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SMA Apology

Bobbie LaRocque

ENGL 211

Jen England

3/6/2013

SMA Apology; I’m Sorry I Hurt You (Cosmetic Testing on Animals)

  To all the animals that I have contributed to the abuse of, I am sorry. I was just an everyday woman using normal makeup products, but little did I know what it was doing to you and how my want to be beautiful has destroyed you. I never knew that my mascara made your eyes burn, my perfumes gave you lesions, and that my foundation caused you to have an allergic reaction and asphyxiate. For this I am deeply sorry. If I had known this, I would have done things differently. If I had done research I would have known that what I was using on my skin to make me look healthy was the very thing that was making you sick. Never again will I use a makeup product that I know harms you in any way. I will also tell my friends about this devastating truth and how easy it is to use products that do not harm you. I wish I could do more to help stop the cruel things people are doing to you, but I hardly have any say. But what I can do is promise you that I will spread the word and make people see the kinds of terrible things that are happening to you. Again, I am sorry to you all. I have hurt you and I know that now, but rest assured that your message will be carried and I will not hurt you again. If you could find it in your heart to forgive me that would be all I ask of you. You are worth so much more than my beauty. 

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Rhetorical Analysis on Cosmetic Testing

Bobbie LaRocque

ENGL 211

England

2/27/2013

Rhetorical Analysis on Cosmetic Testing on Animals

            The use of cosmetic testing of animals has been in the making for hundreds of years now. Its use has gone all the way back into 1800s when colors had begun to be used for clothes, hair dyes, and makeup. Although makeup itself has gone back until 4000 BC, quite recently, animal testing for makeup has been fairly recent. When women began dyeing their hair and coloring their cheeks, allergic reactions began obviously because of certain fumes and chemicals in the dyes. To prevent this, makeup companies began testing these products on animals so that they could be deemed safe for humans to wear. Of course, humans benefited from this; however the animals did not and were drastically affected.

            Animal testing is viewed not only as cruel and unnecessary, but also as an animal rights issue. The main sponsors of this are PETA (People for Ethical Treatment of Animals) and makeup lines that are cruelty free and do not animal test. Usually when these companies promote cruelty- free ways, they go a bit extreme with their stance. They appeal mainly to emotions (pathos) by showing graphic images of mutilated and dead animals such as pigs, guinea pigs, and rabbits. Although these can be extreme forms of promoting cruelty- free ways, they are effective and reasonable when looked at the details. Regardless of PETA’s extreme ways, they do make a lot of sense which appeals to people’s sense of reasoning (logos) and on their webpage they explain a few reasons of why animal testing is wrong, how it can be changed, and how people can make a difference simply by wearing natural and cruelty free makeup products.

            Companies promoting against cosmetic testing on animals has been quite effective thus far. Their message is strong and clear however, publicity on it simply has not gotten big enough yet. Although it is known that animal testing occurs, it is not yet as widespread as one would hope. With more publicity and a kinder way of persuading people into buying cruelty free products, companies can make a great thing happen, and allow people to see just how simple it is to go choose natural makeup lines and save animals lives. 

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A list of companies that do not test on animals....the list goes on forever!!! Hundreds of companies to choose from, or that you already use that do not animal test. 

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This video shows a good history of how animal testing began and how it has survived over the years. Good information about how the cosmetic company LUSH has attempted to fight against animal testing and improve technology in other ways. Good to know that people are aware of this act, and are finding new and improved ways to stop it!

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“If you want to test cosmetics, why do it on some poor animal who hasn't done anything? They should use prisoners who have been convicted of murder or rape instead. So, rather than seeing if perfume irritates a bunny rabbit's eyes, they should throw it in Charles Manson's eyes and ask him if it hurts.” -Ellen Degeneres

This quote shows just how useless animal testing can be. Althogh nobody wants to have makeup that burns their skin or causes them blindess, small animals shouldn't have to suffer because of it. I think her idea of using inmates guilty of terrible crimes to be our new guinea pigs is a pretty great one. Although I'm pretty sure that objects more than one of the prisoner's rights, at least the bunnies will be safe :)

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This article goes into detail about what cosmetic testing on animals entails, the downfalls of it, other forms of cosmetic testing, and how you can use non-animal tested cosmetics. This article goes into depth more about the severity of the testing, what animals go through during it, and how many actually live through it. I find this important because it shows just how cruel animal testing can be and also, how inaccurate it is. I believe that people using animal-tested cosmetics can value from this article and see just what their makeup is doing to some animals.

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Poor babies! Rabbits bound up in order for cosmetic testing to begin.

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  Obviously animals have to suffer extreme amounts of pain in order for us to be beautiful. Rabbits, guinea pigs, and rats go through tests where cosmetics are placed on their eyes to see what kind of irritations occur which can include "swelling, blistering, inflammation, blindness, ulcers, agony, and death". Mainly I would think women who use makeup tested on animals would value this image the most, seeing as their use of makeup products cause pain for animals. :(