A Bad Decision, or Just Poor PR?

Animal rights activists want four month old polar bear, Knut, dead.

Strange but true. Knut, the polar bear was rejected by its mother. Since then, a Berlin zookeeper has been racing Knut by hand. The activists are all worked up because they think the bear should die as nature intended it to. The mother rejected her cub, and humans shouldn't interfere. They don't want Knut to become another zoo animal.

It is nice to see some consistency from the activists, but it makes you think: 1) Are they making any sense? For the most part... no. 2) Did they give it any thought before releasing this opinion? Probably not. Certainly an boneheaded move on the activists' behalf. The bear will live a life of comfort. With polar bear numbers diminishing as global warming gets more severe, isn't it prudent to save as many bears as we can? Letting another polar live does no one any harm. Another live polar bear allows more people to appreciate it, and perhaps it will spark more effort in saving the bears and repairing the environment.

By wanting the polar bear dead, the activists have put themselves in a very bad position. Now everyone has the impression that activists are hypocrites, too extreme, and borderline ridiculous. They lose credibility for having an opinion that is perceived as ludicrous. Yes, they have a point, but does it make sense? Instead of being so inflexible, the activists should have seen this trap miles away. Winning the hearts of the public is the way to further their cause.

Perhaps they need what Bill Simmons often suggests pro sports teams need: a common sense consultant.