David, then:
      You’ve been laying low for mis-information lately.
      Meanwhile my rescue dog and I are still getting along swimmingly. I’m not about to eat here and she has a the life of Riley.

      -Care to share PETA’s role and budget for adopting animals at the Richmond, VA HQ? answer- 0$ for adoption services.
      -Care to share how many animals adopted by PETA are needlessly euthanised for offering no alternative for adoption? At last check of their website, over 80% are killed vs. adopting them out. Way to look out for out for our furry friends. I’ll side with Animal Haven and Brother Wolf any day.
      Kettle, meet pot. These questions are never answered by certain posters, as it would show that the Emperor wears no clothes.

      The letter for lost causes is available by scrolling down to “Barefooters are discriminated against and we say it is right, therefore it must be so.”

      PS, the word ingrate comes to mind for the OP writing a letter denigrating a local restaurant for organizing, hosting an event and donating fundage from an event for a worthy charity- and within the same issue of the X after a well worded thank you from those that benefitted from said benefit.
      Naaaaaamaste.

      • Jeremy Sagaribay

        Hi, and thanks for your advice on my letter about breeding! There’s a lot of misinformation about PETA and the work they do, which is mostly spread by a group called “PETA Kills” which is a sub-group of the Center for Consumer Freedom. They receive funds from Wendy’s, Outback Steakhouse and Tyson Foods. They use this money to take down anything that stands in the meat industry’s way. They have also taken funds from the tobacco and alcohol industries to defend their public reputation. A group that takes payouts like this is not reputable by any means. However, I am not denying that PETA euthanizes some of the animals that they rescue from bad situations. They are an “open admission” shelter and refuse no animal, regardless of the space available or its adoptability. Other shelters like BWAR don’t put down animals but refuse some when they are out of space or don’t think it is adoptable. I’m not saying BWAR is bad, in fact, I just spent 3 hours volunteering there this Friday. Open admission shelters like PETA and no kill shelters need to work in conjunction to end the animal overpopulation crisis without harmful slander from the public.

        • boatrocker

          No, actually, the numbers on PETA killing animals vs. putting forth $0 for adoption comes directly from their website.
          See, PETA does not believe in adopting animals or domesticated animals at all (according to Stewart David’s archived posts here), but would rather not tell school kids that as that would not be good for the image.

          If you have read a different PETA homepage than I, how many animals does PETA adopt out per year?
          What percentage of animals taken in by PETA do they murder per year?

          If you are really a student at at a local school, your teacher would have corrected you for making your entire comment one long paragraph. And what local school do you attend again? I’d like to write them a check for making a difference.

          If you truly feel for the suffering of animals, please elaborate on your words aka “However, I am not denying that PETA euthanizes some of the animals that they rescue from bad situations”. What percentage of animals is that exactly?

          Adopt locally. Brother Wolf, yes. Animal Haven, yes. Do not force an animal into a situation where white people with dreads and tribal tattoos kill animals needlessly for the sole crime of being born after their species has been domesticated for a few thousand years.

          And I look forward to Jeremy telling me which local school he attends so I can write a check and volunteer my time there in order to positively affect the lives of animals.

          • boatrocker

            Oh, and the slander accusation? Be very careful about that.
            Otherwise PETA might have to call their lawyers again. Pray tell can you enlighten me as to which parts of my posts are slander?

        • boatrocker

          Slander is a making of a false spoken statement. I think you mean libel. But your teacher or parent should have caught that, eh?

  3. boatrocker

    Aaaaand, thanks again Mtn X for raising the bar on fact checked LTEs.
    Again.

    This is getting to be a pattern.

    • Jeremy Sagaribay

      Too often debates on the internet turn to this. I will not argue with you about my education or political opinions. This letter is about animal rights, not politics.
      From PETA’s breakdown of animals taken in: Our fleet of mobile spay-and-neuter clinics sterilized 11,929 dogs and cats, including 1,045 pit bulls and 409 feral cats, helping to reduce the suffering that results when animals enter a world in which so many of them are already literally dying for lack of a good home. Operating the clinics cost PETA more than $620,000 just in 2015 alone.

      We took in 2,063 animals, roughly 1 percent of all the animals who entered Virginia shelters.

      We transported more than than 800 dogs and cats to and from our clinics, free of charge, for people who have no transportation.

      We assisted more than 2,000 indigent families in keeping animals they were about to give up by providing free medical services, including repairing prolapsed organs, performing lifesaving surgeries on dogs suffering from dangerous uterine infections, removing tumors and ruptured growths, performing drainage surgery for hematomas and infected wounds, and treating ear, skin, and upper respiratory infections.

      We also counseled and helped dozens of people keep their animals by showing them how to cope with behavioral quirks, grooming challenges, housetraining woes, and more.

      We delivered 451 adoptable animals to high-traffic open-admission shelters and referred many others to them so that we could concentrate on helping the ones no one would ever want.

      And we found wonderful permanent homes for 94 dogs, cats, rabbits, pigs, chickens and other animals in 2015―truly “forever homes” because, instead of just giving animals away, we carefully screen potential adopters and place vital safeguards on all our adoptions.

      Even if PETA does not adopt out a lot of animals, the services that they provide save a massive amount of animal lives.

      • Ken Hanke

        we could concentrate on helping the ones no one would ever want.

        Helping them how exactly?

        • boatrocker

          Honestly, I wouldn’t bother. I write rambling posts to show facts and make a Devil’s Advocate like point, but certain causes and the people who support them demonstrate the thousand yard stare when confronted with differing points of view. It’s like trying to reason with someone in a cult.

          • The Real World

            “It’s like trying to reason with someone in a cult.” —- well, yes indeed. A large number of Letters to the Editor to this paper (and the Comments section) are from people low on facts but high on their political religion. And when presented with facts they often devolve into shrieking toddlers (I may trademark that). They refuse to be reasoned with. It’s hard to believe someone pays them a salary and that they’re raising children.

            Jeremy is a bit on the stubborn side but it’s fair to cut him a break as he’s only a young teen. And at least he engages and doesn’t run and hide when people interact with him. In fact, I’m really starting to like this kid. Here’s why:
            a) he’s more concerned with the world than playing video games all day
            b) he’s a Libertarian
            c) he has more gumption and courage than most middle-aged people I know!!
            http://jeremyforpresident2016.blogspot.com/

          • boatrocker

            I saw the same site as well as I previously believed the poster was a sock puppet. Now that I know he’s an actual human (or a very accurate android copy), well ok. Shrieking toddler- yes copyright that. While it is cute he wants to be prez, the minimum age of 35 still exists, though I vaguely remember a TV show from the 80’s with an orangutang (not Trump) as prez.

            reason a- awesome
            reason b- I’m still confused about Libertarians. One minute they make sense, the next they sound co opted by the Tea Party. Bundy and his whole family should really rot in jail but for being white gun lovin good ol Christian Muricans, good luck. Different story, different thread.
            reason c- I wouldn’t know how to measure that.

            As for the meat thing, why is the elephant in the room still a local restaurant hosting, funding, cooking for a fundraiser, then giving all the $ to a worthy cause and then some ingrate complaining meat was served? Doesn’t that strike anybody but me as ungrateful, especially after another LTE thanked the Native Kitchen for all it did to make that event happen? Our Voice deals with issues pertaining to women and violence. While the whiners will tell me eating meat in any form is violence (sigh), let PETA, or whatever don’t eat meat organization plan, fund, cook and donate all their $ to a worthy cause and let’s see how that turns out.

            Many have tried to vilify me over the years for eating meat in moderation (read omnivore, not carnivore) as well as being on my second rescue dog. Factory farms suck, yes, so limit meat to non factory farmed/local meat. Hunting- still awesome. Plants have been scientifically proven to feel pain, by the way. The American Indians called hunting part of the Circle of Life, but a vegetarian will never, ever concede that point. Again, different story, different thread.

            Another funny point comes from thinkcritically’s post assuming that I am a vegan. Not true. I’ve volunteered over the years at Animal Haven and don’t ever remember the two women out there claiming to be vegans either. Brother Wolf is a great organization that finds homes for animals. Why would that make one assume one is a vegan?

            No matter how one dresses up vegan food, it still makes English food taste good comparatively. Even after trying plenty of examples, nope. The jury is out. Vegan food is bland and unsatisfying to me. The assumption was also made that I am female. Not true again. Do my posts have flower emogees that I can’t see or something?

            One more point- funny that making a salary is brought up as many LTEs do in fact come from writers touting their local business or a website that asks for funds. No, they are not writing LTEs for the good of all human kind. Ka ching is involved.

          • The Real World

            I responded and it dropped in above.

            Moderators, if you’re inclined, could you move my comment of a few minutes ago to below this most recent comment from boatrocker? Thanks.

        • Jeremy Sagaribay

          Giving an equal chance of adoption to animals such as pit bulls that would otherwise spend their whole lives in shelters.

          • boatrocker

            Hi Jeremy.

            How many pit bulls live with you?
            How many canines live with you?

          • Ken Hanke

            Giving an equal chance of adoption to animals such as pit bulls that would otherwise spend their whole lives in shelters.

            That doesn’t really line up with “the ones no one would ever want.”

  4. think critically

    Some people seem to be obsessed with attacking PETA, I guess it is an easy way to change the conversation away from the issues. This isn’t about PETA. Jeremy Sagaribay explains where the misinformation about PETA is coming from in the post above. If Boatraocker stands with Animal Haven and Brother Wolf, then I guess she is a vegan, since, as I understand it, both groups have vegan food policies. So I don’t understand her objection, neither of those groups would eat a dog, cat, or pig.

    PETA euthanizes because they take in feral, sick, suffering, dying, aggressive, and otherwise unadoptable animals. I think ending the life of those suffering is generally a good thing, and California now allows it for humans, too, in terminally ill cases. As do a few other states, and I hope one day this is universal I also hope that those wanting to know more about PETA and euthanization will at least read PETA’s side of it before they throw stones, They can do so at the link below. But, again, this is not about PETA, let’s keep it local. And let’s be kind to one aother, human and non-human!
    http://investigations.peta.org/petas-rescue-team/?gclid=Cj0KEQjw4pO7BRDl9ePazKzr1LYBEiQAHLJdR9RpA2kTC3J_4hnM_gcXoMo4_oLmV4KttQhuGsj42E4aAi4N8P8HAQ

    • Jeremy Sagaribay

      Well said, I’m glad some of us can see through the attacks from PETA’s misguided opponents.

  5. The Real World

    Your comment apparently went into moderation as it didn’t show up on the site til today.

    Clarification: I wasn’t referring to Jeremy when I referenced shrieking toddlers. I was speaking about trying to reason with the adult cult-brains (he’s kid; still developing; cut him a break). Frankly, the majority of those espouse distinctly left-wing, programmed talking points. Somebody in D.C. pushes a button and bunches of them run around bleating the exact phrases they’re given. When anyone puts forth some facts or reasoning that counters what they are robotically repeating, many start shrieking like 3 year olds because they don’t have a basis for what they are saying, so they’re embarrassed and react emotionally. I’m embarrassed for them.

    I don’t have a political party but my views are likely closest to this: http://www.lp.org/platform

    Freedom and liberty; why in the heck are so many willing to give those up? (Bernie? — I think he’s nuts and the biggest freedom-stripper ANY who ran). My bigger picture view? It is so easy to distract the Left by chopping down some trees here, growing some other trees over there — they follow that activity like a dog watching you wave a treat back and forth — that they completely miss the forest! Those are the majority of the cult-brains and there are lots of them in AVL. And that’s who you’re dealing with related to your other points.

    If you’re inclined to respond (I just made a funny), it is a view related to my question bolded at the beginning of above paragraph that most interests me.

    • boatrocker

      As to your bold faced question- That bugs me too. Between psycho over militarized cops and the Patriot Act, we live in an occupied country and informed citizens are the enemy of corporatists and the courts.

      My answer?- convenience will be the downfall of this country, from Americans being ok with Iphones made in sweatshops to turning away persecuted immigrants who apply for visas legally to needing a prescription to buy Sudafed but not an AR-15 to worshipping the Almighty Mammon of a local tourist based unsustainable economy. When Americans can DIY a bit more and rely less on the rest of the world for their gadgets, cheap oil, food, labor, stop outsourcing our military to private contractors and get our hands dirty again, there might be hope.

      Following where comments are placed here is like Internet whack a mole, and for being moderated because my posts don’t start with “Yay” or include smiley emogees, that does not make it any easier. I used to post an exact time when I hit ‘send’, but the X rounds times to the nearest hour, so I hope you can read this before you too die of old age.

      No, I get it- shrieking toddler wasn’t for the kid. Good for him if he’s flexing his ‘express yourself’ muscles, even if it is for causes like no pets, no meat. I did not imply that comment pertained to him. I reserve ‘shrieking toddler’ for voter fraud, bathroom and Raynd obsessed mental cases.

      I also disagree with the give him a break mentality. Treat him as you would any other person who posts, otherwise we will be forced to read Son of Peck, Grandbeing of Mother Earth Wise Womyn ( I made that one up myself thank you) and Grandson of LULZ for adults hiding behind children.

      I do hope, however Jeremy tries the fine art of debate as during a formalized debate one must also switch sides to argue the opposing viewpoint. I remember having to go up against my English teacher for a unit on debating as a freshman and man, that guy did not give anyone a break. It was a long time until I could snatch the pebble from his hand, so to speak.

      Loonies exist here on both the far left and right. Let me say that again. Loonies here exist on the far left and right.

      20 odd years into the Internets, I’m disappointed. It has alienated, disconnected, and dehumanized us to the point where kids take their own lives for being bullied on their phones and hate groups have validity for not having cajones enough to spew their filth in ‘da hood’ they despise so much. Fact checking is not dead, but it smells reaaaalllly bad. Facts are ignored for bombastic huuuuuuuuge personalities reminiscent of Mussolini or Huey Long, populism has reared its anti learnin’ head again but is is sooooo convenient, eh?
      And you want me to give that kid a break?

      PS I don’t get the made a funny reference.

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