Is Andy a "He" or an "It"?

Peta is at it again.  The animal rights Nazis are actually requesting that the editor of the Associated Press Stylebook (Norm Goldstein) revise current AP practice so that animals mentioned in news stories no longer be referred to by impersonal pronouns, "it" and "which," but by personal pronouns "she" "he" and "who."

According to Peta's letter (which can be found here: Click here: PETA Media Center > Recent News Releases : PETA CALLS ON AP STYLEBOOK GURUS TO STOP CALLING ANIMALS 'IT',) "As 'the essential global news network,' the Associated Press (AP) should take a progressive step and give animals the respect that they deserve by revising AP style guidelines to reflect the usage of personal pronouns for all animals.  While the world accelerates through the 21st century, progressive ideas are challenging and changing conventional perspectives.

Recently, the American legal system recognized that nonhuman animals deserve legal status beyond that of mere `property' and that abusive treatment of animals is more than simple vandalism.  The public now recognizes that whales, who sing across oceans; great apes, who share more than 98 percent of our DNA; sheep, who can recognize as many as 50 faces after not having seen them for two years; and pigs and chickens, who can learn to operate switches in order to control heat and light in factory-farm sheds, are feeling, intelligent individuals—not objects. Our language should reflect this."

You gotta be kidding me!  Yes, I am a dog-lover.  And yes, Andy's my buddy--even in his old decrepit state.  But he's also my property.  The proof is if he bites someone!  He's not liable, I am!  And while he's my buddy, he exists at my good pleasure.  I own him.  I pay city taxes to have him on my property.  I told him to get a job once, but to him, that means chasing cats off the property.

Only a society as wealthy and godless as ours could even dream of such nonsense as "animal rights" and the editorial use of personal pronouns for animals. 

On the one hand, Andy is clearly a "he."  He has a name (a human one at that). But legally speaking he's an "it"!  If Peta's willing to assume all liability for what he does, I'll consider giving him a few rights . . . Unless and until that happens, he's all mine.
 

Comments

[Kevin]

I understand the impulse to scoff at PETA's demands but surely animals are not just "property". At the least they are a special kind of property with rights that impose restrictions upon human beings. A glance at an encyclopedia on the subject shows the vast amount of ink spilled on the subject by ancient and modern philosophers and legal minds. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Animal_rights)

Aditionally, God created animals and gave humans dominion over animals, tempered with injunctions to be kind (resting one's Ox on the Sabbath). Also, we know that we cannot (by law) and ought not (by conscience) be cruel to our animals or do to them what we do with our GI Joes or Barbie Dolls. Videos and pictures of tortured animals evoke sympathy (rightly) in a way that deformed toys and tables do not.

Although PETA's misunderstanding of the line between humans and animals is lamentable, we ought not reject everything they say. Giving animals limited rights that distinguish and place them above mere property is a worthy and humane goal.

[Robin]

Pastor Kim, you won't be surprised...

I'm working for a bride and groom who are having a Roman Catholic full mass wedding. The "best man" is a dog that will go down the aisle of the church, for the groom, wearing a T-shirt which reads: "Best Buddy." (The dog is a Lhasa Apso, btw.)

Thank you St. Francis of Assisi!
http://www.americancatholic.org/Features/Francis/blessing.asp

[Wayne Rohde]

"... the Lord God formed every beast of the field and every bird of the heavens and brought them to the man to see what he would call them. And whatever the man called every living creature, that was ITS name. The man gave names to all livestock and to the birds of the heavens and to every beast of the field. But for Adam there was not found a helper fit for HIM ..." (Gen. 2:19,20).

[Phil Walker]

It's a little more nuanced than that, though, isn't it? A story reporting on a panda giving birth to cubs is very likely to use "she" and "her". But stories about dogs mauling children use "it" and "its". And I think there's good reason behind both editorial decisions.

[Tyler]

I can't wait for interviews with Pitbulls and local news anchors after a mauling.

"Excuse me, excuse me! Joe the Dog, why did you feel the need to attack that young boy? Joe the Dog, did you hear me?" as the reporter runs up to a Pitbull sticking a microphone in the dog's face as it's being walked by its owner to the house.

Since dog's are essentially human now, thanks to Pete, err, Peta (-is that the "ghetto" way of saying Peter?), can humans now finally get off the hook for picking poop up off other people's lawns?

[turmeric]

The Proverbs say that a righteous man has regard for the life of his beast. That being said, PETA doesn't get the dominion thing at all. Probably don't get God's dominion over us too well either.

[gracevet]

This is just another indication of a society 'out of whack' with biblical truth. We see a society degenerate in it's mind, will and emotions and who go about developing a kingdom for themselves - we see so called gay rights, animal rights, right to die, right to see and experience uttermost filth...... all of which are not biblically 'right', but only right according to each man's own eyes.

The tragic part though is that it is not society which is custodian of truth - that is the church's responsibility and may God give grace, power and authority to His minister's of grace and to who are given the responsibility to give a reason for the hope that lies within them - all christians. May God grant repentance to His bride and true revival upon His church and through it a blessing to the land, lest he bring a sword of judgment.

[zrim]

just like we shouldn't let self-esteem doctrines obscure the common sense idea that we ought to instill a sense of self-confidence in our children, we ought not let peta-like doctrines obscure a common sense approach to taking care of all forms of creation. are they kooky? yeah. do they have some valid points? yeah.

"godless society"? i do believe van drunen's book was plugged here recently.

zrim

[R.K. Brumbelow]

Andy is a an It with masculine qualities. However, he is also a part of God's creation and as such needs to be protected, guided, maintained and used for the benefit of Christ and His church.

[Tyler]

Hey what a cute dog too! (Andy, that is)

[D. Kok]

He & she? Where is the third option? Apparently PETA is prejudice against 'trans-gender' animals.'

[Chris Sherman]

If "he" was neutered then "he" is now an "it"