Peta2’s campus appearance involved some interesting shock and awe tactics. Instead of comparing human suffering to animal suffering (or showing us bloody animal corpses for that matter), a little less extremity could benefit the cause a lot more.

Like many Americans, we take issue with People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals and their extreme views on animal cruelty.

Recently, members of peta2, a youth-oriented division of PETA, came to campus promoting its Liberation Project, which compares animal cruelty to slavery and child cruelty.

Don’t get us wrong, we love animals and think there is a warm spot in hell for anyone who abuses any living creature.

We simply take issue with PETA’s undermining the seriousness of child abuse and human trafficking. Animals should not be put above human beings.

PETA gives a bad name to animal rights activists, who intend to do actual good for our furry and feathered friends.

We wonder how dumping red paint on a new fur coat helps animals.

Time spent ruining politically incorrect outerwear would be better served petitioning local representatives to write stricter laws against puppy mills and farms that castrate pigs or brand cows.

We doubt peta2’s 12 panels depicting various heinous acts do anything but put people off of their lunch.

Even its website seems more devoted to articles on how to be a hip vegan, then how to actually help animals. Would these hip activists get their hands dirty and do real work to save animals from these unthinkable acts?

Asserting that human abuse is the same as animal abuse does more harm than good.

The old adage “you’ll get more flies with honey than vinegar” applies in this case.

If you want people to stand behind your cause, it is not wise to belittle or offend them.

Human suffering, especially when it involves children, is not comparable to animal cruelty.

PETA seems to be lacking a grasp on reality.

We respect PETA’s choice to exercise its First Amendment rights. Kent State made the right decision in allowing peta2 to demonstrate on campus, but there are better ways to get your point across.