Posted previously somewhere. But a key phrase in this tale again popped into my head, and the tale deserves a retelling.

A long, long time ago, sometime in the 1990s, my friend Marty Linville, told me the story. It had occurred the week before our Friday morning golf round when Marty, wife Linda, daughter Michelle, and son Michael lived in nice home on a cul-de-sac. They had good friends who lived across the street who were dedicated to animal rights. Those neighbors were members of “People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals” (PETA).

On this particular evening, they were going around the neighborhood to get people to support PETA’s efforts.

They knocked on Marty’s door. After the usual round of friendly greetings, the couple urged Marty to stop buying dairy products, eating beef or beef product, and not buying or wearing belts, jackets, or other articles of clothing made of leather.

They were obviously genuinely proud of their presentation until Marty asked them a question:

“Why do you want to kill the cows?”

Startled, the couple doubled down talking about treating the cows humanely. Then they asked Marty what could he mean by such a question as “Why do you want to kill the cows?”

Marty explained, “I’m from Kansas, lived in cow country. I can tell you if folks quit drinking milk and eating cheese, and quit wearing leather, those farmers aren’t going to keep all of those cows for pets!”

He did not tell me his friends response. i wish i knew.