Food for Thought on Animal Rights

In the beginning, single-celled, photosynthetic life forms arose out of the Earth’s primordial soup. Over the millennia, these creatures evolved, giving rise to complex vegetative forms we know today as plants. In time, animals developed to feed upon these complex organisms. And shortly thereafter, other animals began to feed on the herbivores. With this set of established, scientific facts we can then conclude that all animals are, in a sense, parasites on the plant kingdom.

“So what?” you may ask. Well, I read a Times article on Gina Lynn, the Cypress animal rights activist (“A Dogged Defender of Animal Rights Puts It All On the Line,” Jan. 29). While I commend Ms. Lynn on her determination and conviction, I think that her efforts are misdirected. I would urge her to join with me in my new group, the Plant Rights Direct Action Coalition.

Not only were plants here long before us, they have been viciously hunted down and devoured by herbivores and, indirectly, carnivores for millions of years. More recently, humans have even placed plants in bondage by constructing inhumane “farms” in which defenseless seeds are grown up in constricted spaces, doped with pesticides and fertilizers, only then to be cruelly slaughtered and placed upon the auction block. And let’s not even go into the abominable practices of gardening, wood carving and the barbaric act of bonsai!

Let us come to grips with our crimes and vow never to eat plants again, or use their carcasses for clothing, newspapers, building materials, etc. Plants are people too!

MATTHEW S. McDONALD

Newport Beach