Speciesism: PETA Claims Saying ’Bring Home the Bacon’ is Hate Speech
Animal rights group says meat based idiom are the same as racism or anti-gay slurs
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Animals rights group PETA has called for an end to the use of meat-based idioms, claiming that using phrases such as "bring home the bacon" is "Speciesism" and should be considered hate speech.
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals claims that using animal names in negative contexts, such as “take the bull by the horns” or “beat a dead horse” is the equivalent of racism and anti-gay slurs, and the use of such language should be considered a hate crime.
“Words matter, and as our understanding of social justice evolves, our language evolves along with it,” PETA said in a post on Twitter this week, comparing these expressions to racist and homophobic language.
“Here’s how to remove speciesism from your daily conversations,” the tweet advised:
Words matter, and as our understanding of social justice evolves, our language evolves along with it. Here’s how to remove speciesism from your daily conversations. pic.twitter.com/o67EbBA7H4
— PETA: Bringing Home the Bagels Since 1980 (@peta) December 4, 2018
They followed up to the post with a tweet that said:
"Just as it became unacceptable to use racist, homophobic, or ableist language, phrases that trivialize cruelty to animals will vanish as more people begin to appreciate animals for who they are and start ‘bringing home the bagels’ instead of the bacon."
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According to Breitbart, the tweet includes a graphic recommending substitute language when referencing animals.
Instead of saying “kill two birds with one stone,” people should say “feed two birds with one scone,” although the first phrase refers to using resources wisely to accomplish multiple goals and nothing to do with feeding or literally killing birds.
Instead of “beat a dead horse,” PETA recommends saying “feed a fed horse,” even though “beat a dead horse” means one should not waste time doing something that will not work–nothing to do with feeding horses.
“Be the guinea pig” should change to “be the test tube” and “bring home the bacon” to “bring home the bagels,” referring to PETA’s stance that everyone should be a vegan.
The final entry on the graph is that “take the bull by the horns” – which is meant to express that people should tackle a challenge head-on – should become “take the flower by the thorns.”
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CNN reported:
PETA’s tweet comes after a UK-based academic argued last month that an increased awareness of vegan issues may lead to new modes of expression.
“Metaphors involving meat could gain an increased intensity if the killing of animals for food becomes less socially acceptable,” Shareena Z. Hamzah of Swansea University wrote in the Conversation.
“If veganism forces us to confront the realities of food’s origins, then this increased awareness will undoubtedly be reflected in our language and our literature,” Hamzah said.
“The legal system is already getting to grips with the subject,” CNN reported.
“It was announced this week that a British employment tribunal will decide whether ethical veganism is a ‘philosophical belief,’ that should be afforded the same protections as religion.”
