Newspapers are the marketplace of ideas.

And with those ideas come opinions -- at least on this page, anyway.

Of course, everyone's entitled to their own opinion. It's just that some are more idiotic than others.

Which is where the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals come in.

As many of you may know, a PETA official wrote a letter last week to Austin High School principal Joe Brown, asking him to consider abolishing the Packer nickname "to avoid promoting violence and bloodshed."

As first reported by this newspaper, many school officials and alumni were upset at the thought of such change.

It's bad enough when you have outsiders coming in and suggesting change to a community on an issue they know nothing about. It's another when it's a topic that's particularly personal to many students, faculty and proud alumni of Austin High School.

If anything, PETA's lame attempt at drawing publicity to itself has backfired. This issue has been reported throughout both Minnesota and Iowa, further eroding credibility to a group that apparently has nothing better to do.

School officials, alumni and this newspaper are proud of the Packer name and what it represents. If anything, we're thankful a fanatical organization reminded us of the pride we -- as Packer students, faculty, alumni and supporters -- should feel everyday.