Eid al-Adha, PETA would not be amused

Hundreds of Turks spent the first day of the Muslim feast of Eid al-Adha holiday in emergency wards on Sunday, after stabbing themselves or suffering other injuries while sacrificing startled and agitated sheep and other animals.

link

Muslims sacrifice cows, sheep, goats and bulls during the four-day religious holiday, a ritual commemorating the biblical account of God's provision of a ram for Abraham to sacrifice as he was about to slay his son. They share the meat with friends, family and neighbors and give part of it to the poor.

Four people were severely injured when they were crushed under the weight of large animals that fell on top of them, the agency reported. Another person was hurt when a crane, used to lift an animal, tumbled onto him, the agency said.

Funny, I am not aware of any complaints from PETA about the practice.

These kooky folks save their adolescent angst for the local crowd whom they
would dearly love to pacify.

link

• As evidenced by the following tragedies, animals used in Nativity scenes are magnets for abuse:
  In West Virginia, a man was charged with raping a sheep at a Nativity scene.
• 
  A donkey named Brighty, who was used in a church Nativity scene in Harrisonburg, Virginia, was savagely beaten by three young men. Following the attack, Brighty was fearful of people and refused to socialize with other donkeys.
• 
  In Richmond, Virginia, dogs attacked the animals used in a church’s Nativity scene, mauling two sheep and causing a donkey to bolt into traffic, where he was hit by a car.
• 
  A camel named Ernie, who was part of a Nativity scene in Maryland, was killed by a car.
• 
  A sheep used in a Bedford, New Hampshire, Nativity scene was stolen and slaughtered.
• 
  More than 20 animals used by a Virginia business that “rents” animals for use in seasonal displays died when the barn where they were housed burned to the ground.
• 
  In Havana, Illinois, a camel used in Nativity scenes was injured when he jumped out of a horse trailer that was being towed at a speed of at least 55 mph.

There are far more entertaining, humane, and cost-effective alternatives to the use of animals in Nativity scenes. Statues or models of animals can be used instead. Some churches encourage children to dress up as animals and participate in the living Nativity with adults. In such cases, the story of the birth of Christ can even be told from the animals’ perspective. This way, the funds wasted by churches to lease animals for Nativity scenes could be better spent on food for the hungry, shelter for the homeless, or toys for needy children.

Ha, they prefer "children to dress up as animals" so the Nativity story can
be told "from the animals’ perspective". How cute. I'm pretty sure the
PETA folks think animals can talk, and if not... just use kids.

OK, enough fun. HAPPY NEW YEAR!