WP: Milloy: Animal cruelty is not judged on a level playing field

[SkinsHokieFan]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/08/21/AR2007082101977.html?hpid=topnews

Animal Cruelty Isn't Judged on a Level Playing Field

By Courtland Milloy

Wednesday, August 22, 2007; B01

While eating a porterhouse the other night, I began to see the steak for what it was: a hunk of meat, blood and bone. I managed to disgust myself even more by imagining that a charbroiled piece of pit bull would not have looked much different from the gristle of beef on my fork.

Then I came back to my senses and continued to enjoy my meal.

Too bad for Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick that people like me love dogs more than cows. Or, to put it another way, I prefer the taste of Angus and Hereford to Rottweiler and pit bull. Otherwise, the federal agents who recently charged Vick with dogfighting would have to arrest nearly all of us for participating in far worse acts of animal cruelty.

Ex-Beatle Paul McCartney is credited with having said: "If slaughterhouses had glass walls, everyone would be a vegetarian." Well, they don't -- and most of us are carnivores. We'll kill a duck, deer, turkey -- name any meat -- for the sheer entertainment of our palates or for the fun of the hunt.

And yet, Vick, 27, must take the fall. On Monday, the star athlete agreed to plead guilty to a single count of conspiracy. The admission could put him behind bars for more than year and all but end his football career.

Make no mistake: I have no particular affinity for Vick. You just can't defend a guy who apparently gets his kicks watching dogs mangle each other and risks losing a hundred million dollars in NFL earnings and endorsements to boot. It's just that all the hullabaloo about dogfighting seems a bit hypocritical.

For the most part, we revel in a culture of blood sports in which people and animals are pitted against each another. The knockout in boxing, the knockdown in football, the crashes at Daytona and Indianapolis -- those are the draw. Without the video images of tigers ripping the hides from zebras, cobras fighting mongooses and other bloody contests played out in the wild kingdom, the Discovery and National Geographic channels might as well go off the air.

Even our equestrian friends are not exempt from the cruelty of contest. Consider Barbaro, the horse that broke his leg during the Preakness Stakes last year.

"Caution: Tears will flow from watching 'Barbaro,' the HBO Sports documentary," TV critic Richard Sandomir wrote in the New York Times on June 6. Crocodile tears, maybe.

"Barbaro became a tragic hero whose injury reports were given like presidential health updates," Sandomir wrote. But wait. Sandomir goes on to say that the documentary's producers "do not delve into why so few horses get Barbaro-level care when they break down."

Anybody care about that?

"Like the other innocent animals we love, horses 'trust us, live alongside us, honoring our many commands,' the narrator, Liev Schreiber says," Sandomir reported. " 'And when we ask them to -- they run.' "

And when they don't, well, they die.

Barbaro's leg could not be fixed, so he was eventually euthanized. For many broken-down racehorses, that can mean anything from lethal injection to having their throats slit -- killed just as surely as a wounded dog that can no longer fight.

Vick's farm was raided by agents from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the same USDA that permits the wholesale slaughter of cows, chickens, pigs and lambs.

Vick's case ought to be handled by a state's attorney, but it isn't. He is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. You'd think the guy had been caught smuggling a ton of heroin in the carcasses of dead poodles. U.S. District Judge Henry E. Hudson is presiding. His previous experience includes hearing cases that involve people suspected of being al-Qaeda sympathizers or "enemy combatants."

Perpetrators of gun violence ought to be taken so seriously.

According to data recently released by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, nearly half of more than 10,000 guns recovered by law enforcement authorities in the Washington area came from Virginia. Hundreds, if not thousands, of people -- human beings, not dogs -- have been killed by these guns. But you won't find any gun manufacturers -- or even many killers, for that matter -- being hauled into court on conspiracy charges.

Apparently you have to be a dogfight promoter for that.

[Leonard Washington]

interesting.... :munchout:

[StillUnknown]

*pulls up a chair*

[MrSilverMaC]

:jerk:

Yeah, cause I won't eat a steak unless I know the cow it came from has been electrocuted, hung from a tree, or picked up and slammed to the ground until dead so it can attain that just perfect tenderness.

[Bang]

OK, so Mike Vick executes dogs, I should become a vegetarian?

Nah, I'm at the top of the food chain.

And I like it.

~Bang

[Destino]

Courtland Milloy is clearly an idiot. He brings forward the same tired arguments created by those sporting the mental depth of a puddle. While most people do in fact eat meat (and wear leather) they do not sit at the dinner table thinking "if only this cow could have been violently ripped apart, while I thrust fist fulls of cash in the air and cheered on the violence!" If people were forced to watch the slaughtering of their dinner many would at the very least reduce their meat consumption. Others would say, oh well sucks to be that cow.

Few would react by taking the Vick route - immediately booking a trip to the nearest slaughter house in order to revel in the misery.

There is a difference between killing and brutally killing. One would think Americans, the land of lethal injection, would understand the difference. There is a difference between the food chain nature created and the celebration of pain. There is a difference between accepting that animals are killed and seeking to prolong their end for entertainment.

Eating a steak is not the same as breeding dogs purely so that you can eventually enjoy watching them slowly die in the most brutal ways imaginable.

Also it should be noted the killing of dogs isn't what Vick was trying to avoid. It's the potential racketeering charges that sent Vick scrambling to make a deal. For his acts of brutality against animals he'll likely serve a year... not exactly a punishment most Americans deem excessive.

[Enter Apotheosis]

Couldn't have said it any better than Destino.

[Lombardi's_kid_brother]

I love this little chestnut.

Theortetically, we probably should all be vegetarians. It would be less cruel to animals and healthier for us. But we aren't. And we may have arbitrarily drawn a line in the sand, but the line is drawn. The line is not going to go backwards. In one hundred years, there is a better chance that meat eating is banned than dog fighting is legal.

[skinfan133]

what a pathetic article. very big stretch of comparison imo. destino got it spot on and i have nothing further to add

[ZoEd]

Just had this conversation with a few co-workers today. I find what Vick was a part of appalling but is it as bad as people make it out to be? Lets compare a few accepted animal "tortures" if you will

Horse Racing= There was a pretty telling piece before the Kentucky Derby about the doping that goes on in horse racing. Every trainer they interviewed talked about purchasing horses at auction just to get them home and a month later they shrivel up to nothing once the roids wear off. They're excessively drugged to enable them to run and when they're injured they're shot in the head. Electrecuted, no. Tortured, IMO yes. Forced to perform through injury and killed when injured too bad to continue. Not all horses are given the chance Barbaro was given, I'd bet almost none.

Rodeo= Even though I enjoy watching it myself is it not torturous the way they treat these animals? Some will argue that they're treated better than most humans. That doesn't negate the fact that they buck because there's a rope tied tightly around their stomachs, tight enough for them to shat and pee all over themselves. Bulls develop a taste for bucking off riders the way pitbulls develop a taste for fighting. They are bred and trained for the sole purpose of human entertainment and yes bulls have been put down because they develop a mean streak where they intentionally try to hurt the riders. So you kill an animal for doing what it's trained to do? Interesting. Horses are spurred, calves ropped and tied and it's all in good fun they don't get hurt. Tell you what, take off running at full speed and let me laso your feet while you fall flat on your face then I'll wrench your neck around until I get you over on your back.

Pig hunting with dogs= People chase down wild pigs with dogs and allow them to fight the dogs and if the dog starts getting it's ass beat you kill the pig. If you're lucky the dogs subdue the pig and you take the injured animal home and tie it up, feed it grain and slop until it gets good and fat, then you kill it.

By now you should get the picture. I like watching horse races, but I know for a fact that a lot of shady crap goes on with the horses, I grew up in Charlestown around the track and even worked there walking horses as a kid. Many of these horses can barely walk a few days after they race, then the drugs get pumped into them. I like watching rodeo and I'm a hunter. I'm not bashing or condoning, to each their own.

My point is, if it wasn't a high profile athlete would we be making such a big stinking deal out of it? Most pro athletes like being "the man" on and off the field. People think because a person is a gifted athlete they should rise above, aren't they all just humans that just happen to be gifted? Isn't it possible that he got a rush off of being "the man" in his little dog fighting world.

Mike F'd up and again, what he did is disgusting to most, especially dog lovers. I grew up in the country, I've seen kittens drowned, strays shot, pets shot, heads twisted off chickens and I've made a bad shot on a deer knowing it's going to lay in the woods and suffer unless I can find it. Life is life, but then again life as most of us know it doesn't revolve around a star athlete doing the same things that go on in everyday, life.

What I find disgusting is humans commit worse acts on other humans and there a many who find that less appalling than Mike Vick killing/torturing dogs. People have actually defended the likes of Saddam on this board. "He wasn't tried for killing thousands, just a few hundred". Poor Saddam. There's a hell of a lot worse things going on in this world to get our panties in a bunch about than some dumbass athlete killing dogs. :2cents:

[nuposse87]

what about hunting deer(or any animal) for sport? Marbury of the knicks brought that up. Is that cruelty as well?

[portisizzle]

what about hunting deer(or any animal) for sport? Marbury of the knicks brought that up. Is that cruelty as well?

Not if it is tasty.

[Enter Apotheosis]

Theortetically' date=' we probably should all be vegetarians. It would be less cruel to animals and healthier for us.[/quote']

I'm not really sure that you can say vegetarianism would make us healthier. Its probably easier to mess up your diet without eating any meat. Ideally, we should all be varying our diet a lot without overeating or overprocessing stuff.

Honestly, the problem isn't that we eat animals... its our attitude towards food that is really making things ****ed up. We consume too much, are incredibly wasteful, and completely disregard the fact that we are disrupting the food chain in an irreparable manor.

[Chump Bailey]

There's a hell of a lot worse things going on in this world to get our panties in a bunch about than some dumbass athlete killing dogs. :2cents:

So Mike should get a free pass then, and what he did to those animals should be ignored? What sense does that make? Of course they're worse things going on in the world, probably right at this moment, but that does not make what Mike did any less reprehensible. :2cents:

[codeorama]

Destino's post is right on...

Hunting is not the same in most cases. Sure, there are some trophy hunters that IMO, are just as bad as dogfighters. However, the vast majority of hunters eat what they shoot and they follow the legal guidelines and restrictions placed upon hunting. Many hunters even donate the meat to homeless shelters. In short, hunting is legal and regulated, dogfighting is cruel and sick. Apples and Oranges. Hunters don't try to torture the animal that they are hunting and they don't hunt domesticated animals. But, I think think that most of the people that are trying to use this as an excuse already know it, or they are too stupid to understand the difference (see Marbury).

[Sticksboi05]

Cows and pigs are supposed to be stunned unconscious before they die. Now we know there are violations of the Humane Slaughter Act but it's better then getting drowned.

[Koolblue13]

Let's not kid ourselves, Vick isn't going to jail for "fighting some dogs", he's going away for money crimes.

[Ax]

Destino's post is right on...

Hunting is not the same in most cases. Sure, there are some trophy hunters that IMO, are just as bad as dogfighters. However, the vast majority of hunters eat what they shoot and they follow the legal guidelines and restrictions placed upon hunting. Many hunters even donate the meat to homeless shelters. In short, hunting is legal and regulated, dogfighting is cruel and sick. Apples and Oranges. Hunters don't try to torture the animal that they are hunting and they don't hunt domesticated animals. But, I think think that most of the people that are trying to use this as an excuse already know it, or they are too stupid to understand the difference (see Marbury).

Agreed. IMO, comparing what Mr. Mexico is preparing to admit to doing, to hunting, is stupid. Exposing all those who try and make that comparison, as being stupid.

Using their line of thought, let me make a comparison.

Some serial killers have admitted to the torturing and killing of animals leading up to their first murders. So, doesn't that make Mr. Mexico more like a serial killer? Could it be that we've stopped him from taking that next step, and becoming a serial killer?

Yeah, I know. Stupid.

[Mark The Homer]

I read Milloy's article this morning. I found a lot of the things he said insensitive and disturbing. I'm kind of surprised the Post printed it.

He does make a point though, about all the hoopla, media coverage, and the justice system's determination to convict Vick, compared to the crimes of other people like, say, the brutal torture, gang-raping, and murder of the young Knoxville couple earlier this year.

http://www.extremeskins.com/forums/showthread.php?t=197770&page=3&pp=15&highlight=tennessee

http://www.wbir.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=41276

[Larry]

Some serial killers have admitted to the torturing and killing of animals leading up to their first murders. So, doesn't that make Mr. Mexico more like a serial killer? Could it be that we've stopped him from taking that next step, and becoming a serial killer?

I think that claiming that Ron Mexico is a future serial killer that society's stopped is a real stretch.

OTOH, I have had some folks point out something, that I think the NFL should consider if they're ever stupid enough to think about letting him play again.

Vick has supposedly, admittedly, been running a illegal gambling operation that involved multiple employees, in multiple locations, in multiple states, handling multiple millions of dollars.

Anybody seriously want to try to convince me that he's not involved with the Mob?

And if The Mob does have their hooks into Mr. Mexico, then does anybody seriously think that the mob willever let him off those hooks? That they'll never figure out some other way that their ability to control an NFL QB might suggest another way they could make money off of this asset?

[codeorama]

Agreed. IMO, comparing what Mr. Mexico is preparing to admit to doing, to hunting, is stupid. Exposing all those who try and make that comparison, as being stupid.

Using their line of thought, let me make a comparison.

Some serial killers have admitted to the torturing and killing of animals leading up to their first murders. So, doesn't that make Mr. Mexico more like a serial killer? Could it be that we've stopped him from taking that next step, and becoming a serial killer?

Yeah, I know. Stupid.

I think its a big stretch to say we stopped a future serial killer, but, you are right on. What Vick was doing is a sign of psychological problems. That's the topic that everyone is avoiding. He has serious problems. The cruelty that is required to do the things that he has done is shocking. Many serial killers did start off torturing animals.

[Ax]

I think that claiming that Ron Mexico is a future serial killer that society's stopped is a real stretch.

The stretch was the point I was trying to make.

I feel my stretch, was no more stupid than the dogfighting = hunting stretch is.

And, no less, either.

[Mark The Homer]

I think its a big stretch to say we stopped a future serial killer, but, you are right on. What Vick was doing is a sign of psychological problems. That's the topic that everyone is avoiding. He has serious problems. The cruelty that is required to do the things that he has done is shocking. Many serial killers did start off torturing animals.

Well, in the sports section of today's Post, Jenkins took the opposite view (relative to Milloy) regarding Vick. And she pointed out a few things in Vick's history that we all can remember:

the friends carrying marijuana who just happened to be driving a truck registered in Vick's name

the incident in the Atlanta airport when his traveling companion stole a wris****ch

There's also these items:

The secret compartment found in his soda bottle while going through airport security which contained the suspicious substance which turned out to be nothing illegal -- but is obvious to me that he was doing a test run with this bottle

Flipping the bird at a fan while leaving the field

You add all this up, and I think it's clear this guy's character is flawed.

[Ax]

Well, in the sports section of today's Post, Jenkins took the opposite view (relative to Milloy) regarding Vick. And she pointed out a few things in Vick's history that we all can remember:

the friends carrying marijuana who just happened to be driving a truck registered in Vick's name

the incident in the Atlanta airport when his traveling companion stole a wris****ch

There's also these items:

The secret compartment found in his soda bottle while going through airport security which contained the suspicious substance which turned out to be nothing illegal -- but is obvious to me that he was doing a test run with this bottle

Flipping the bird at a fan while leaving the field

You add all this up, and I think it's clear this guy's character is flawed.

You forgot...

http://www.emorywheel.com/detail.php?n=16136

In 2003, Vick was entangled in the embarrassing "Ron Mexico" scandal, when he allegedly knowingly spread herpes to a woman after visiting clinics for treatment under the alias "Ron Mexico." Immediately after the case, there was a rush of orders for Vick jerseys with "Mexico" printed on the back.� In an allusion to the case, Midway Games developed a video game in 2006 with a fictitious Washington Redskins quarterback named "Mike Mexico." Think that message hasn't gotten back to the kids?

[Mark The Homer]

I left it out because it was already mentioned above