<p>Hey, I just thought of way to maybe try yet again to convey what I’ve been (unsuccessfully) trying to convey:</p>
<p>As you know, I am a vegetarian. I believe that there are plenty of foods to eat so there is no longer any need to eat animals. I find it a primitive and barbaric practice.</p>
<p>I also think that animals should be treated humanely and allowed to live their little animal lives in a way that is respectful to them as a species.</p>
<p>There is an organization called PETA that shares my beliefs. Some members of PETA have beliefs that extend much farther than mine; some believe that we shouldn’t even eat honey or cheese. (I love honey and cheese.)</p>
<p>Well, most members of PETA are kind, law-abiding citizens. But, a few are what might be considered ‘radical’ even by my standards.</p>
<p>And, a few of those engage in violent, illegal activities, such as destroying science labs in order to save the lab cats and rats. An even smaller few have even gone so far as to be violent against humans in order to save some animals. Similar to the Christians who blow up abortion clinics: the FRINGE.</p>
<p>Well, whether it is a tiny percentage of animal-rights activists or a large percentage is not the point.</p>
<p>The point is that if tomorrow I meet someone who happens to be a research scientist and he tells me a horror story of how his life’s work was destroyed by some animal rights activists, and maybe he even got injured in an act of violence by the animal rights activists, should I think he is attacking ALL animal rights activists, or ALL vegetarians?</p>
<p>I think that would be ridiculous. I personally would NOT engage in violence or vandalism to save some animals. I make my own personal statement by not eating them, and I may go to an anti-fur rally, but I will not go to such extreme measures as some do.</p>
<p>So why on earth should I be offended and think that someone is attacking my beliefs if s/he simply tells me about what was done to him/her by someone with beliefs similar to mine?</p>
<p>That research scientist has a right to be upset about the attack on his/her lab. S/he has a very good reason to be a little wary of animal rights activism in general. Does that make him/her a bigot?</p>