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Opinions
Coral Reef Sr. High
May 2012
5
PETA members offended by Mario
Tanooki suit made of fur worn by Mario has PETA seeing red
Staff Writer
Daniela Prizont-Cado
It is likely that most of us
have played a Mario game at least
once during our childhood. This
iconic character, Mario, however,
has recently undergone an attack by
the People of the Ethical Treatment
of Animals Organization (PETA).
In the new Nintendo 3DS game,
“Super Mario 3D Land,” Mario
is seen most of the time wearing
a “Tanooki suit.” Tanuki is the
common Japanese name for the
Japanese raccoon dog, which has
actually been a part of Japanese
folklore since ancient times.
Although this name is
often linked with a mischievous
connotation, Tanuki are also seen
as positive creatures. It is said
that the Tanuki has eight “special
traits” that bring good fortune.
These eight traits include: a hat
to protect from trouble and bad
weather, large eyes to further help
understand the environment and
make good decisions, a sake bottle
that represents virtue, an extensive
tail that provides steadiness and
strength, over-sized testicles that
symbolize financial luck, and a big
belly that represents bold and calm
decisiveness.
On the other hand, since
the release of the game, this animal
rights organization has launched
a critical online campaign entitled
“Mario Kills Tanooki.” They
believe that the costume worn by
cartoon Mario, throughout the
game, implies their support in terms
of animal abuse and thus sending a
message to kids abroad.
“Tanooki may be just a suit
in the game, but in real life Tanuki
are raccoon dogs who are skinned
alive for their fur,” PETA site states.
“By wearing a Tanooki, Mario is
sending a message that it is OK to
wear fur.”
In 1928, with the initiation
of captive interbreeding of
raccoon dogs in the Far East, they
had gradually become the main
furbearers, particularly in Ukraine.
Staff Writer
Karla Bennaton
Here at
Coral Reef we are
fortunate enough
to have access
to a library rich
with resources
to enhance
our learning
e x p e r i e n c e .
Typically when
people think of
a library they
imagine books but
the truth is that a
library consists of
so much more.
Here at
Coral Reef our
library consists
of a plethora of
books consisting
of many
subjects, some
for entertaining
purposes and others
for educational
purposes. The
library is useful
in so many ways
that are almost
indescribable. It
serves as a resource
center, a quiet
room to read your
favorite novel or
simply a peaceful
place to hang out
and just catch up
with friends.
In a
student’s time of
need, when there
is a project due
next class and no
laptop or access to
a Smartphone, the
library is there to
save the day.
At least
that’s how it used
to be until one day
Now days, among the main animals
skinned for fur include Foxes
and Chinchillas. Meanwhile,
Mario wears his Tanooki suit, much to the dislike of PETA
many strongly believe that this
accusation is an overreaction and
taken completely out of proportion.
According to an article in foxnews.
com, this is actually not the first
time that Mario is seen wearing a
Tanooki suit. Mario first wore this
new controversial suit in 1988 with
the release of Super Mario Bros.
3 for the Nintendo Entertainment
System.
Still, PETA insists on this
I walked up to the
library, only to see
a white paper with
the words “closed”
on it.
M a n y
students depend on
the school library
for many reasons.
Unfortunately not
every student has
access to books
and resources such
as computers and
printers which is
why they rely so
much on the library.
But it seems almost
like every day the
library is closed.
Art senior,
Robert Castillo
said, “The library
is useless, it’s never
available for the
student’s to use it.”
Now there
inhumane game to be an abomination
and by proving so, they invented
what they call “Super Tanooki Skin
2D”. A parody game
they uploaded onto their
website where players
are able to re-capture
their skin from a flying
Mario.
“Mario often takes
the appearance of
certain animals and
objects in his games,”
a Nintendo spokesman
told Eurogamer in
a statement. “These
have included a frog, a
penguin, a balloon and
even a metallic version
of himself.”
The fact of the
matter is that the
content of these games,
for years, have made up
the loveable and artistic
Mario world that we
have all come to love and
enjoy. Mario’s different
transformations are what
make the games fun and
entertaining. The way Nintendo puts
it, “The different forms that Mario
takes make no statement beyond the
games themselves.”
It is one thing to voice one’s
opinion on a real controversial issue
and point out rights one strongly
believes in. It is another to denounce
an innocent game where friendly
Mario is only, merely dressing up.
I would leave Mario alone- after all
it’s only a game.
“Library Closed” signs frustrate eager learners
Although technology has taken over most needs for a library full of books, the library is a great resource missed by students
“Library Closed” is a common
sign seen on the doors of the
library. Budget cuts have led to
decreased service.
are a few exceptions
to it being closed
sometimes such as
teacher luncheons,
testing and things
of that sort but
every other time its
inexplicable.
Nowadays
you walk by the
library and it’s
just a big and dark
room with no one
in sight, so what
is the reasoning
for this? Is it fair
to the students
who depend on the
library to get their
school work done?
Sophomore
Medical, Yileismy
Anel said, “The
library can be very
useful but now just
it’s like a useless
empty room that
is never ever open,
you’re lucky if you
happen to find it
open one day.”
Now to
some people it
doesn’t matter
whether the library
is open, in fact they
couldn’t care less.
But I think most
people have used
the school library
at least once in their
lifetime for one
reason or another.
Even if it’s not your
primary source for
research or internet,
you can’t deny the
fact that when your
printer’s ink runs
out or you forgot to
buy a book for your
AP Literature class,
the library always
comes in handy.