Quote:
Originally Posted by lgoodall  We're still in a friendly debate here ok ? I don't want anything I say to sound sarcastic. I don't mean for it to. Yes dog fighting has been around through the ages. I know you're familiar with the history of England, and another European countries. They put people on a rack, and stretched them until their bodies just broke apart. They also hung people, but gutted them before they died. We know of all the beheadings that took place. Most of the time they put the rotting heads on a stake along the Thames River. They also put dogs in a pit to fight lions. However, we're supposed to have come a long way since those barbaric times. Everyone alive today knows that cruelty to any living being is wrong. Yes' the player who got druck, and killed several should have spent a lifetime in prison. Believe me, I would never excuse or take up for a drunk driver. You know before you take the wheel of a car that terrible things can happen. However, the accident took place because of the excessive use of alcohol. This DOES NOt excuse the guy, but it was not a deliberate act of cruelty. His motivation was to drink, get high, and feel good. He didn't kill those people for the enjoyment of watching them suffer. It takes a person with a severe character flaw to condone suffering of animals. I mentioned before that Tony Dungee was mentoring Vick. There's no better person to use to try to bring about good in people. I still would never let Michael Vick baby sit my Tucker Baby. Tucker's Mom |
I think it's still a friendly debate, but I don't agree that it takes someone with a severe character flaw to condone the suffering of animals. I think we are forgetting, that in other cultures bull fighting, cock fighting, and dog fighting, are extremely popular. Are the people in those countries suffering from severe character flaws? I don't think so, but they haven't reached your level of awareness that this is wrong. Royalty use to watch gladiators fight to the death. Many people enjoy watching boxing matches, and the participants often have no more choice in the matter, than the dogs. Cage fighting is a new sport that thrills many people. I think there is something, in men particularly, that watching these sorts of things gives them a thrill that many of us can't understand. They aren't thinking of the animal suffering though, they are watching the fight. Even fox hunting sounds barbaric to me, but there is something about the hunt and kill that appeals to many people. So culture plays a huge part, but I do think men, in particular, have an almost inherent type of hunting/killing instinct. Many people say football is the same thing, and watching a game, fills this warrior need. Even though I believe it's cultural as well as almost wired into men, I think we can change their thinking, or awareness. However, I don't think many of us would be as persuasive at changing a macho man's thinking on how animal suffer during these fights. I think someone like Vicks could bring a new awareness into this, and could be extremely helpful in convincing others that this is indeed inhumane. We still condone the suffering of animals in so many forms, but I see us becoming more humane or at least aware over time, but part of being humane is forgiving and appreciating the fact that people can change. If I didn't believe people could change, I would be unforgiving too, but I have to believe people can change.