Michael Vick, (now former) quarterback of the Atlanta Falcons, grew up in public housing and went on to become a highly paid, NFL football star.
Then, he was caught in a dog fighting ring. Vick decided that it was okay to force animals to fight to the death for the opportunity to bet on them. It is further alleged, that Vick executed dogs that “underperformed.”
If Mr. Vick was enslaved and forced into a brutal existence, I am guessing that he would see such a thing as being horrible, and he would (rightly) point an accusing finger at those responsible. Yet, this man who went from poverty to wealth, decided that he had the right to enslave and force animals to fight and die for entertainment.
Another disturbing trend in modern society is the popularity of fight leagues and tough man competitions. Some fans have told me that it is simply a sport. I find it disturbing that crowds of people cheer as someone gets beaten up.
The Romans had the coliseum, and practiced blood sport. Crowds cheered as others fought and died or were torn to pieces by wild animals. In many countries, cockfighting and dog fighting are legal, or at least practiced. In America, our history is stained with pitting animals against each other and brutality against human beings as well.
One must ask himself, “how far has humanity advanced?”
I believe that combat for entertainment is a dangerous trend. It is a dangerous idea to bestow on our children. When a person is unable to empathize with the person or animal being violently tortured, it harms our society.
Some have told me that the people (or animals) involved want to fight. Perhaps they do, and perhaps not. So I ask, what is next? Will we have fights to the death aired on pay-per-view television? If you say that it couldn’t happen, I answer that as public opinion embraces violence for entertainment, the coliseum could return someday. What a sad statement for humanity.
Then, he was caught in a dog fighting ring. Vick decided that it was okay to force animals to fight to the death for the opportunity to bet on them. It is further alleged, that Vick executed dogs that “underperformed.”
If Mr. Vick was enslaved and forced into a brutal existence, I am guessing that he would see such a thing as being horrible, and he would (rightly) point an accusing finger at those responsible. Yet, this man who went from poverty to wealth, decided that he had the right to enslave and force animals to fight and die for entertainment.
Another disturbing trend in modern society is the popularity of fight leagues and tough man competitions. Some fans have told me that it is simply a sport. I find it disturbing that crowds of people cheer as someone gets beaten up.
The Romans had the coliseum, and practiced blood sport. Crowds cheered as others fought and died or were torn to pieces by wild animals. In many countries, cockfighting and dog fighting are legal, or at least practiced. In America, our history is stained with pitting animals against each other and brutality against human beings as well.
One must ask himself, “how far has humanity advanced?”I believe that combat for entertainment is a dangerous trend. It is a dangerous idea to bestow on our children. When a person is unable to empathize with the person or animal being violently tortured, it harms our society.
Some have told me that the people (or animals) involved want to fight. Perhaps they do, and perhaps not. So I ask, what is next? Will we have fights to the death aired on pay-per-view television? If you say that it couldn’t happen, I answer that as public opinion embraces violence for entertainment, the coliseum could return someday. What a sad statement for humanity.
Comments