An iconic Birmingham pub has been targeted in a “ridiculous” name change row led by “delusional” woke activists.
Animal rights campaigners have demanded that the Sly Old Fox in Birmingham should change its name on account of it being “derogatory”, “inaccurate” and “unfair” to British foxes.
Leaders at the animal activist group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) urged the pub to call the canidae “clever” instead of “sly” as to accurately depict the nation’s “ever-evolving empathy for animals”.
The charity’s vice president of programmes Elisa Allen insisted that such “derogatory descriptions of foxes” played a part in driving “violent persecution” of the pest, such as fox hunting.
She argued that such “derogatory descriptions” of the animal shape the creatures’ reputation as “pests”, which then causes them to become the target of “violent persecution”
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In the letter, she said: “We’re sure you’ll agree that language is powerful and can reinforce negative stereotypes.”
Allen added: “We hope you agree that these magnificent animals deserve our respect.
“You can help reframe how we talk about them, which would go some way towards protecting them from cruel acts like being dug out of their homes, chased across the countryside, and viciously attacked by dogs.”
“Due to The Sly Old Fox’s rich history in Birmingham, this was the perfect fit for a request. If they changed their name, it could inspire other pubs to take note and would go some way towards encouraging respect – and even awe – for foxes,” Allen told The Telegraph.
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Allen said that “kinder, more respectful and actually more accurate” language is available to use to describe other living creatures, individuals should opt for those terms.
Arguing that “sly” is associated with too many negative connotations, such as “cunning”, she deemed the “Clever Fox” to have a “far better ring” to it, and is much more accurate in describing the four-legged animals.
PETA has previously requested other pubs to amend their name to fit such an “ever-evolving” society. For example, they hoped to change Ye Olde Fighting Cocks in St Albans to Ye Olde Clever Cocks “reflect society’s rejection of needless violence and to help celebrate a fascinating but often abused and misunderstood animal, the chicken”.
The document said: “There may be some resistance to making a name change, but just as many pubs with names tied to slavery changed their names to match modern sensibilities, so it’s high time for The Cocks to change. If you must stick with tradition, you could revert to the much kinder name from 1756: Three Pigeons.”
After the pub refused to change its name, many weighed in to call Peta’s statements a “woke overreach”.=
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After the pub refused to change its name, many weighed in to call PETA’s statements a “woke overreach”.
The owner of the The Old Bulldog in Staffordshire Mike Newton hit back at a letter sent to him by Allen urging him to amend the pub’s name to The Old Mutt to include recognition of health issues that all flat-faced dogs endured – although the name was inspired by Newton’s own pet, Atticus.
“I just think that the technical underpinning of the letter was weak and to get rid of the British bulldog is a massive cancellation of part of our nation’s culture,” the owner told The Telegraph.
“The real undertone here is cultural cancellation. I hate to use the phrase “wokeism gone mad” but it smacks of woke overreach.”