blazr
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RE: NAACP about Vick....
The problem the NAACP has is that they can't condemn dog fighting without alienating their constituents. It's disgusting, and organizations like the NAACP should be screaming the loudest because, frankly, it makes young black men look horrible (as does the rates of illiteracy, childbirth out of wedlock, single-parent families, etc.). But as long as black leaders cling to the policy of "not airing dirty laundry,", then these problems will never be addressed:
Vick case not isolated
Quote:Recent allegations that Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick is at the center of an extensive dog fighting ring in Virginia, an operation that involved astonishing animal cruelty, hit home in Birmingham. Dog fighting is so prevalent here that it keeps animal cruelty officers busy on a year-round basis.
According to officials at the Greater Birmingham Humane Society (GBHS), dog fighting is one of the hardest tickets to find in sports, but it remains a routine occurrence in Bessemer, Midfield, Fairfield, and Ensley. Getting a seat for one of the illegal death matches depends on whom you know and how well they trust you.
“It’s a very exclusive network and a difficult thing to infiltrate,” says GBHS animal cruelty officer Joe Murphy. “It’s a particularly nasty blood sport and one that we spend a great deal of time investigating. Some dogs that are able to survive these fights might live for only a few hours or days before dying of severe wounds and injuries. In some cases, dogs are summarily executed for losing a match.”
In the case of Michael Vick, the government is charging that beginning in 2001 (Vick’s rookie season in the NFL), Vick and a group of men knowingly engaged in interstate commerce for purposes of having dogs participate in animal fighting ventures. According to the indictment, at least one of the pit bulls involved in the fighting was transported in late 2002 from Alabama to Virginia to participate in a fight against another pit bull owned by Vick’s appropriately named Bad Newz Kennels.
Court documents describe in detail how animals were executed following poor performances. Some were shot in the head with a .22 caliber pistol; others were strung up by rope and slowly hanged to death. In one case, a handler pounded an injured dog against the ground until the animal expired. The indictment also alleges that Vick had one dog executed by wetting it down with water and electrocuting it.
Although Vick has remained silent about the case, Washington Redskins running back Clinton Portis chose to weigh in on the matter one day after Vick was indicted. He told a television reporter, “I don’t know if he was fighting dogs or not, but it’s his property, it’s his dog, if that’s what he wants to do, do it. I think people should mind their business.” When informed that dog fighting is a felony, Portis replied, “It can’t be too bad of a crime. You want to hunt down Mike Vick over fighting some dogs? I think people should mind their own business.” After an immediate public outcry, Portis recanted his words the following day.
There is a reason why dog fighting is a felony in all 50 states, besides the fact that it is terribly cruel to animals. “Where we see dog fighting, we also see illegal gambling, the sale of and possession of drugs, arsenals of weapons, and evidence of prostitution,” said GBHS executive director Jacque Meyer. “Dog fighters and spectators have a history of violent and criminal behavior toward people, and to a large degree here in Birmingham, it is just another entertainment activity for gangs.”
Dogs trained for fighting have also been known to viciously attack innocent people for no apparent reason. Research shows that young children who view this type of violence have a greater acceptance of aggressive attitudes and behavior and are taught to believe that these kinds of cruelties are an acceptable practice.
Also rising in popularity in rural Southeastern counties is a new blood sport called hog-dog fighting. Spectators come from miles around to gather in a rodeo-style setting to watch as a pit bull is released into a pen with a wild boar (often the boar has no tusks). Spectators bet on which dog can subdue the hog first.
According to Murphy, the GBHS averages about one call per week related to dog fighting in the Birmingham area, and the number spikes during the summer when larger events tend to be held. Still, these crimes are difficult to prosecute. “You need a scarred animal, paraphernalia, and a cooperative officer and prosecutor to get a charge to stick,” Murphy says. “We don’t see anything on the level of what Vick is accused of, but we do see a lot of drug dealers that tend to use it as a form of entertainment. It appears to be a part of their culture, fed by the music, the movies, and the fact that they grew up watching it.”
Does it surprise Meyer that Vick is caught up in this fresh scandal? “Not at all. The only thing that surprises me is how stupid people are if they think he’s the only one doing it; he’s just the only one that got caught. It is irrelevant that he has all that money, because it’s a mentality, a way of life. They see these animals as property, not as caring, loving creatures. Plus, I wouldn’t be surprised to hear about other celebrities, both professional athletes and Hollywood types, that find themselves caught up in this scandal in the weeks and months to come. Unfortunately, dog fighting is widespread.”
Vick is scheduled to be arraigned in a Virginia courtroom on July 26. In the meantime, I’m hearing that many former Atlanta Falcons fans will be rooting for the New Orleans Saints this year.
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