View Full Version : Anyone remember the PETA letter?
cockyhoskins
08-10-2005, 08:46 PM
PETA's Letter to the University of South Carolina
October 15, 2001
Dr. John M. Palms
University of South Carolina
Dear Dr. Palms,
The Washington Wizards basketball team did it, and now, on behalf of our more than 750,000 members and supporters, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) is asking the Carolina Gamecocks to do it—make a long-overdue name change to better reflect society’s increasing awareness of, sensitivity to, and rejection of needless violence in all its forms.
The Gamecocks are named after the birds used in cockfighting, a hideous “blood sport” that, like spousal abuse, bank robbery, and driving while intoxicated, is illegal in South Carolina. Cockfighters pump the birds full of stimulants, hormones like testosterone, and blood-clotting drugs. Cockfighting enthusiasts attach long spurs made from sharpened razorblades to the birds’ feet to make fights more “exciting,” i.e., bloodier. The birds suffer hideous injuries, including wings and legs slashed to shreds, punctured lungs, severed spinal cords, and split eyes.
It’s a safe bet that officials at University of South Carolina would never dream of calling their athletic teams the Dogfighters, Wifebeaters, Looters, or Road-Ragers! By calling them the Gamecocks, USC sends a message to sports fans that cruel, illegal cockfighting is something to cheer about. Millions of compassionate people—and the law—agree that it’s not.
After deciding that they didn’t want to be associated with lethal projectiles, the Washington Bullets changed their team’s name to the Washington Wizards. On behalf of animal-respecting, law-abiding sports fans everywhere, we ask you, in all earnestness, to score points for kindness by benching the name “Gamecocks.” Show the nation that USC athletes are first-string champions of compassion. The ball is in your court—and we’re eager to know the final score.
Thank you for your consideration.
Very truly yours,
Kristie Phelps, Campaign Coordinator
International Grassroots Campaigns
http://www.peta.org/alert/scletter.html
cockyhoskins
08-10-2005, 08:52 PM
Or this one:
Dear Ms. Phelps:
This morning, I received your letter requesting that the University of South Carolina (USC) abandon its Gamecock mascot. For nearly 100 years, the University has celebrated the virtues of the Gamecock as its mascot, and we will continue to do so for as long as we are the University of South Carolina. Because your letter implies disgust with the Gamecock itself, I hope you will allow me the opportunity to provide some information about the Gamecock and its association with South Carolina and the University.
The ancient Syrians worshiped the fighting cock as one of their deities. In China, the gamecock is considered the herald of mortal existence and a symbol of honor, merit, and the west. In ancient Greece, the gamecock was the announcer of the sun and was considered sacred because of its magnanimity, courage, skill, and constancy. In Germany and Hungary, the gamecock is still considered a weather prophet. Over the centuries, such noble attributes have been associated with the gamecock as diligence, wakefulness, defiance, and vigilance.
It seems the “Gamecock” name was first associated with USC athletics teams in 1902. That year, USC upset Clemson (our in-state athletics rival), and Carolina students paraded through the streets near campus carrying a transparency that had been hanging in a local store window. The transparency, drawn by USC mathematics Professor F. Horton Colcock, featured the image of a gamecock standing over a fallen tiger. Two weeks later, The State newspaper began referring to the USC team as the “Game Cocks.” By 1904, the two words had been joined and the name had stuck.
A possible source for the first link between the University of South Carolina and the gamecock mascot lies with a nickname of a legendary military leader from South Carolina, Thomas Sumter. During the War for Independence, Sumter energized South Carolina in its fight against the British. In his preferred hat, coat, and epaulettes, Sumter donned the colors of the gamecock, and he was well-known for his fearlessness in battle. British officers commonly scorned Sumter as the “South Carolina Game Cock,” but South Carolinians were proud of his daunting spirit. Letters and other records indicate that by the 1840s, South Carolinians were praising Sumter as the “South Carolina Game Cock.” Perhaps his nickname inspired Professor Colcock as he depicted the USC victory over Clemson.
As you can see, South Carolina and the Gamecock have a history that incorporates far more than the sport of cockfighting. While cockfighting is illegal in South Carolina, gamecocks are not.
The University of South Carolina is proud to be known as the Fighting Gamecocks, and we will remain so for many years to come.
Sincerely,
John M. Palms
http://www.dailygamecock.com/media/paper247/news/2001/10/19/News/Letter.From.Usc.President.John.Palms.To.Kristie.Ph elps.Of.Peta-128990.shtml
Chopper Johnson
08-10-2005, 09:01 PM
what I need to do. I already have two older brothers (and they are twins and share the same friggin' brain!!), they are always telling me what I NEED to do. PETA does not speak for me, they should leave well enough alone. If it is OK to outlaw Indian names, what about nicknames like "Crusaders". And then PETA. Where does it all end.:mad:
cockyhoskins
08-10-2005, 09:19 PM
I have a feeling it is going to end now. Bush really bashed the NCAA today. This thing will backfire on them badly.
Spurrier 'Em
08-10-2005, 10:44 PM
It’s a safe bet that officials at University of South Carolina would never dream of calling their athletic teams the Dogfighters, Wifebeaters, Looters, or Road-Ragers!
It is a safe bet...because those names SUCK!! The South Carolina Road-Ragers...Now that must strike as much fear in opponents as the UC Santa Cruz Banana Slugs.
WE ARE AND WILL ALWAYS BE THE
SOUTH CAROLINA FIGHTING GAMECOCKS
:cocky: :happycoc: :cocky:
SpicyChicken
08-11-2005, 09:48 AM
And so it begins...
PETA recently contacted the presidents of the University of South Carolina and Jacksonville State University and suggested that the schools consider changing the names of their sports teams, both of which are called the Gamecocks. We pointed out that the Washington Wizards team changed its name from the Bullets after deciding that it didn’t want to be associated with violence, so it can be done.
The Gamecocks are named after birds used in cockfighting. These birds are pumped full of stimulants, hormones, and blood-clotting drugs. They have sharp blades attached to their legs to make the fights more exciting, i.e., bloodier. The birds routinely suffer hideous injuries, such as broken legs and wings, punctured lungs, and split eyes and are left to die outside the ring. Cockfighting is illegal in all but three states, and is a felony in South Carolina.
That is from this morning's USA Today
cocknblue
08-11-2005, 09:50 AM
God didn't place me at the top of the food chain to only eat vegetables.
Spurticus
08-11-2005, 10:29 AM
God didn't place me at the top of the food chain to only eat vegetables.
:clap:
Nor can I see a portly lady of Ms. Phelps stature having achieved her full figure by consuming nothing more than vegetables. I'd venture to say the lady Phelps has had her share of meat. She too enjoys her position at the top of the food chain. ( not to mention the dinner table ).
"I love small defenseless animals.........Especially in a good gravy". ~~ Steven Wright.
God didn't place me at the top of the food chain to only eat vegetables.:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:
vacock
08-11-2005, 01:03 PM
PETA does not have a lot of room to tell anyone anything. It was big news here in Virginia (home of PETA) that some of there workers, using a PETA Van, were caught picking up dogs from a shelter in North Carolina and killing them in the Van and tossing there bodies in a dumpster.
What little respect I had for them before is completly gone.
They said they did it because it was better for the dogs!! Can you imagine killing them and throwing them in the trash.. That was better.
mickeyrivers
08-11-2005, 01:09 PM
two huge differences in the washington wizards and the south carolina gamecocks.
first of all, washington changed their name because of the enormous amount of violent crime in washington dc. more people are murdered in washington dc and the surrounding area than anywhere else. the leaders of the team changed the name because they didn't think it was right to lead the nation in murders and have a name like "bullets."
as far as i know, south carolina does not have a big cock-fighting problem. we don't condone cockfighting. we don't lead the nation in cockfighting. the only fighting cock i've ever seen in real life i mixed with some coke and drank.
secondly, washington was not bullied into making the change. they didn't have over 100 years of tradition tied to their name when they changed. they figured they could make money off of a name change and sell a whole lot of basketball jerseys.
don't compare us with the washington wizards. it's insulting... further than that, it shows just how out of touch the psychos at peta really are.
cockyhoskins
08-11-2005, 03:32 PM
PETA weighs in: The animal rights group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals sent a letter to Brand on Wednesday asking the NCAA to stop South Carolina and Jacksonville (Ala.) State from using the nickname Gamecocks.
The letter, a copy of which was given to USA TODAY by PETA, says Gamecocks "are named after the birds used in cockfighting, a hideous 'blood sport' that, like spousal abuse, bank robbery and driving while intoxicated, is illegal in both South Carolina and Alabama."
Said Feeney: "For once, I believe that PETA, at least on the level of logic, is correct. If the NCAA has to protect offended Native Americans ... by God, PETA ought to advocate for the protection of every organism in the animal kingdom."
Who had one week in the over/under???
http://www.usatoday.com/sports/college/2005-08-10-mascot-options_x.htm
cocknblue
08-11-2005, 03:48 PM
which is political correctness ground zero.
A classmate of mine was from Puerto Rico and he couldn't stand all of the PC nazis running around campus. So, in an effort to push some of the more militant ones over the edge, he wore a t-shirt from a cockfighting establishment in San Juan.
Oh man, that was fun! All of the PC-freaks were saying "Oh how cruel! They are such wonderful animals and you're abusing them!!!" And Raul would say, "That's what they are born to do...fight!! We just making a little money off of it."
I wish I had gotten one of those shirts from him....
Spur's Addiction
08-11-2005, 05:53 PM
Peaple Eating Tasty Animals
http://yves.a.free.fr/graph/peta.jpg
http://www.classicrock1001.com/photos/peta%20girl.JPG
:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:
cockyhoskins
08-16-2005, 07:37 AM
http://www.usatoday.com/news/opinion/editorials/2005-08-15-letters-nicknames_x.htm
Letters to the editor in USA Today this morning. Thank you Gamecock fan for the first letter.
khosk
08-16-2005, 08:41 AM
The shame of all of this is that there is work that PETA needs to be doing. There are animals that are mistreated and need help. But when they pull stunts like this they make themselves look absolutely ridiculous and no one takes them seriously.
Here is what I can't understand, the NCAA is almost universally being criticized for trying to ban mascot names. So who would see this happening and say, "hey I need to jump on that bandwagon, I want to be a national laughing stock too." Good job PETA, you look like a bunch of idiots again and are hurting your cause.
TheSpurOf2001
08-16-2005, 08:51 AM
Well said khosk!
:clap:
blackdeath05
03-27-2006, 01:12 AM
i don't know if any of you saw the letter the morons (peta) wrote but i just found it
http://www.peta.org/alert/scletter.html
October 15, 2001
Dr. John M. Palms
University of South Carolina
Dear Dr. Palms,
The Washington Wizards basketball team did it, and now, on behalf of our more than 750,000 members and supporters, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) is asking the Carolina Gamecocks to do it—make a long-overdue name change to better reflect society’s increasing awareness of, sensitivity to, and rejection of needless violence in all its forms.
The Gamecocks are named after the birds used in cockfighting, a hideous “blood sport” that, like spousal abuse, bank robbery, and driving while intoxicated, is illegal in South Carolina. Cockfighters pump the birds full of stimulants, hormones like testosterone, and blood-clotting drugs. Cockfighting enthusiasts attach long spurs made from sharpened razorblades to the birds’ feet to make fights more “exciting,” i.e., bloodier. The birds suffer hideous injuries, including wings and legs slashed to shreds, punctured lungs, severed spinal cords, and split eyes.
It’s a safe bet that officials at University of South Carolina would never dream of calling their athletic teams the Dogfighters, Wifebeaters, Looters, or Road-Ragers! By calling them the Gamecocks, USC sends a message to sports fans that cruel, illegal cockfighting is something to cheer about. Millions of compassionate people—and the law—agree that it’s not.
After deciding that they didn’t want to be associated with lethal projectiles, the Washington Bullets changed their team’s name to the Washington Wizards. On behalf of animal-respecting, law-abiding sports fans everywhere, we ask you, in all earnestness, to score points for kindness by benching the name “Gamecocks.” Show the nation that USC athletes are first-string champions of compassion. The ball is in your court—and we’re eager to know the final score.
Thank you for your consideration.
Very truly yours,
Kristie Phelps, Campaign Coordinator
International Grassroots Campaigns
RGHoskins
03-27-2006, 01:38 AM
I don't think it's that much to ask. I'll even throw out the first suggestion.....University of South Carolina PETA bashers. It's got a nice ring to it I think......or maybe the USC CatKillers? DogDestroyers? This PC bullshit is getting so ridiculous, it's not even jokeworthy anymore.
Cuck Flemson
03-27-2006, 01:39 AM
PETA SUX!!!!!!!!!!!!:mad: :thumbs:
blackdeath05
03-27-2006, 01:50 AM
I don't think it's that much to ask. I'll even throw out the first suggestion.....University of South Carolina PETA bashers. It's got a nice ring to it I think......or maybe the USC CatKillers? DogDestroyers? This PC bullshit is getting so ridiculous, it's not even jokeworthy anymore.
:rotfl: :rotfl: haha .....i forgot to add though, this is the original letter from 2001
razorblades to the birds’ feet to make fights more “exciting,” i.e., bloodier. .... , to score points for kindness by benching the name “Gamecocks.”
first off can the PUN be any more noted ... second ... maybe PETA needs to go back to first grade english ... because last time i checked puncuation only goes inside " " when it is apart of the phrase that is inside it ... hhmmm since when has exciting been spelled w/ a comma on the end and Gamecocks been spelled w/ a period ... and i'm not completely sure ... but is BLOODIER a word?? i don't know if it is or not ... but it soundes WORSER than "more blood"
as for the letter ... why don't we call ourselves ... the South Carolina GAMECOCKS THAT KILL THE PETA PEOPLE :thumbsup:
blackdeath05
03-27-2006, 05:12 AM
WORSER than "more blood"
as for the letter ... why don't we call ourselves ... the South Carolina GAMECOCKS THAT KILL THE PETA PEOPLE :thumbsup:
:lol: :rotfl: Next thing there going to want us to eat veggie burgers at the game........
Spurred4Life
03-27-2006, 07:56 AM
I want to see miami get in trouble for being the hurricanes, it's not very pc after what happened in the south to stand for something that cause so much death and destruction. Seriously though this is getting ridiculous, like I said before, if this keeps up on day all colleges will be the reds or blues, untils peta says blue and red are offensive so then we are all the clears. Then peta would release a video tape of them making love to satan.
carolinafan53186
03-27-2006, 08:07 AM
Ya know, there are just some people they shouldn't let go outside...
TerryP
03-27-2006, 08:34 AM
I recall a conversation a year or so ago with one of the PETA members at Henry's, downtown Charleston. He seemed like a level headed guy; not a member of the extreme that gets publicized so often.
His suggestion was simple. The way I understood him, on the logo itself there has been an extra spur added. That spur, is one that is added during "cock fighting" and isn't a *natural* part of the leg.
True? (I haven't looked at the logo closely enough to find out...it's Monday, after all).
If so, it seems like an even exchange with this group to remove that offending spur...IF, this is indeed the case. You'll keep your logo, albeit with a minor change, and it should alleviate any more "meddling" this group may have in mind.
Is this another case of PC going overboard? Yes, I'd agree to that in a heartbeat. However, when the legislation was passed around the nation banning cock fighting I'm sure you guys realized this was on the horizon, didn't you?
I don't have a dog in this fight...but, I have to admit some idle curiousity. With the state representative bringing this up to the Carolina legislature...you figure he'll have a hard time getting re-elected? :)
blackdeath05
03-27-2006, 08:43 AM
I recall a conversation a year or so ago with one of the PETA members at Henry's, downtown Charleston. He seemed like a level headed guy; not a member of the extreme that gets publicized so often.
His suggestion was simple. The way I understood him, on the logo itself there has been an extra spur added. That spur, is one that is added during "cock fighting" and isn't a *natural* part of the leg.
True? (I haven't looked at the logo closely enough to find out...it's Monday, after all).
If so, it seems like an even exchange with this group to remove that offending spur...IF, this is indeed the case. You'll keep your logo, albeit with a minor change, and it should alleviate any more "meddling" this group may have in mind.
Is this another case of PC going overboard? Yes, I'd agree to that in a heartbeat. However, when the legislation was passed around the nation banning cock fighting I'm sure you guys realized this was on the horizon, didn't you?
I don't have a dog in this fight...but, I have to admit some idle curiousity. With the state representative bringing this up to the Carolina legislature...you figure he'll have a hard time getting re-elected? :)
Yes they do want us to get rid of the spur, the spur is what makes it a "fighting gamecock" and we are the USC Fighting Gamecocks! with out the spur we would just be a rooster..........and you mention a "exchang" if we got rid of the spur what would we get?? NOTHING all it would do is make a bunch of tree hugging hippies happy
anyways welcome to the board Terry p
Yes they do want us to get rid of the spur, the spur is what makes it a "fighting gamecock" and we are the USC Fighting Gamecocks! with out the spur we would just be a rooster..........and you mention a "exchang" if we got rid of the spur what would we get?? NOTHING all it would do is make a bunch of tree hugging hippies happy
anyways welcome to the board Terry p
agreed ... that extra spur is what makes us the Gamecocks ... a Gamecock is a fighting rooster ... taking away the Spur from our mascot is like telling UGA they have to use a Yorkie now because the bull dog is too mean ... it's like taking a persons heart out of his or her body ... the spur is what makes us what we are :mad:
TerryP
03-27-2006, 09:06 AM
UGA Yorkie's. LOL.
With all of the PC interference going on with college football...I often wonder why the "Fighting Irish" are **seemingly** overlooked.
MDCox
03-27-2006, 09:13 AM
I thought this was a dead issue with USC. Why bring it up now? We don't want the school to think that some fans think the logo is offensive. If they think alums and fans don't like the logo they would consider changing it. Posting this creates a forum to create a division between fans. PETA deserves no attention for this, let it die.
TerryP
03-27-2006, 09:37 AM
I thought this was a dead issue with USC. Why bring it up now? We don't want the school to think that some fans think the logo is offensive. If they think alums and fans don't like the logo they would consider changing it. Posting this creates a forum to create a division between fans. PETA deserves no attention for this, let it die.
Thank the South Carolina Senate for this no longer being a "dead issue."
A state senator says the University of South Carolina needs to rethink its "Fighting Gamecock" mascot if the Legislature passes tougher penalties on cockfighting.
If the bill passes, "how can we as lawmakers and other leaders of this state justify a major institution in our state running ads and logos on billboards with a fighting gamecock with spurs on the feet?" asked Sen. Darrell Jackson, D-Hopkins.
Jackson's question came as Attorney General Henry McMaster testified Wednesday before a Senate Judiciary subcommittee asking lawmakers to pass a bill raising the penalties for cockfighting, which is currently is a $100 fine.
The comment came after McMaster said some arguing against the bill say cockfighting is a part of South Carolina's culture.
Murder, rape, robbery and other crimes also affect the culture, McMaster said. "The fact that it's been going on for a while, does not establish it as some sort of noble tradition in South Carolina. If it's a part of our culture, it's a bad part of our culture that we can do without," he said
I heard it on the news a few days ago...that's the reason the conversation I had with the PETA guy came up in the first place.
SangareeCrew
03-27-2006, 09:43 AM
UGA Yorkie's. LOL.
With all of the PC interference going on with college football...I often wonder why the "Fighting Irish" are **seemingly** overlooked.
i have wondered about this as well..........:mad:
gtcarolinafan
03-27-2006, 10:20 AM
Got to love all the bad sports analogies in that letter....someone needs to be a little more creative....and have a little more common sense...:-x
crowcutta
03-27-2006, 02:14 PM
^cmon peta folks dont watch sports. if they saw cocky theyd turn the channel because of the plight of birds and how we mock their suffering by dressing up as oversized ones and jumping around.
God didn't place me at the top of the food chain to only eat vegetables.
ha ha
palmettogirlusc
03-27-2006, 07:14 PM
okay, so here's my take on things. people that believe the world needs to be more "pc" so we don't offend people, can kiss my butt. people are going to be offended by things no matter how "pc" you make the world. peta may think that they are helping the world, but in fact they are A) making a fool of themselves and B) infuriating people.
i don't know about you, but the point of mascots is to have something that we can relate our school's atmosphere to. Gamecocks to me represents honor, courage, and strength to get things done, and done the right way. if you read the reply to the original letter that CH posted, it explains all of the other meanings in other countries throughout the centeries. all of those meanings represent what this university is. going back to one of the sarcastic suggestions "banana slugs" ....you have to think about what it represents...slime??? so if we changed our mascot to a banana slug, we would be calling ourselves slimey...would peta be happy then? probably not, maybe we should call ourselves the "Sturdy Desks." give an inanimate everyday object a chance to be a mascot...cause that makes a lot of sense.
i honestly didn't even know what cockfighting was until i got here, much less what a game-rooster/cock/chicken is. plus, if we condoned cock fighting...when we play other teams, it would be condoning it if we played other teams named the "gamecocks" which we don't. so who cares.
and just from inside sources. not all fighting chickens are injected with steriods, and all of that other mess that the peta letter was talking about, they just go at it like that because its their natural reaction.
JoeCock
03-27-2006, 08:16 PM
I have been known to associate with PETA....
That is, People Eating Tasty Animals.:thumbsup:
I have a friend, who has a sticker on his truck that says:
"Deer, the original Fast Food". I'm pretty sure he is a PETA member as well. :rotfl:
But I'm no expert, just an Ordinary Joe.
GamecockRocker
03-27-2006, 08:39 PM
no, no one remembers it, thats why they send a new one every year.
They haven't figured out yet that we EAT CHICKENS that were killed and fried up in oil by the bucketful outside WB before every game, somehow associating our team with letting them fight a little doesn't really bother us that much.
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