It's dubious when soup kitchens require attending a religious service in order be fed. It's even sketchier when PeTA offers to pay for some Detroiters' water bills — if the recipients of their largess go vegan for a month.
True charity is not about quid pro quo. It's an act of love. When there are strings attached, it's defeating the purpose. Indeed, in some circumstances it can be considered blackmail.
PETA Offers To Help Pay Water Bills For Struggling Detroit Residents — But Only If They Go Vegan
PETA wants to be the savior, but it’s using veganism as a bargaining chip.
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Charity begrudged isn't charity.
People in dire straits don't need to be preached to by a bunch of arrogant elitist neurotics. I'm sure many of the people in this situation in Detroit already have severely limited food options – just getting enough to eat is an onerous daily challenge, without having to deal with this grotesquely tone-deaf stipulation.
People Eating Tasty Animals?
Bear in mind, I respect vegetarians, whether done from principle or from dietary inclinations. I would argue, though, that PeTA has managed to do more to alienate folks from vegetarianism / veganism than they have to help the cause.
+Dave Hill Agreed. Some of their campaigns have been thoroughly discredited.
I eat meat. My wife almost doesn't. It's not a huge problem to serve the meaty dishes when she's away from home and the veggy ones when she's here.
My family is big into meat, though my daughter has swung back and forth over the years. We try to accommodate vegetarian friends that come over for meals, and I've been known to nibble on the occasional quinoa burger. I am very cognizant of both the ecological issues around meat production, as well as the ethical issues in how a lot of animal products are produced, and make at least some small efforts toward mitigating both — but I confess I love a juicy steak, or some crispy bacon, and don't plan on stopping eating them any time soon.
I am also aware as well of my own hypocrisy in being willing to eat them even if I wouldn't be willing to kill them personally.
That said, I get the impression that PeTA is less moral gadfly than self-aggrandizing stunt coordinator. And this particular effort is reprehensible.