Now Peta is after Pedro Martinez

[paisjpq]

I agree that PETA goes way overbaord....but cock fighting is a cruel and disgusting "sport" and footage of famous athletes (whom children idolize) participating, even if only as spectators should not be taken lightly.

Regardless of where the cock fight took place, they are essentially condoning illegal behavior (in the country where they live and the country which pays their salaries). In the US it is banned in all states except Louisiana....however it goes on everywhere (I spoke with someone the other day who had spent the weekend at cockfights out in the boondocks here in KY).
Personally, while I think that they did nothing truly wrong (as it is legal where they attended the fights)...they set a horrible example for those who might seek to emulate them.

from the IDA (in defense of animals) website (peta's slightly less crazy cousin)
Isn’t cockfighting a cultural tradition?
While cockfighting may be a tradition in some cultures, not all traditions are good ones that deserve to continue. Cesar Chavez, who condemned the practice of cockfighting, once wrote: “Kindness and compassion toward all living things is a mark of a civilized society. Conversely, cruelty, whether it is directed against human beings or against animals, is not the exclusive province of any one culture or community of people.” In a statewide survey conducted in Arizona in 1997, 95% of Hispanic voters said they felt that cockfighting was “cruel and inhumane.” While only 34% of Anglo respondents disagreed that “cockfighting is an important part of Hispanic culture,” 70% of Hispanics disagreed with the statement.

[King Glorious]

I am having a hard time getting it to make sense in my head how they are condoning illegal behavior by doing something legal.

[paisjpq]

Originally Posted by King Glorious

I am having a hard time getting it to make sense in my head how they are condoning illegal behavior by doing something legal.

legal there....illegal here. where they are idolized. I believe that little kids take cues for behavior from their heros....thus some child somewhere now thinks that it mightbe cool to go to a cockfight....which, while illegal, can be found in MANY states in the US.
again, I said I don't think they truly did anything wrong....but perhaps from a moral standpoint (my own moral standpoint that is) I think it is wrong.

[King Glorious]

What would you have to say about Yao Ming going back home and eating some dog meat during the Olympics and it being shown on Youtube?

[paisjpq]

Originally Posted by King Glorious

What would you have to say about Yao Ming going back home and eating some dog meat during the Olympics and it being shown on Youtube?

you would find me against that too....especially due to the way in which many dogs are killed by beating them over the head, in some outlandish belief that if the body is being flooded with adrenaline while killed it naturally tenderizes the meat.

I'm also against raising bears to extract bile....and whaling, certain rodeo events, and a whole bunch of other things that have caused many to label me a tree-hugger.

[Cannon Shell]

Peta is both a terrorist and criminal organization. Not only should both people, MLB and the Mets tell them to screw themselves, it is time that the rest of us do too. If you know people that support PETA you should throw things at them, fire them from their jobs and publicly castigate them in any way or shape that you see fit. That way we can all begin treating them as they treat the rest of us.

[Cannon Shell]

By the way if you follow your baseball history (Not you tree hugger) you would know that neither individual has much problem with violence against humans. Pedro routinely fires balls at hitters noggins if they crowd the plate and floored the 75 year old Don Zimmer in the famous brawl. Marchial knocked Dodger catcher Johnny Roseboro over the head with a bat after Rosoboro said something he didnt like. I'm doubting they will attend any sensitivity training of any sort. And the following statement will probably get this thread kick over to the political side but the opposite sentiments were used by the lefties against the war that are being used by the lefties against other cultures. So we should respect the tradition and culture of middle eastern terrorists but not so with allies like the Dominicans?

[Cannon Shell]

If the sickos from Peta were going to take up a cause in the Dominican Republic maybe they should stop worrying about chickens and start with the underage prostitution business that flourishes there, mainly with money from tourists.

[paisjpq]

Originally Posted by Cardus

I laugh when I read the indignation of liberals and radicals who, while condemning the fighting of cocks, might say in another venue -- usually its political or artistic -- that all cultures are equal.

I'm fairly confident when I conclude that the American culture is far superior to the Dominican culture.

Im a liberal and would never say that the US culture is superior when it comes to issues of animal cruelty.

[Danzig]

Originally Posted by paisjpq

I agree that PETA goes way overbaord....but cock fighting is a cruel and disgusting "sport" and footage of famous athletes (whom children idolize) participating, even if only as spectators should not be taken lightly.

Regardless of where the cock fight took place, they are essentially condoning illegal behavior (in the country where they live and the country which pays their salaries). In the US it is banned in all states except Louisiana....however it goes on everywhere (I spoke with someone the other day who had spent the weekend at cockfights out in the boondocks here in KY).
Personally, while I think that they did nothing truly wrong (as it is legal where they attended the fights)...they set a horrible example for those who might seek to emulate them.

from the IDA (in defense of animals) website (peta's slightly less crazy cousin)
Isn’t cockfighting a cultural tradition?
While cockfighting may be a tradition in some cultures, not all traditions are good ones that deserve to continue. Cesar Chavez, who condemned the practice of cockfighting, once wrote: “Kindness and compassion toward all living things is a mark of a civilized society. Conversely, cruelty, whether it is directed against human beings or against animals, is not the exclusive province of any one culture or community of people.” In a statewide survey conducted in Arizona in 1997, 95% of Hispanic voters said they felt that cockfighting was “cruel and inhumane.” While only 34% of Anglo respondents disagreed that “cockfighting is an important part of Hispanic culture,” 70% of Hispanics disagreed with the statement.

they voted last year to ban the sport. it's illegal nationwide.