February 24, 2008
I had never even concieved the thought of people purposefully pitting two stallions together to fight until one is injured so badly it may need to be slaughtered. Not to mention the rape and abuse the mare in season that is used to work the stallions into their crazed state is subject to. Gambling and crime syndicates keep the horse fights going.
Then again, why should I be surprised that people in third-world countries are treating animals barbarically when we here in the US aren't capable of treating our animals any better? When NFL quarterback Michael Vick is using "rape stands" to breed fighting dogs and killing them by the hundreds and Jaimie Foxx is saying that it's part of black culture so we should go easy on the guy?
The truth is it's part of gangster and drug dealing culture and an underclass that I hope to God is dying out. There are better things to do with your time and energy. One doesn't need to pit innocent animals against eachother, be they dogs, roosters, horses, or even camels.
There are a couple of things you can do to help the fighting horses of the Phillipines. You can stop travelling to these areas of the world that fight horses and let those officials know that they are losing your dollars. From the Network for Animals:
Horse Fighting, an illegal spectator blood sport where stallions are incited to fight one another, is widely practiced on the island of Mindanao in the southern Philippines. Fuelled by cash prizes for the owners of the winning horses and extensive gambling, horse fighting is a cruel spectacle that results in serious injuries and often death for the horses.
Please send a letter to the Mayor of Davao City, the largest city on the island of Mindanao and the economic hub of the area. Inform Mayor Duterte that as a compassionate traveler, you choose tourism destinations that are committed to treating animals humanely. Only when all horse fighting has been ended, will you consider traveling to Mindanao.
Rodrigo Duterte, Mayor
Davao City Investment Promotion Center
Door 10, Ramon Magsaysay Park Complex, R. Magsaysay Avenue
Davao City, Philippines
You can also contact the International Fund for Horses. Their Mission Statement:
The Mission of the Int'l Fund for Horses (IFH) is to promote and safeguard the health, safety and welfare of equines worldwide, domestic and in the wild.
IFH is dedicated to ensuring that humane standards are set and kept relating to the working and domestic lives of all equines from the beginning to the end of their lives. IFH is particularly committed to ending horse slaughter for human consumption wherever it exists.
Additionally, IFH is devoted to the preservation of wild horses, mules, donkeys, burros and zebras in their natural habitats.
Protecting Horses through Intervention, Education and Legislation
You can go to their Take Action page to sign up to help by writing a letter, sending a fax, or making a phone call. Nothing fancy, just a simple action that can help save a horse's life.
Posted by: Ensie at
02:10 PM
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!!!February 21, 2008
Here are two very touching photos honored at this years [sic]
FirstPlace
Todd Heisler The Rocky Mountain News
When 2nd Lt. James Cathey's body arrived at the Reno Airport , Marines climbed into the cargo hold of the plane and draped the flag over his casket as passengers watched the family gather on the tarmac.
During the arrival of another Marine's casket last year at Denver International Airport , Major Steve Beck described the scene as so powerful: 'See the people in the windows? They sat right there in the plane, watching those Marines. You gotta wonder what's going through their minds, knowing that they're on the plane that brought him home,' he said 'They will remember being on that plane for the rest of their lives. They're going to remember bringing that Marine home. And they should'
Second Place
Todd Heisler The Rocky Mountain News
The night before the burial of her husband's body, Katherine Cathey refused to leave the casket, asking to sleep next to his body for the last time. The Marines made a bed for her, tucking in the sheets below the flag. Before she fell asleep, she opened her laptop computer and played songs that reminded her of 'Cat,' and one of the Marines asked if she wanted them to continue standing watch as she slept. 'I think it would be kind of nice if you kept doing it,' she said. 'I think that's what he would have wanted.'
PLEASE KEEP THIS GOING!
________________________________________________________
So, my Mom sent this to me. I got rid of the thousands of pounds of internet crap that was attached to it. A bajillion forwards and sappy, "I could barely see the pictures for the tears in my eyes!" comments. And some quote from Ronald Regan. And something about the "silent majority" wearing blue on Fridays to support the troops. And a guilt trip about forwarding it on unless you hate America.
I think the pictures are sad, really. They're obviously touching, especially the one with the woman sleeping next to her husband's casket. But for the most part it makes me angry about a stupid war we've been fighting for a lot of stupid reasons. A few good ones, but mostly stupid ones. It's costing us, and our children, and our children's children more money than I can even imagine and driving our country into a recession in the meantime.
But what it really makes me think about is the fact that until recently, soldier's caskets weren't allowed to be photographed. It was a symbol that we weren't "winning the war on terror" and that it might make us doubt the bullshit that the President likes to feed us about Iraq. I'm not sure if it was a lawsuit, photographers' tenacity, or just the government deciding to give up that changed things.
What's funny is that the government always had it wrong. While a casket does show that we've lost something, it's not a war, it's a person, a soldier. And it's shameful that anyone or anything would hide the deaths of those who fought for it to keep a propaganda machine alive.
Posted by: Ensie at
04:29 PM
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