Lots of people have mixed feelings about Oprah Winfrey. Lots of people have mixed feelings about PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals). So ambiguity and ambivalence have joined forces with this latest news: Oprah will receive a plaque and a certificate of recognition as PETA’s “Person of the Year” for 2008. I guess Pamela Anderson had a more pressing engagement?
The main reason stated for this honor was apparently the episode of “The Oprah Winfrey Show” dedicated to the passing of Oprah beloved dog, Sophie. Sophie was a 13-year-old cocker spaniel who died of kidney disease. Oprah called Sophie “one of the loves of my life” and truly seemed devastated at Sophie’s passing. The episode dedicated to Sophie focused on the cruel and horrible things that happen to dogs at *some* puppy mills.
Add another honor Oprah Winfrey mantle: People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals has named her its “Person of the Year.”
The Norfolk, Va.-based animal rights’ group’s president, Ingrid E. Newkirk, on Friday singled out the media mogul, 54, for using her “powerful voice to defend those without one.”
In April this year, Winfrey dedicated an episode of her show to her late cocker spaniel, Sophie, who was 13.
[From People]
In keeping with the theme, I have mixed feelings about this. I don’t doubt that Oprah was overwhelmed with the tragedy of a beloved pet’s death, and she turned that tragedy into an informative episode of her show. But it does seem like there are better advocates for animal rights that deserve more recognition. Oprah wears a ton of leather and she eats meat – not that I endorse PETA’s all-or-nothing stance on many issues of animal rights, but couldn’t they find someone who practices everything that PETA preaches?
Oprah is shown on 12/7/08 at Alvin Ailey 50th Annivesary Opening Night. Credit: Splash News header, and WENN below.
Hey, aren’t those feathers on her belt?
Shameless publicity seeking on the part of PETA and just another thing for Oprah to bloat err gloat about.
You’re definitely speaking my language today, Kaiser. There HAS to be someone out there who is more PETA-friendly than Oprah. Shit, I don’t wear leather. Granted it’s more of a coincidence than a moral choice, but still … Why don’t they nominate me? Is there cash involved
What about holy delusional saints Heather or Paul? Very few people can stand either of them and very few people can stand PETA. A match made in irritation heaven.
Yeah, she never met an animal she didn’t eat.
In the interest of “building bridges” it’s kinda nice of PETA to honor someone (even if it is Oprah) who’s not a militant vegetarian, I know Martha Stewart lost her beloved Chow fairly recently and had a really touching tribute to him on her website.
Even us shameless meat eaters love our pets.
hahaha, yes, it certainly looks like feathers on her belt
love peta. think there is a stretegy behind this title for her.
I saw that episode Kaiser and it was a real tear-jerker. One of the guests, an animal advocate rented a billboard in Chicago to get Oprah’s attention so she would do that show.
I am not a fan of Oprah, but I give her an ovation for this one. Her show is a great way of giving national/world wide exposure to the deplorable conditions of puppy mills.
ZOMG, what is Kaiser doing on the other side of the mirror ??
By the way, the urban dictionnary site that has been linked from this side is excellent to explain lots of vocabulary stuffs to me. Check out the Britney spears entrance… I couldn’t go through all the definitions.
I think PETA is trying to become more accessible and friendly to people, by electing Ophrah. Now, is Oprah going to talk about that on her show or avoid it ???? Better skip it, I think
hahahaha frenchie! i was thinking the same thing! i saw codzillas response and i was like…umm kaiser hasnt commented yet. OH! lol
Oprah wears furs!!!!!
And she’s honored by PETA?
WHAT????
Here’s a photo of Oprah in fur I found in about 15 seconds with a Google search. You can find plenty more if you’d try.
http://www.usmagazine.com/images/slideshows/oprah-slide-2.jpg
This is the most peice of hypocracy I’ve seen in many a year, in my opinion.
Just consolidates my suspicion that PETA’s gone way off into Nonsensical Land. I don’t mind Oprah eating meat or wearing leather but after all of PETA’s yap, yap, yapping about fur-wearing, well, to choose Oprah as their person of the year is just not right.
Personally, I eat meat (although living in Switzerland on a student’s budget kinda makes you a forced vegetarian, so I eat meat maybe twice a month now) but I try to lay off real leather when I can avoid it and I definitely, definitely don’t wear furs or stuff like crocodile/snake leather etc. I think I should have been given that award! I had two dogs that died shortly one after the other and I loved them too. Where the hell is my plaque?
But really PETA, start making some sense or go away, but this just isn’t cutting it as far as credibility goes and is just putting more weapons in the hands of those that ridicule you.
PETA and Oprah belong together, they both use slight-of-hand to give us the illusion they are what they are not.
How is domesticating animals for the social pleasure of humans, is considered “ethical” by this group?
Would they like to be the pet of some other animals and live according to the rules and to serve the social needs of another groups of animals?
I think it’s much more ethical and with accord with nature to kill an animal in order to eat it, rather than take an animal and have it domesticated and lock in a human residence.
MT domesication of dogs served a purpose for dogs and humans. Dogs are pack animals and hanging with humans allowed them to get food and stay warm (sleeping by the fire at night).
Jess, Frenchie- I started writing for the site last week. Hope you enjoy!
MT: I’m sure if you asked my dogs what they think of having plenty of love, food, playtime (on several acres of land), and big soft pillows inside a warm house, they’d probably disagree with your assessment. Maybe we should throw your ass out into the wilderness and see whether you prefer a full fridge and a warm bed to hunting your food and sleeping on the cold ground.
Okrah looks like a Cocker Spaniel these days, so what the hell?
Ophrah never met a jelly donut she didn’t like. This fat hypocrite will eat the entire table if people aren’t watching. She took a bunch of shots at the beef industry and then began to consume it by the carload.
I love Oprah so much. I don’t like pets at all but she really helped me understand why people do. She is such a beautiful, smart powerful woman.
Thank you Oprah.
Ophrah should join with Angelina Jolie, Rosy O’Porkbutt, Ellen Degenerate and Lindsay Lohan and become a VAGITARIAN.
“Ellen Degenerate”
Darn, how will the rest of us ever come close to being THAT funny and clever? We might as well pack up and go home. Thank goodness there is someone as classy and hilarious as fish, to lift everyone’s spirits.
*CB Rawks* it’s the weekend before Christmas, the kids are out of school.
Ahh. Of course. Ta, Dante. 🙂
Technically, PETA is against owning pets.
Therefore, they should be nailing her to a cross right now.
I think she really was sad about her dog. But I agree they should probably have picked somebody else.
I feel like PETA gives all of us animal lovers a bad name. They go overboard on sensationalism & ridiculousness.
I also think Oprah has done some great things for the cause of animals. She did give more light to disgusting puppy mills, fought & won against the beef industry & went on a (very short) vegan diet. So good for her on all that.
But seriously, can PETA just please revamp themselves & stop being so obnoxious.
Peta is just hoping she will throw them some of her gazillions of dollars if they throw her an award. I am TIRED of Oprah. Besides, who can respect somebody who puts themself on the cover of their own magazine every month. There has to be somebody else who does more for animals.
blogga pleeze
Oprah = attention
PETA is all about attention
case solved
You have stated the case more or less Micheal. Oprah has a lot of influence like it or not, and if she approves of PETA then her faithful hordes of over-weight white suburban housewives will too.
@D.R. – What a cute pup Gravatar, it it yours? A Lab or Golden?
@Dante -“.. kids out of school” – fabulous!
i guess congrats…
does anyone care about this award?