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Hahah, yea, I read this the other day as well, and I thought it was an early April Fools joke early......PETA is always doing crazy things like this, the argus leader version didn't have the other part that the Rapid City Journal had in there story about this, they said that Whitefish, MT had also received a letter like this as well......
Here is the Rapid version:
Rapid City Journal | News » Top | PETA petitions Spearfish school to change name to Sea Kitten High (http://www.rapidcityjournal.com/articles/2009/01/07/news/top/doc496507e67d4c0852005061.txt - broken link)
well,this could cause all kinds of comments pro and con! i live in spearfish, and have no objection to hunting and fishing respectfully for food. i live by the fish hatchery, and am told by workers ,there are animals that come out at night and kill fish and ducks....then there are dogs that kill things...and mtn lions kill deer and eat just the hip meat. i see such and it does make me sad. changing names does nothing for teaching respect. the young people for the most part do not watch out for pedestrians. i have nearly been knocked down many times by bike riders,skateboarders,joggers,cars,and more. very young people (under 16) can get driving licenses in some states in this part of country. and then of course there are careless adults. i dont want to be knocked down by anyone. respect needs to be taught and include all creation. there are monuments and signs in spearfish with a fish jumping out of water with a spear in it. i wish those signs would disappear. i cringe every time i see them. reminds me of cruelty of people not only to creatures but to humans. i cant say what the school name should be. up to students and voters. im just a caring old lady. sigh
More from the Black Hills Pioneer regarding: SEA KITTENS
PETA seeks Spearfish High School name change
Mark Watson
Is it possible that Spearfish High School will be the next school with a name controversy?
The University of North Dakota has been in and out, but mostly in controversy over its Fighting Sioux nickname over the recent years. The school adopted the slogan in 1930.
PETA also sent a similar letter to Whitefish High School in Whitefish, Mont., requesting the same name change, according to PETA's blog.
Last edited by Jammie; 01-10-2009 at 02:45 PM..
Reason: copyright issues~only a couple sentences and the link are allowed.
Here's the letter that was sent to the school: LETTER
Dear Principal Morford
I'm writing to you on behalf of PETA, the world's largest animal rights organization, with more than 2 million members and supporters. In early October, PETA launched its Sea Kitten campaign, which suggests a name-change for fish as a way to promote empathy for them and other marine animals. Today, we're proposing that Spearfish High School adopt a new name to reflect the gentle nature of its current marine namesake.
We're hoping that by calling fish "sea kittens," compassionate people who would never hurt a dog or a cat will realize that fish feel pain and fear, just like furry and winged animals do. In fact, neurobiologists tell us that fish have complex nervous systems that comprehend and respond to pain. Fish communicate and develop relationships with one another, show affection by gently rubbing against other fish, and even grieve when their companions die. However, when they are dragged from the ocean's depths, sea kittens undergo excruciating decompression, often causing their eyes to pop out and pushing their stomachs out through their mouths. When they are tossed onto ships' decks, many sea kittens slowly suffocate or are crushed to death. This is no way to treat a "kitten."
Most parents would never dream of spending a family weekend torturing kittens, but hooking fish through their mouths and pulling them through the water is just as painful as hooking a cat's mouth and dragging him or her behind a car. We're hoping that this name change will encourage people young and old to start treating these gentle "kittens of the sea" with respect�”and show them the kindness that they deserve.
We hope that Spearfish High School will start off the semester right by changing its name to Sea Kitten High School. Thank you for your time.
These people drive me crazy in the biggest sense of the word! I have no problem with people who believe in a cause, but when you cross the line by hurting someone or causing property damage, well, that's just going too far. It's because of people like this that guys in my field can't do their jobs properly. It's pretty sad that some of my coworkers in wildlife management can't go to work without fearing for their safety or getting threats against their family's safety. If it was just stupid things like a school changing it's name, it wouldn't be a big deal, but it never stops there with these people! They might find that people would take them more seriously on LEGITIMATE issues if they would approach situtions with moderation!
Really, if they want to change the name of the high school, they should change the name of the city (Spearfish).
Jammie, what are your thoughts? I see you haven't commented
I know you are a vegetarian... I hope I didn't offend you!
Oh geez! This is just extremists getting bored. I wouldn't make a big thing over it.
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I wouldn't eat a cat, but I still enjoy a catfish dinner now and then.
