A week ago, 1,000 of us walked into a muddy field in Wisconsin expecting to rescue 2,000 beagles from a notorious factory farm. Instead, we got tear gassed, pepper sprayed, and shot at with bean bags. We didn't get a single dog out. Wayne Hsiung, who led the action, has been apologizing ever since. This is my attempt to explain why he shouldn't be — why the ass-kicking was the plan working, not failing, and why the 1,000 people who took chemical weapons to the face for animals who can never thank them deserve to hold their heads high. Also: what tear gas actually feels like, why you should never shower with your underwear off afterwards, and what the 1963 Children's March in Birmingham can teach us about taking a beating on purpose.

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