Actually, make that, me-OW!
The next time you hook into a lunker, and the rod tip bends as line spools out, the folks at PETA want you to look that fishy face square in the eye and think of it not as dinner, but rather as a “sea kitten.”
“We're hoping that by calling fish ‘sea kittens,' compassionate people who would never hurt a dog or a cat will realize that fish feel pain and fear, just like furry and winged animals do,” the group wrote in a letter to Whitefish principal Kent Paulson. “In fact, neurobiologists tell us that fish have complex nervous systems that comprehend and respond to pain. Fish communicate and develop relationships with one another, show affection by gently rubbing against other fish, and even grieve when their companions die.”
The name-change request - which is admittedly tongue-in cheek - is part of a national initiative on behalf of all fish species, which PETA says suffer unduly because they are not “cute and cuddly.”
“Schools strive for achievements in academics and sports,” said PETA campaign coordinator Ashley Byrne, “so why not add compassion to the list?”
Most parents, the letter concludes, “would never dream of spending a family weekend torturing kittens, but hooking fish through their mouths and pulling them through the water is just as painful as hooking a cat's mouth and dragging him or her behind a car.”
Paulson wasn't available to discuss a possible name change on Wednesday, but Superintendent Jerry House said he'd been giving it some serious thought.
“By all means,” he said, “we try each and every day to teach respect for the feelings of others.”
Usually, he said, that lesson does not explicitly extend to fish, but “hey, why not?”
In fact, House thinks all of Whitefish should consider the new name.
But he, for one, suggests White Kitten, rather than Sea Kitten, as Whitefish is so far from the coast.
“White Kitten High School, the White Kitten City Council, the White Kitten Fire Department - it has a certain ring to it, don't you think?”
Break the politically correct law, House said, “and you'll be arrested by the White Kitten Police Department, and taken to the White Kitten Jail, where you'll be treated with soft, furry paws and a purr of compassion.”
Other towns, such as Spearfish, S.D., also received the PETA letter, and reportedly were taking the request under advisement.
“Of course they are,” House said. “After all, who wants to be on the hook for being insensitive to kittens?”
Last summer, Whitefish High played host to a conference of the National Federation of Fly-Fishers, who presumably take a very different position on all matters fishy. In a town so reliant upon tourism and conventions, House suggests that the new name could bring in similar new business.
“Next year, maybe we'll get the National Federation of Sea Kittens,” he said. “The fur will be flying, and they'll have scratching post exhibits.
“But,” he warned, “we're going to have to bring in lots and lots of litter boxes."
Me-ow.
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Don wrote on Jan 8, 2009 3:01 AM:
" An organization that cannot tell the difference between a child and an animal deserves no respect and I do NOT respect
PETA. They are a bunch of screw loose people. "
PETA. They are a bunch of screw loose people. "
A. Reader wrote on Jan 8, 2009 6:12 AM:
" What kind of Kool-Aid do these PETA people drink? I wonder how many of them are pro-choice when it comes to abortion? "
SurfNTurf wrote on Jan 8, 2009 9:05 AM:
" Kudos to the Missoulian for stepping up and giving its readers another press release story. PETA clearly does not think that an MT high school will actually change it's name, they simply operate under the premise that any press is good press. By running with the story, even if the writer is just making light of it, the local paper just plays along with the game, encouraging more inane press releases from more inane groups, and in turn more inane topics to write about. PETA's not to blame here, they've just realized that if they send out whacky press releases, someone at the Missoulian will bite on it. It'd be nice if we could expect a higher level of discourse in our Iowa-owned "local" daily, but we'd best not hold our breath. "
andy wrote on Jan 8, 2009 9:23 AM:
" Give me a break! This paper that prints, and appears to endorse, a ridiculous idea to change the names of public facilities and cities to protect the "feelings" of fish, in the same issue, prints a recipe for fish! "
Marcia Harper wrote on Jan 8, 2009 11:01 AM:
" Have Montanans gone mad? or dont they have enough to do these days!?! And the press reporting this like these people have a valid claim. You used to be the wild west. What happened!?! "
amalia wrote on Jan 8, 2009 11:50 AM:
" i think this is so rediculous if they are going that far then they better stop eating them fruits and veggies just because you cant hear a carrot scream when its ripped out of the ground dosent me it cant feel it!!!!!so think that one over... plants have been proven to have personality and love music so what about that peta i have a strong disliking of all u peta people i hunt fish and eat all meats so ha "
Love2Fish wrote on Jan 8, 2009 12:08 PM:
" OK, I think I just broke a rib laughing. I mean I've heard and agreed with a lot of environmentally sound practices. But this? Come on people.
ROTFLMAO!!!!!! "
ROTFLMAO!!!!!! "
Nikki wrote on Jan 8, 2009 12:08 PM:
" I only have one word for these people and you know what it is.... "
Walt Dotter wrote on Jan 8, 2009 12:16 PM:
" Why not Snow Cat? Then we could all reflect on the qualities of the Snow Leopard which, while it is a relatively small cat it, is also an avid hunter. Also it would seem to make more sense than sea kitten because I think Whitefish has a whole lot more snow than sea. At least it did when I last frequented the area. "
Greg wrote on Jan 8, 2009 12:45 PM:
" Peta who's real name is "People Eating Tasty Animals" (according to my daughter) is a great idea for a documentary on deer and elk recipes for the "EATAH" channel. "
D wrote on Jan 8, 2009 1:40 PM:
" PETA: people for the eating of tasty animals. That's my motto.
BTW, what happens to all these animals and their habitat when we expand agriculture to grow crops for these vagans. Everything is connected, no matter what you do, if your alive and are reproducing, you have killed animals. So, Vegans, if you want to help animals, you know what to do! "
BTW, what happens to all these animals and their habitat when we expand agriculture to grow crops for these vagans. Everything is connected, no matter what you do, if your alive and are reproducing, you have killed animals. So, Vegans, if you want to help animals, you know what to do! "
annoyed teacher wrote on Jan 8, 2009 2:27 PM:
" This is absolutely ridiculous. Does PETA want the city, itself, to be renamed as well? Please tell me the school isn't seriously considering something so stupid. "
Mal wrote on Jan 8, 2009 2:57 PM:
" Ummmmmmm WTF???
I go to Whitefish Highschool and there is no way in Hell that they would ever change the name to the "sea kittens"
I would be embarressed to go to school there.
Seriouly, P.E.T.A needs to focus on more important stuff,just because you change the name of fish to sea kittens is not going to change peoples veiws on fish. "
I go to Whitefish Highschool and there is no way in Hell that they would ever change the name to the "sea kittens"
I would be embarressed to go to school there.
Seriouly, P.E.T.A needs to focus on more important stuff,just because you change the name of fish to sea kittens is not going to change peoples veiws on fish. "
Paul wrote on Jan 8, 2009 4:14 PM:
" I think I will kick a puppy, pull the wings off a hummingbird then to finish my day by catching & releasing a trout. "
Erin wrote on Jan 8, 2009 5:53 PM:
" First of all, the town's name is Whitefish, so obviously that would be the name of the school. Second, the mascot is the Bulldog, not the fish. Someone at PETA has too much time on their hands and way too little intelligence. "
Kris wrote on Jan 8, 2009 8:20 PM:
" Thank you Missoulian for the humorous read! I called my mother in Idaho, and friend in Virginia and read the story to them...this article made me laugh all day! HEY PETA! I will be thinking of you next time I cut into my medium rare steak, shrimp on the bar b or bring my WHITEFISH (there is such a thing) home from the taxidermist and place it on the mantel. "
AT wrote on Jan 9, 2009 2:27 AM:
" I agree with the reader who said this is just a publicity ploy for PETA. The name Whitefish simply employs the name of a fish that is native to the area, not to promote fishing(which I love with a passion). Its ludicrious for any orginization to even make any statement, tounge in cheek or not, to rename a school or anything for that matter, because it violates their warped sense of political correctness. Rappela lures makes a 2 foot long model of their lures and I am thinking of ordering one, and when people ask me what I am fishing for, I am going to reply "Petas" lol "
Cindy wrote on Jan 9, 2009 6:19 AM:
" Peta can't seem to find anything to do with themselves but create dumb things like this. I bet our taxpayers money supports them so they have time on their hands for this kind of garbage. We know by all the lawsuits they file that taxpayers money supports their attorneys, name them "bloated kittens".Then stick a sign on them "Danger don't squeeze." "
Charlie wrote on Jan 9, 2009 9:42 AM:
" If you want to know what peta is all about check this out http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l9ijLulwUTY "
MTGirl wrote on Jan 9, 2009 11:34 AM:
" Oh come on! I can't believe how many people are treating this as though it were a serious article. It's funny, and brings to light how ridiculous the idea of renaming Whitefish High "Sea Kittin High". I for one enjoy an article that can poke fun of the ridiculousness of the idea, instead of reading once again that someone has been stabbed or shot in missoula. A great job reporting; I just read an article that, for once, made me giggle! "
stephanie wrote on Jan 11, 2009 2:16 PM:
" I cannot believe the manipulation and brain washing it took for PETA to even be able to voice their factless and ignorant voices to a school! Those children already have enough garbage shoved down their throats, so why are school systems allowing them to come in and sway a child's opinion of a sport? I hope the school is being fair to the other side of the fence and allowing an expert, such as Dr. James D. Rose, whom, after decades of research on this particular matter came to the conclusion and released his finding in 2003 that fish DO NOT feel pain!!! Are they going to allow him to come and speak at the school? If I had a child ther, I would pray they didn't listen to this nonsense. Fishing is a way to keep populations at a healthy number in lakes, river, reservoirs, oceans, etc. Without it, these fish and water creatures would over populate, creating disease, waste, foul odor and dangerous/hazardous places for humans to even be around. Same as with hunting. I hope for my sake as an avid fisherwoman and huntress, this town doesn't buy into this crap. I have a voice and a right too, so who do these people think they are to take that away from me? "
jen zatoth wrote on Jan 11, 2009 10:19 PM:
" does that mean the ex-singer of marillion has to change his name to sea kitten now? "
Rob Marney wrote on Jan 12, 2009 6:45 AM:
" "Schools strive for achievements in academics and sports, so why not add compassion to the list?" Because schools are designed to teach academics and sports, but not compassion. That's what parents are for.
Also, kudos to the Missoulian for including the hilarious Jerry House. Rock on, sir! "
Also, kudos to the Missoulian for including the hilarious Jerry House. Rock on, sir! "
Lauren wrote on Jan 13, 2009 9:30 AM:
" I attend Whitefish High and I think that this whole thing is ridiculous! It may be because of some fish thing but, we have been Whitefish for many, many years. And, just because there is some group that feels that we should change our name doesn't mean we should. "
Spartan Supporter wrote on Jan 13, 2009 3:04 PM:
" I live in Spearfish and the principal is not taking this little publicity stunt serious and are not taking it under advisement. "
Gregg wrote on Jan 17, 2009 11:39 AM:
" But wouldn't Spearfish then become Spearkitten? Wheres the compassion in that? But really, in all fairness... you are talking about it aren't you. Isn't that the purpose of any press release? "
ryan wrote on Apr 25, 2009 2:29 AM:
" Cant catch or eat fish anymore? What next, cant eat carrots because then the poor bunny rabbits will go hungry? I guess ill just give up on eating and shrivel up like the rest of the peta folk. "
Spurwing Plover wrote on May 6, 2009 9:11 AM:
" Dose that mean they,ll have to change the name of the place from WHITEFISH BAY to WHITE SEA KITTEN BAY? iTS AS REDICLOUS AS WHEN SOME JERK NAME MICHEAL W. FOX WANTED THEM TO RENAME PET SHOPS AS COMPANION ANIMAL SHOPS its STUPID and REDICLOUS and PETA IS BOTH STUPID AND REDICLOUS "
Craig wrote on Jan 8, 2009 2:39 AM: