I was reluctant to report on this, since all it does is encourages more of this type of behavior. But, on reflection and prodding by some of our editors, here it is: PETA is pissed at Pokemon.
They claim that the long-time video game and tv/movie franchise promotes a culture of animal exploitation, and that shoving Pokemon into Pokeballs is similar to chaining wild elephants into circus cars.
Let me let you in on a little secret: This is how PETA, or People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, works. They try to make a big deal out of something newsworthy in the hopes that they get more press, more donations, more members. Their publicity strategy is roughly the same as that of the Westboro Baptist Church: do something outrageous, glom onto something else newsworthy or popular, and leech off of it. I work for a large, high-profile environmental non-profit. I’ve worked professionally for campaigns, mostly for Democrats. So, yes, my liberal credentials are WELL-established. And so my professional opinion is this: PETA are f@#$ing clownshoes.
So, with a high profile video game release of Pokemon Black and White 2, PETA is trying to insert their agenda into the newscycle.
FAIL.
Not only is it tiresome, but it’s just ridiculous. Last year, they got mad because Mario was “wearing fur” by having the Tanooki Suit powerup. Sure, I guess– in the world where touching a magic leaf causes you to grow a tail, fur, and ears and then you can use said prehensile tail to fly and knock around bad guys, sure. Because in order to use a tail, obviously this isn’t just a suit but actually Mario taking on those properties. That’s his fur, that’s his tail. Are we to start targeting shirtless Robin Williams for “wearing fur” as well?
Similarly, with Pokemon, a franchise I can also barely stand as much as PETA, they are way off the mark. The whole idea is you befriend these little animals and train them- and through the magic of your love and care they can evolve into other, more powerful Pokecreatures. The themes of friendship and, dare I say it, equality are as prevalent as high fructose corn syrup in soda and candy, twice as sweet, and three times as likely to put you in a diabetic coma from sweetness overload.
Both with Pokemon and PETA, I get why some people like you. I even have some respect for what you’re trying to do. But I’d rather be killing zombies or solving puzzles or pretending I’m a Jedi Knight than make fake, cutesy creatures duel each other. And I’d rather solve the major problems we have with making sure that PEOPLE are treated ethically in this country before I start worrying about the animals. So on that day when every American has health care, enough food to eat, poverty is eliminated, war veterans aren’t homeless, we’ve solved climate change and our air and water is clean, then I’ll get on board the PETA train.
Until then, their critique is only slightly less ridiculous than when Tracey Morgan, playing Harry Belafonte in a SNL “Hardball with Chris Matthews” sketch, declares, “” target=”_blank”>Pokemon is a slave trader, and Pikachu is the slave master.”
I can’t believe I just wrote an article taking the side of Pokemon. . .