Dog Fighting Sport, Who are the real animals?

"If God were suddenly condemned to live the life which he has inflicted on men, he would kill himself." Alexander Dumas

In a floor speech, Sen. Robert C. Byrd (D-W. Va.) gave a tearful speech about dog fighting. He was referring to the current news story of Atlanta Falcons Quarterback Michael Vick's indictment for being involved in dog fighting. Byrd said, "It is a brutal, sadistic event motivated by barbarism of the worst sort and cruelty of the worst, worst, worst, sadistic kind. One is left wondering: Who are the real animals? Who are the real animals, who are the real animals -- the creatures inside the ring or the creatures outside the ring?The training of these poor creatures -- weigh them -- the training of these poor creatures to turn themselves into fighting machines is simply barbaric. Barbaric! Barbaric! Barbaric! Let that word resound from hill to hill and from mountain to mountain, from valley to valley across this broad land. Barbaric, barbaric!"

Animal cruelty changes with cultures, and over time, within cultures. When people are worrying about survival they have little time to be concerned with the welfare of animals, or other humans. As a culture becomes more abundant with food sources and leisure, it has time to reflect upon the feeling of animals and others humans.

I strongly oppose cruelty to animals. I have a dog that evokes so much sympathy from me that I become her slave. Still, I would like to say a word to Senator Byrd.

Senator Byrd, I remind you that we do the same thing with young humans. We train our young men to turn themselves into fighting machines! You vote to fund this training. Then you, and other old men, and war lovers, become the promoters of the grandest fighting sport of them all, War! If you could sell tickets to viewers of your wars you would become rich.

Charles Tolleson