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” promotionFigure 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.