PUBLIC FORUM : HUMAN ARROGANCE WARRANTS LABELING OF ALL FUR PRODUCTS.

I hope the fur-labeling law passes in Beverly Hills. There is a lot of whining about rights, being made to feel guilty about buying fur or what they will label next.

Human beings in their arrogance behave so unconsciously and without regard for what consequences their actions have on the Earth or other living beings. Humans believe they have the right to take a fur-bearing animal, confine it to a tiny cage in a life devoid of anything, then have it be either electrocuted, strangled, gassed, have its head bashed in; then skinned, so they can parade around and luxuriate in its pelt.

If having labels telling how animals in fur farms, factory farms and slaughterhouses live and die bothers people, so be it. It is the truth. People can choose then to listen to their conscience and not participate in such cruelty to animals or ignore it and go on as they have been.

- Pam Konyk

Van Nuys

Man, in his arrogance, believes that animals are here for his use. Those who would call me an extremist point out the many uses of animals, most of which for many people would be unheard of to question. Of these uses, fur is the most gaudy and unnecessary, and the best example of man's arrogant attitude toward animals.

If it takes small steps to change this attitude, then, yes, put tags on furs. Hopefully, soon, understanding will lead to change and fur sales will end. That would be wonderful for animals - and for man.

- Mark Schuster

Panorama City

Marianne Means' opinion article in the Daily News, Feb. 11, ``Nutty fur proposal,'' is a great article on the stupidity of the Beverly Hills City Council initiative.

All the do-gooders who want to eliminate the fur trade should consider the following repercussions: all of these animal farmers and the fur manufacturers would have to go out of business, millions of these animals that are now in captivity would have to be slaughtered because farmers can no longer afford to feed them.

And animals, such as minks, would have to be put on the endangered species list because there aren't many minks in the wild today.

Animals like the mink do have a life on the farm, believe it or not. Prize animals live a long life for breeding. They are fed well and are medically cared for so that they will live comfortably and healthier instead of struggling to survive in the wild being killed by wolves, bears, mountain lions and other predators.

Millions of women who own fur coats will tell you there is nothing warmer and more comfortable than a true fur coat. Why should they be deprived of having a genuine fur because of a few fanatics who think they are saving the world? I, for one, love my leather jacket instead of a plastic one. Let's get real and find another cause. This one is just plain dumb.

- Joseph F. Panicello

North Hills

I, for one, agree with our fellow citizens of Beverly Hills that any product made of fur should have a death label put on it. I would also include all products made of leather. While we are at it, meat, poultry and fish that is purchased at our local markets (or from menus in our favorite restaurants) should be properly labeled, also.

People should be aware of how these so-called food products are put to death. All meat products are killed by someone batting them in the head with a sledgehammer; all poultry is done in by his or her throat being slit by a razor sharp knife; and worst of all, fish and our tasty crustaceans are put to death by suffocation.

The death labels may not end this carnage, but through the use of the death label, we will always be reminded at chow time that our compassionate fellow citizens of Beverly Hills have made us aware of the sacrifice these friendly, helpless creatures made for us all. The only people that will be able to live with themselves will be the happy-go-lucky, barefoot vegetarians.

- Frank G. Carlisi

Calabasas

We are a society that seems to have lost what few marbles we had left. An initiative in Beverly Hills to specify on a label how the animal used for a fur coat was killed? Was it gassed, clubbed, neck broken, poisoned, etc.?

No doubt these same concerned animal activists are pro-choice for abortions of humans. How do these babies die? By all the ways above and worse. The neck of a late-term abortion baby is stabbed in the skull with scissors and then its brains sucked out.

President Clinton was the only president who consented to sign into legislation permission to allow these murdered babies to be used for cosmetics and other purposes. Isn't it only proper to offer another initiative to label face creams so that the buyers will be assured that the killing for its ingredients was ``humane?''

- Sonya Jason

Woodland Hills

Of course death labels should be put on all leather and fur-bearing items. How else will they know the horrible death those animals suffered in order to feed the egos of those who can afford these items? It's past time we were aware of how animals suffer for the glory of man! It should have been done years ago, and should be done all over the world.

- Barbara Thunell

Canoga Park

Yes to the death labels, although a better name, perhaps ``humanity label,'' would be more effective and less controversial. We deserve to know the consequences of our purchasing actions. Although we may not have been responsible for the death of a newly purchased garment, we would certainly be encouraging more of the same.

I also think we should have labels indicating that slave labor, or children, were involved in the construction of any item we purchase. What a convenient way to improve the world.

I don't live in Beverly Hills, but I would truly think of shopping there out of sheer admiration for the courage of their residents.

Let's get it on the L.A. ballot!

- Jackie Joseph

Burbank

Re: ``Death labels,'' man's tyranny toward animals bothers me greatly. Not only for the sake of the animals that suffer at our hands, but because those who cause the suffering seem immune to the pain and torment they cause.

At the turn of the century, anthropologist and philosopher L. Levy-Bruhl wrote the text ``Mental Function in Inferior Societies.'' His premise was certain hill tribes could not possibly have the intelligence or emotions of Western cultures. Considering these cultures having compassion or ``aesthetic awe'' seemed pointless. Now we know Levy-Bruhl was, of course, wrong.

Those today who believe members of the animal kingdom cannot possibly suffer because they are a lower life form are just as wrong. ``Evolutionary biology offers further support for the view that animals feel,'' say Jeffrey Moussaieff Masson and Susan McCarthy in their book, ``When Elephants Weep.''

``Emotions can motivate survival behavior,'' they continue. ``An animal who is afraid of danger and runs away may survive over the one who does not, while another animal that angrily defends its territory may live longer and better. An animal that loves and protects its offspring may leave more descendants.''

Animals are able to feel pleasure and happiness, which enhances their ability to perform necessary functions and increases their likelihood of survival.

If a $60,000 special election and death labels will force people to consider their inhumanity to creatures with whom we share this world, then so be it.

- Marilyn Dalrymple

Lancaster

I would like to comment on your Public Forum topic of death labels. If the measure were to be placed on the Los Angeles city ballot, I would certainly support it and vote yes on it. To me, this is a consumer issue, one of being able to make an informed purchasing decision. I think many people are simply unaware of the horrors involved with producing some of these products and that if they were informed, they would choose to spend their money on products that cause less harm. Perhaps some people would still buy them, but at least they would be doing so knowingly and not ignorantly.

The leather and fur industries are surely opposing this. Why? For one reason: They are afraid that if the public knows the truth then what little public support there is for their industry will collapse. Voters recently overwhelmingly approved a ban on leg-hold traps after much opposition by the trappers and fur industries. This was due to the simple fact that people want a more humane society, not a less humane one. Once they were informed of the terrible truth, their decision was clear.

Americans are long overdue for this type of labeling - not just on products that require the death (and suffering) of living beings, but also for products that are produced using slave or child labor.

This type of consumer information is critical if we are to make informed decisions and if we really want to create a kinder, gentler world for ourselves and for our children.

Regarding the cost of the special election: I don't think $60,000 is too much - for Beverly Hills. I'm not sure why this is a special election. It seems they could have combined it with their normal elections and saved the money. However, the issue should be addressed either way.

- Randy Ralston

Sylmar

So the group Beverly Hills Consumers for Informed Choice wants fur coats labeled with tags describing how the former owners of the fur were killed. I think as long as we're at it, we should require the same sort of label on leather jackets, belts, shoes and furniture.

Indeed, let's require similar labels on packaged meat and fish in the market. After all, you merely wear leather and fur; you actually ingest meat. Restaurants should be required to print the same warning on their menus. Let's be consistent here.

And while we're proposing warning labels, may I propose the following: The people participating in this special election will be bored to tears, have their intelligence belittled and sacrifice $60,000 of their taxes to pay for a complete waste of time.

- Karl Lembke

Montrose

I would vote in favor of labels informing fur buyers how an animal was ``harvested'' in order to serve their vanity.

There is nothing wrong with giving consumers the opportunity to make informed decisions about how they spend their money. Too many people think fur farms are giant playgrounds where mink and chinchilla frolic together until they die of natural causes. The cruel reality of an isolated life in a tiny wire cage, ended by electrocution, gassing, neck breaking, clubbing, stomping, etc., or the long, agonizing death from a steel jaw leg trap is in direct contrast to what furriers have been known to describe to their customers.

I think the city of Beverly Hills is to be commended for spending $60,000 for this special election. These labels will not deter hard-core fur wearers who couldn't care less how an animal is killed. Furriers wouldn't oppose this measure if they weren't so sure that most people would be revolted by the way fur coats come into being.

- Nora Fraser

Encino

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PHOTO In May, Beverly Hills residents will decide if fur coats such as this should have labels informing buyers how the animal was killed.