From: robinson@ac.dal.ca
Newsgroups: talk.politics.guns,talk.politics.animals
Subject: Re: PETA Activities Suspected of Violating FCC Act, Says PPF
Date: 19 Aug 92 09:43:37 -0300
Distribution: usa
Organization: Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada

In article <1992Aug19.011514.883@noose.ecn.purdue.edu>, unglenie@ford.ecn.purdue.edu (Robert J Unglenieks) writes:
> John S. Van Etten writes:
>>Steve Pope writes:
>>
>>[reams of stuff deleted]
>>>Part of what is going on here is that the false media image of
>>>animal advocates (irrational, prone to illegal acts, etc.)
>>>is being projected on to the situation.  
>>
>>Steve, I've read this at least six times now, and I still think you
>>are somehow serious about this deluded passage.  You've got to be
>>kidding me.  Like most other hunters, I long for the day when the
>>media shows you AR folk for exactly what you *are*, instead of
>>painting you as a bunch of animal lovers and do-gooders.  
> 
> John.  There are those of us involved in animal issues that long for the
> day that the media STOPS treating as nuts.  At a local meeting last monday,
> we spent a lot of the time talking about how some of the local groups have
> been treated by the media recently.  We KNOW how we are being perceived and
> that image is not what we are.

Anyone who expects an accurate picture of themselves to emerge from that 
thing we call The Media(TM) is seriously deluded.  Accurate reporting of 
people and events doesn't boost circulation and it doesn't raise ratings.  
Low ratings and low circulation discourage sponsers from advertising (at 
astronomical rates).

> 
>>  Imagine what would happen if the
>>media told the American public that, rather than hug bunnies, you folk
>>want to shut down Mickey D's and stop all animal experiments that
>>could cure illnesses such as AIDS or cancer, instead of beating the
>>anti-hunter drums as part of their happy little agenda to disarm the
>>American people (us mean-old-nasty-"assault-rifle"-toting-scum-of-
>>the-Earth-Bambi-killers being a good start on their mission).  
> 
> In our local student paper, The Exponent, a group called Americans for
> Medical Progress Educational Foundation ran a full page ad claiming that
> the AR movement is trying to end experimentation on animals to find a cure for
> AIDS (March 31, 1992).  One major part of the ad was a photo of the AIDS quilt
> that was touring the country at the time (the quilt had names of AIDS victims
> on it).

Being a hunter and an avid firearms enthusiast, I am particularly sensitive 
to media distortions on these subjects.  But the media distorts all things 
to some degree.  It doesn't not surprise me that AR folk claim they are 
misrepresented by the media.  They very probably are.

The Media (TM) has long since favored entertainment over information 
content.  News can be both, but it rarely is these days.  Add to this the 
desire of each side to promote its own agenda and one has indeed a recipie 
for distortion.

> 
> In a letter to the editor from Lisa Catapano, managing director, NAMES Project
> Foundation came this reply to the ad:
> 
>     It has come to our attention that some of the Exponent's readers have
>     been confused by an advertisement for Americans for Medical Progress,
>     Inc. that featured a photograph of the Names Project AIDS Memorial
>     Quilt.  The NAMES Project Foundation wishes to clarify that it is in no
>     way affiliated with AMP and does not endorse AMP's position regarding
>     animal experimentation.  In response to our complaints, AMP has ceased
>     all publication and dissemination of this advertisement.  Thank you.
> 
> Seems to be one case where an anti-ar group thought it would have allies.....
> 
> Of course the ad implies that members of the AR movement are not "sane,
> sensitive and thinking" individuals.

TM really gets off on this.  Nuts have a high entertainment value, and 
they'll use that at every opportunity.  Unfortunately for each side, 
certain elements play right into their hands.  Rather than point out 
rightly that this element constitutes a small minority, they play it up and 
let people think that the nuts are representative without ever really 
saying that they are.  That is why your appearance in TM is so important.  
You can not afford to give them the opportunity to label you a nut.  
They'll still try, but if you work on it consistently they will ultimately 
fail.  The NRA seems to be making good progress in this direction.  The new 
leadership is young, photogenic, and perhaps most importantly dressed in 
the camo of the urban jungle, the suit.

> 
>>The
>>media will never mention all the good that hunters do in controlling
>>animal populations and helping the environment, since after all we are
>>just a few more ornery old rebels that might poke our shootin' irons
>>out the window and let fly with a volley if "King George's" troops
>>ride into town.
> 
> All the good?  Does this include the Hegins pigeon shoot, the prairie dog
> "roundup" in Nucla, CO, spring bear hunting, hunting ranches.....

Try to remember that each side has its own little copy of TM.  Each side 
has a propaganda machine.  The question is not, is this bad, but rather, 
how close to reality is this propaganda.  I personally believe that the 
pro-gun, pro-hunting side is closest to reality.  Does that mean we're so 
awesome our sh*t don't stink?  No, of course not.  It means that IMHO we do 
more good, on the whole, than we do harm.  If you would like to elaborate 
on the above Robert I'll try to address them one at a time, but I'm not 
quite sure what your concerns are with some of them exactly.  If you could 
elaborate on that I could address them to the best of my ability.

> 
>>     But I have to admit that you're right about one thing.  The
>>public is indeed brainwashed on a few issues.
>>
>>John
> 
> I'd agree too......
> 

Good, we're all in agreement on this one then.

> Rob U, is jacklighting an ethical hunting practice?
> 

What do you think Robert?
-- 
John Robinson                  Only criminals, tyrants, and cowards have
robinson@ac.dal.ca                 reason to fear the armed, honest citizen.
DOD #0069
Newsgroups: talk.politics.guns