| I am not for dog fighting, but there is a message in | | | | when these "sports" are highly publicized and not |
| the BIG picture the Government and media have | | | | inhumane in America's eyes? Are we saying we're |
| painted in the Michael Vick case. I think it's a disgrace | | | | not for violent dog fighting, but we are for violent |
| and inhumane; no animal or persons, for that matter, | | | | sports? I'm confused! |
| should be engaged in such cruelty. I do, however, | | | | There is no question in my mind that dog fighting is |
| have a difference of opinion with how Michael Vick's | | | | inhumane. On the same note, what about the young |
| case is evolving. What is the BIG picture in question? | | | | men, fresh out of high school, that are pulled away |
| Michael Vick is an African American football player, | | | | from their lives and families and sent to war in the |
| recently charged for running a dog fighting ring and | | | | Middle East? Isn't that inhumane too? The same |
| gambling. He is a quarterback who once played for | | | | passion the Government and the media are currently |
| the Atlanta Falcons, earning some $130 million dollars. | | | | displaying in their fight against dog fighting is the |
| Vick faces up to five years in prison and up to | | | | same passion that should be displayed in their fight |
| $250,000 in fines. He's not the first athlete to be | | | | against war and violence across the board. |
| charged with dog fighting. Nevertheless, one must | | | | The dogs involved in many dog fighting rings are bred |
| question the Government's and the media's efforts. | | | | and trained to fight to their death. Comparably so, |
| It's a disgrace to run a dog fighting ring or go to a | | | | soldiers sent to war are also trained to fight to their |
| dog fight, but people attend violent sporting events | | | | death. We know that dogs don't have freewill and |
| all the time. To add to this, hunting is categorized as | | | | are forced to fight by their owners; and, people join |
| a sport. Isn't hunting cruelty to animals? What's | | | | the military by their own freewill. Yet, soldiers are |
| wrong with this picture? I'm not condoning any of | | | | forced to go to war by the Government. Again, |
| these sports, but we've got to ask ourselves two | | | | what's wrong with this picture? |
| things: does the punishment fit the crime; and, what | | | | The bottom line remains: the BIG picture. What are |
| message are we sending to our children and people | | | | the Government and the media telling our children |
| across this country? | | | | and people in this country and across the world? |
| Indeed, dog fighting is cruelty to animals. However, | | | | Perhaps, Michael Vick's case could have been |
| unlike dog fighting, boxing, hockey, football and the | | | | approached differently. Who knows? But, we need |
| new hype the "Ultimate Fighting Championship" are all | | | | to look at the BIG picture: what message are we |
| cruelty to people. Hunting is another big issue. Many | | | | sending? |
| people hunt and kill animals for FUN. How is it okay | | | | |