Groundhog Day's Injustice

While it isn't big news that Groundhog Day is approaching soon, it may be news to some, that PETA, the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, have complained about the ethics of imprisoning an innocent groundhog for the entertainment of the public. PETA believes that it's unfair to keep the animal in captivity and show him off to the huge crowds and bright lights that accompany the February 2nd celebration in.

This article struck me because, at first I couldn't believe that people would be making such a big deal about a simple groundhog. Then I realized, "Why shouldn't they be making a big deal?", it's not fair to the groundhog to be confined and forced to face crowds for our personal holiday. He shouldn't have to endure those conditions just because it's a tradition to have a groundhog come out and either be scared by his shadow or not see it at all. I mean, if properly programmed, a robotic groundhog, just like the one described in the article, would do the exact same thing. And this is just a small-scale, a minor charge of animal cruelty. On a side note, the governor of Pennsylvania did mention in his defense that Phil the groundhog is being treated better than the average child in Pennsylvania.

Evidence:

• Groundhog Day is a holiday celebrated in both Canada and the US that is held on February 2nd every year.
• According to folklore, if a groundhog who is coming out of its burrow fails to see its shadow, it will leave the burrow, signifying that winter will end soon.
• If on the other hand, the groundhog sees its shadow, the groundhog will supposedly retreat into its burrow, and winter will continue for six more weeks.
• On February 2nd of 2002, as soon as the announcement was made that the groundhog had seen his shadow, the crowd changed its rabid chants of “Phil! Phil! Phil!” to a chorus of boos, terrifying Phil the groundhog even more.
• It really doesn’t matter to Phil whether people are screaming with cheers or jeers at sunrise every February 2. The bottom line is that it’s terrifying for Phil to be hoisted up onto a stage in front of thousands of screaming people, and flashing, bright lights. "It is stressful for any wild animal," said Stam Zervanos, a Penn State–Berks biology professor and an expert in groundhog physiology.

Questions: I don't really have any questions, but I have a comment, and that is, "If Phil the groundhog is being better treated than many of the kids in Pennsylvania themselves, then maybe instead of spending all the funds for the festival on the groundhog, the funds should be spent on the kids. And then Phil could be released, and PETA would be happy too."

Source:
Associated Press. "PETA Calls for Robotic 'Phil' at Groundhog Day Festival." Fox News. 27 January, 2010.
Crowland, Michael. "The Groundhog Day Celebration is a Display of Animal Cruelty." The Tartan. 29 January, 2007