Johnny Weir staying in Olympic Village because of anti-fur activists
By Chris Chase
American figure skater Johnny Weir will stay in the Olympic Village because he's concerned about "very serious threats" from anti-fur activists.
The medal hopeful had planned to stay in a hotel during the Games, but it would have been too difficult to arrange adequate security. Though there are no indications that any of the verbal and written threats from extremists were credible, Weir's decision to stay in the more secure village was an obvious choice.
He's right to take extra precautions during his time in Vancouver. Though the odds of one of these threats actually coming to pass are low, there's no reason for Weir to open himself up to the possibility. For peace of mind alone, staying in a secured Olympic Village is worth it.
At last month's U.S. Nationals, Weir earned the scorn of anti-fur protesters when he wore a white tuft of fox fur on his shoulder. He was defiant in the face of the criticism at first but later relented.
Weir has long been an enemy of animal-rights groups because of his costumes. It was a disappointment when he finally caved to their pressure. It's his job to look flamboyant. There's no need to listen to a small but vocal group who don't like it. Nothing would ever get accomplished if everyone in the world had to sign off on everything first.
Though those making threats to Weir are but an infinitesimal part of the animal-rights groups, they are a stain on the movement. Maybe PETA and Friends of Animals should spend more energy denouncing those who threaten rather than those who wear.
Are these people complaining about fur trying to say they are all vegans...what a joke!! People who eat meat, fish and foul ought to just plainly SHUT UP about fur especially when it has been raised rather than killed in the wild.
ReplyDeleteThere is a huge different between survival and greed. This is not someone wearing fur because they live in the arctic, this is someone doing it to show off. Why should a small canine be 'enslaved' and horrifically tortured/murdered just for this? Even if it was a wild animal, starvation and being covered in sharp wire is no less sadistic.
ReplyDeleteI am not one to even threaten others, as it would not accomplish anything, but I would not have any displeasure if others acted violently upon this criminal. He is no different than any other murders or thieves.
Are you aware that people with arthritis can live a more comfortable life with less pain if they have a fur coat to wear in winter? Canada is a country with some of the highest percentages of arthritis in the world. You are generalizing. Sone people have fur coats to "show off".....not everyone. "Why should a small canine be 'enslaved' and horrifically tortured/murdered just for this? Even if it was a wild animal, starvation and being covered in sharp wire is no less sadistic.".....Do you eat meat, fish and foul? If you do, how do you think they are raised and killed? Your argument is lame, very, very lame. It's like the person who says they will never wear leather shoes. This person does not know how much the water ways are polluted by the production of synthetic footware and any other syntheticly produced products.....they are made from oil.
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