Comments on: A hiatus from AR blogging: taking a topical time out

By: Benny

Benny — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 00:10:38 +0000

I am sad that you are leaving this topic Hugo.

I did not agree with you on this issue, but I was not offended by your thoughts.

I wish people could have been more tolerant of your opinions even if they disagreed.

I think people took your comments as some sort of judgement on their life style and got very defensive.

By: Noli Irritare Leones » Blog Archive » Abortion, Hot Buttons, Single Issue Voting, Seamless Garments, and Obama’s Grandmother

Wed, 22 Oct 2008 15:42:38 +0000

[...] something of a wimp on abortion. My problem with the issue is the opposite of the one Hugo has with animal rights. Hugo’s is the one we all have with some issue, you know, the one where something is such a [...]

By: Courtney

Courtney — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 16:34:12 +0000

More western civ. please! History 1A&B were by far my favorite classes at PCC.

By: ks

ks — Sun, 19 Oct 2008 23:08:59 +0000

I’m mostly a lurker and I don’t particularly agree with you on this issue, but I still like reading your posts about animal rights issues and veganism too. Usually you do it much more calmly and respectfully than lots of people I know and while I doubt that I’ll ever agree with you on this, it’s nice to read about it in a way that makes me think about it instead of just pissing me off.

But if you feel like you need a break from this topic, it’s your blog and you need to do what you feel is best.

By: Alice

Alice — Sun, 19 Oct 2008 00:30:39 +0000

Hugo, I can definitely understand the need to take a few steps back from this if it’s causing you this kind of grief. I too will miss hearing your thoughts on these issues, but I know how big a toll writing about something like this can take – when it feels like every comment and discussion is THE discussion, it can sap your energy away while simultaneously not accomplishing your ends. I’d enjoy hearing your take on the election issues more, especially as we enter the home stretch.

By: Hugo Schwyzer

Hugo Schwyzer — Sat, 18 Oct 2008 17:52:11 +0000

Lynn, I’m pretty sure Elaine is referring to AB 2296. Opposed by the Humane Society, Farm Sanctuary, and other moderate animal organizations, ABB 2296 was ostensibly designed to protect those who did research on animals from “terrorism.” It specifically banned the depiction of researchers in literature — so, for example, it is now a crime to protest outside a research facility with a cartoon drawing of a specific scientist. It’s a pretty severe first amendment restriction, and though Schwarzenegger signed it, it will be fought in the courts.

By the way: It is worth noting that no animal researcher has ever been killed in America by animal rights activists. Indeed, animal rights activists in America have never killed a single human being in the course of their work. The ALF has no blood on its hands. Any comparisons to the likes of those anti-abortionists who kill doctors are invalid…

By: Lynn Gazis-Sax

Lynn Gazis-Sax — Sat, 18 Oct 2008 14:45:17 +0000

And most importantly, I donâ€™t live in California now that that terrible law has passed.

??? The proposition currently on the ballot that’s related to farm animals proposes requiring that they not be confined in really small spaces. I remember another proposition passed, a while back, that outlawed sale of horse meat for human consumption. That’s all I can think of; if the legislature’s been passing significant animal-related laws recently, there sure hasn’t been a lot of publicity about it.

FWIW, I really don’t get why this is more of a hot-button issue for Hugo than everything else, but, sometimes we all need to give ourselves a breather from our hot buttons.

By: Elaine Vigneault

Elaine Vigneault — Sat, 18 Oct 2008 08:09:48 +0000

I’m very sorry you’re bowing to the social pressures used to maintain the status-quo. The sad fact is that animals will never find relief until their advocates have the courage to speak the truth.

I understand how your passion is difficult to control. Mine too. I understand you have more to lose than I do – a job, nonvegan friends who don’t value your passionate pursuit of justice for animals, and possibly other valuable things. I am fortunate. I have no job to lose. And i have no friends who don’t admire or appreciate my animal rights advocacy. And most importantly, I don’t live in California now that that terrible law has passed.

What are blogs worth if we can’t write what we think? How free is the US if the academics can’t share their thoughts?

Anyway, your animal advocacy will be missed. Hopefully, not for long.

By: Hugo Schwyzer

Hugo Schwyzer — Sat, 18 Oct 2008 05:03:05 +0000

Paul, as Gandhi said, I think western civilization would be a very good idea.

By: Paul

Paul — Sat, 18 Oct 2008 03:29:59 +0000

western civilisation