From: lvc@cbnews.cb.att.com (Larry Cipriani)
Subject: Putting People First
Organization: Ideology Busters, Inc.
Distribution: na
Date: Tue, 7 Apr 1992 20:02:13 GMT
Keywords: Putting People First

The following article is from the March 1992 issue of the PROponent,
the monthly newsletter published by The Peoples Rights Organization
(PRO), a pro gun, pro constitutional rights group based in Columbus,
Ohio.

As a member of the PRO -- Electronic Information Committee,
I am posting this article for information only. Questions or
comments may be directed to:

PEOPLES RIGHTS ORGANIZATION
5 E. Long St., Suite 412
Columbus, OH 43215
(614) 268-0122

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(Begin article "PPF" from March 1992 PROponent)

PPF...

     Putting People First is an organization that was founded by
Kathleen Marquardt, in Washington, D.C.  This group was started to
counter-act the lies, sabotage, and hyperbole of the anti-animal
activists.  PETA, or People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals,
is one such group that has demonstrations against stores that sell
fur coats, trappers, and those that wear articles of clothing made
from animals.
     Some of these extremists even go as far as to say that you
should not wear wool, drink cow's milk, eat cheese or eggs.  They
even equate the lives of people on an even keel with rats and
cockroaches!  They want to extend the idea of racism to
"speciesism" which is to say that the termites have as much "right"
to eat your house as you do to live in it.  These "people" are a
very vocal minority of the American public.  They have even been
accused of threatening animal researchers with physical injury and
worse.  Along this vein, they have released laboratory animals from
their cages, causing untold costs to the researchers, and
ultimately, to the general public.
     In order to present the other side, Marquardt started Putting
People First.  She states in a letter to her fellow Americans:

     "But all of us have come to a rude awakening.  They're not
going to go away!  In fact, because many of us assumed that
'everyone' would recognize these extremists for what they are and
not listen to their rhetoric, we never responded to the animal
zealots' false charges of animal abuse and general wrongdoing.  And
because we didn't respond, naive people began to question whether
some of the charges might be true.

     "Add to that one of the slickest p.r. campaigns ever, using
cute, cuddly animals to depict "victims" of so-called sadistic
medical researchers; printing photographs that are doctored,
staged, or decades old; and quoting "statistics" made up of whole
cloth.  Then the stage was set to attract well-meaning, caring,
concerned people who are totally unaware of the true goals of the
leaders of these organizations.

     "That is why I founded Putting People First.  I want America
to understand both sides of this issue so every citizen can make up
his or her own mind about what to believe.

     "Obviously I believe that when our side is heard very few
people would choose to become an animal "rights" proponent.  Common
sense shows it's people who have rights, not animals.  We must all
be very conscientious about animal welfare, but there's a big
difference between animal 'welfare' and animal 'rights'.

     "Putting People First is a nationwide group of concerned
citizens from all walks of life who object to being intimidated by
animal 'rights' extremists.  Our organization does not represent
any industry or special interest.  Instead, we represent the
average American who drinks milk and eats meat, benefits from
medical research, wears leather, fur, wool, hunts and fishes, owns
a pet, and goes to zoos."

     Marquardt continues in her letter informing the reader about
the $15 a year dues to PPF and asks people to sign the petition
that accompanies her letter.  Copies of her petition may be
obtained at the PRO gun shows in Hillard, Ohio, just west of
Columbus.  Her Petition to the Congress of the United States
resolves:

     "To oppose those who would put millions of Americans out of
work by closing any business or industry that entails the use of
animals; and

     "To enact legislation which will combat intimidation,
terrorism, and violence as used by animal activists and protestors;
and

     "To continue funding medical research and other testing which
uses animals responsibly;

     "And generally, to resolve legislative conflicts between the
interests of human beings and those of animals in favor of human
beings."

     Officers of PRO have been aware of PPF for some time, but have
been unable to locate them in the Ohio area until recently.  PPF
had a booth at the Ohio Deer Expo, which was held at the Ohio State
Fair Grounds the last weekend of February.  Dave and Karen
Linkhart, of Xenia, Ohio have started the:

     Southwest Ohio Chapter, Putting People First
     1273 N. Fairfield, Suite 107
     Beavercreek, Ohio 45432
     513-376-5731

     They have also been instrumental in helping to start a chapter
in Upper Sandusky, with chapters in the works for the Marietta
area, and in the Mansfield area.  Karen spoke at the March PRO
meeting, introducing PRO members to PPF and initiating cooperative
efforts between the two groups.

     The address for the national headquarters of Putting People
First is:

          Putting People First
          Suite 310-A
          4401 Connecticut Avenue, N.W.
          Washington, D.C. 20077-3564

     If you agree with Kathleen Marquardt and appreciate what Dave
and Karen are doing, contact this outstanding organization in
either Washington, or in Ohio.
 

(End article "PPF" from March 1992 PROponent)

-- 
Larry Cipriani, att!cbvox1!lvc or lvc@cbvox1.att.com
"Fight fire with fire, I always say." -- Bugs Bunny