Holocaust Comparison Triggers Outrage

A candidate for the Board of the Royal Society for The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) in the U.K. triggered outrage when he compared factory farming to the Holocaust. The people who spoke out about the candidates’ remarks didn’t indicate that they disagree with them. They merely pointed out that the use “holocaust” is so inflammatory that it diminishes arguments made on behalf of animals suffering on factory farms.

For many years, PETA has juxtaposed images of factory farm and concentration camps to raise awareness of the plight of farm animals. It’s an approach that resonated with me because that is what I think of when I see images of factory farms. However, I use that metaphor only when I think it will have the desired effect. For maximum impact, evaluate your audience before crafting your message.