‘Human Souls, Animal Lives’

Glidden criticizes animal liberationists as hypocrites for emphasizing laboratory research as a first priority.

In this he fails to distinguish between an abrupt stroke of death and slow extermination by way of the torture chamber.

In nature, many life forms prey upon each other, but in only the rarest cases does the victim (usually a simple organism) have to endure extended torment. In the medical laboratory, highly evolved species must frequently undergo excruciating ordeals of physical pain for hours, days, weeks or months--without knowing why.

If a hypothetical super-race offered such a choice to any one of us, few, indeed, would select any option but instant death.

On this ground, fur trapping should also be a first priority.

LEW AYRES

Los Angeles