Using the word “abolition” is insulting?

The following message was sent to the VARI email account. It was written by Michael Couchman, who is, from what I could gather from him being on the 1st year Film DSC, a second year film major (but maybe not). Anyway, that isn’t important, what is important is the email. I am writing a reply right now and if anyone is interested in helping out, I can send it to you when it is done and we can go through some edits.

“I am sending you this message to relay to you my objections with the content of your recent animal rights posters on campus. I find your use of the word “abolitionist” to be an insult to all those who have suffered the injustices of oppression. Historically this term was attached to opposition against such things as slavery and apartheid. As I’m sure you’re aware, PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) has used holocaust imagery on their website, comparing the treatment of Jews in concentration camps to the plight of factory farm chickens. Why more animal rights activists haven’t been greviously offended by the common citation of ethnic cleansing and human suffering to demonstrate the wrongs of the meat industry escapes me. Moreover, I fail to see how you can so self-righteously call yourselves “abolitionists”, thereby likening your movement to the deeds of such significant figures as Abraham Lincoln and Nelson Mandela. Veganism should be seen as a dietary choice, not a revolutionary statement.

Being a former vegetarian, I can understand to a degree your perspective on animal cruelty and rights abuses. However, I do not comprehend the need for such melodramatic theatrics in order to get your message conveyed. Personally, I believe that people should first and foremost be dedicated to humanism. I become suspicious of anyone’s true agenda when radical ideology begins to overtake this simple principle.

In conclusion, I respect your right to protest the issues closest to your heart, but politely ask of you to change the terminology on your next edition of promotional posters. I have no reservations against taking this problem to The Journal, the African Caribbean Association, the Hillel Foundation, Amnesty International at Queen’s University, and the Committee Against Racism and Ethnic Discrimination.

Regards,
Michael Couchman”

First Meeting and Poster

Our first meeting is going to be Tuesday, September 18th at 7:00 PM in the Stauffer Library basement room 020B. I sent the poster around on the list , but I am not sure if it has gone out (if not, the poster is here). In any case, if people can help out postering just send an email to the list saying which areas you are going to attack, and then we can go from there. Areas of interest are:
*Stauffer Library
*Douglas Library
*JDUC
*MacCorry
*Residences
*Cafeterias
Dunning
Kingston
Sterling
Chernoff
Ellis
Beamish-Munro (aka ILC)
Dupuis
Jeffery
Jackson
Watson

Those with an asterisk require permission. For JDUC and MacCorry head to the office just inside the Union entrance of the JDUC. Stauffer is on the second floor at the south-west corner. Douglas I cant remember. Residences and Cafeterias head to the MCRC on the first floor of Vic hall on the other side of the foyer.