PETA's (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) exhibit juxtaposing human and animal abuse should be viewed as an eye-opener, not with offense, but rather in understanding of the fact that today's injustices are cruelties inflicted upon animals and as depicted in the display, are reminiscent of past human inequalities. See the connection online if you didn't catch it on campus at www.peta.org/AnimalLiberation/display.asp.

Most people today view slavery, child labor and the oppression of women as wrong, but this change in mentality came about because thoughtful people called for justice and fought oppression. Bringing reality into the limelight might not be easy to accept, however, to stop the exploitation of all species, we must be aware and learn to understand and empathize.

There is no justification for chaining elephants and forcing them to stand on their heads in circuses. Cramming animals into factory farming sheds full of excrement, devoid of sunlight or fresh air, or anal electrocuting animals simply so we can wear the fur off their tormented backs is wrong.

As a society, we need to stop oppression and exploitation, whether it is for profit, convenience or amusement. Homo sapiens' supremacist attitude has caused society to tolerate, perpetuate and indignantly defend outrageously cruel acts that occur against animals.

Gandhi once said, "The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated." Ignorance is no excuse for exploitation of any species.

Sophia DiPietro
animal behavior and neurobiology junior