Uncle Sparky's Cabin

Quote: “Just as it was always wrong to oppress and abuse less powerful humans, it is wrong to abuse and oppress animals.” People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) in a new “Animal Liberation” promotion

Figure of Speech:   non sequitor, the stray argument

Sure it’s wrong to abuse animals, unless you count Johnny Knoxville as an animal.  But to equate “animal oppression” with slavery, as PETA does, constitutes a non sequitor:  while each part of the argument can be true, the one doesn’t support the other.  PETA’s side-by-side photos of lynched African-Americans and animal carcasses won’t convert many meat-eaters, but persuasion isn’t the only reason for a rhetorical argument.  Moving the already-decided to action is another.  

Figaro loves animals himself.  Even as he writes, he has one lying painlessly on the Weber grill.

Snappy Answer:  “Humans don’t make me hungry.”

Got a snappier answer?  Email Figaro.