Today I stumbled upon IGN’s article about PETA pointing its wrath towards everyone’s favorite Italian plumber Mario. According to PETA, the new Super Mario 3D Land for the 3DS has a Tanooki suit as one of Mario’s many power ups in the game. PETA believes that Mario wearing a Tanooki suit is somehow Mario’s endorsement for skinning animals and wearing their fur as an acceptable fashion statement. PETA even includes on their article page a mini-game where a Tanooki raccoon dog chases after Mario to try and get its stolen skin back.
I respect animal rights advocates, but this is too much. Why do I feel PETA just wants to find things to gripe about? I think the people at IGN said it best in their article:
And here we thought Mario got the Power-Suit from a Super Leaf that transformed him into Tanooki Mario. Our mistake. I suppose this means he skinned a giant bee for his Bee Suit in Super Mario Galaxy 2… and I tremble to think as to the real source of his bunny ears in Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins.
Come on. It’s just a game. I highly doubt kids who play this game are going to start thinking, “Gee, I think I want to go out and skin animals to get my own fur suit because Mario makes it look so cool!” It’s like saying playing violent video games are going to brainwash people into going on a killing rampage. You can’t blame it on one thing alone.
PETA going after Mario and denouncing 3D Land makes them more silly and downright crazy. I’m surprised they didn’t start harping on Mario for the Bee Suit. What about animal cruelty towards bees? Isn’t the bee suit endorsing the skinning of bees to wear their skin as a fashion statement?
simpleek 