Both Sides of the Table on PETA’s ‘Unhappy Meals’ Ads

What I read today shocked me about People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (“Animals--and Kids--Deserve a Break Today,” June 15). I am a mother of two autistic boys, and when I read what those idiots were doing at McDonald’s with their “Unhappy Meals,” it makes me want to eat more meat just to spite them. Children are always the innocent victims of these self-righteous morons.

How dare they target young children for their campaign! It just angers mothers and turns them against PETA, not McDonald’s. I already called PETA and chewed out a young guy named Sean. He said he created the campaign. He sounded like some recent college grad who has no kids. His logic was illogical, and I hung up on him.

--DEBRA CLARK

Granada Hills

*

I was disappointed with your response to PETA’s efforts to educate children as to the truth behind their hamburgers and McNuggets. According to PETA’s Web site, the average child eats five hamburgers a week. This is not only unhealthy for the children, but supports the undeniably inhumane practices of the slaughter industry.

I think children have a right to know how their food is manufactured, no matter how gruesome the truth is. If I had been enlightened when I was younger to the cruelty inflicted upon billions of animals in the name of hamburgers, I would have turned vegetarian much sooner. If children are allowed to make the connection themselves between a living being, a tortured existence, brutal death and their Happy Meal, I’m sure we would have more animal activists today.

--NICOLE WEAKLEY

Pasadena