Obama's Public Support of Michael Vick

[dreadgeek]

Originally Posted by Sachita

Now this makes me think of a very good vegan friend who wants to breed race horses. She doesnt eat animals because morally thinks its cruel. This rattled the fuck out of me. I asked her if she ever did any research on animal abuse in horse breed/racing. Also why she felt it was ok to train an animal for a sport that supports an even bigger problem "gambling". People should be allowed to do what they want but is it ok to allow an animal to be used in a sport for gambling? Is it ok to train a work animal to be a service dog or herd animals? These are all clearly questions someone needs to ask and rather then choosing an answer that suits your agenda people should be more conscious when it comes to animals. Once my friend did her research she was floored. She had no idea but honestly she turned a blind eye, saw what suited her interest and not in the best interest of the whole picture involving horses.

I don't know about gambling and won't waste a lot of time on that subject. But as far as using animals as working animals--herding, etc.--yes I think that is absolutely acceptable. I own a sheepdog, it is clear that his instincts are to herd. Particularly with the animals that we have co-evolved with and that we have bred into their modern forms (dogs, cats, horses, chickens, etc.) we absolutely should continue with employing them in the ways we bred them to be employed. We, as a species, created the modern dog and most of our dogs would not, in point of fact, do well if humans disappeared. Dogs need humans at this point. Anyone who has lived with a dog knows that we have created a breed that wants to socialize with us and is sensitively tuned to human facial expressions and vocal subtleties.

The passion i'm displaying right now is not about Obama. Medusa is right... he;s the first one that actually did anything and it wasn't all lipservice. He walked into a major mess and still actually did something. I admit I was skeptical. BUT as someone else put- I want to see a democrat in office no matter what. My agenda here right now is fueled by yet another Michael Vick media show and that enough is enough. He should be punished. Laws should be tightened in the case of animal rights. Plain and simple. instead homeowners are having insurance canceled or must get rid of a beloved pet. Dog boarding facilities (not mine) won't take pit bulls or the insurance to take them or any aggressive breed is too high. So let's have another dose of this M.Vick media parade.

How long of a prison sentence does he have to serve? He was *already* punished.

don't forgive him.

Sorry, I just can't sign on to the idea that yet ANOTHER black man should spend the rest of his natural days behind bars or be utterly unable to make any kind of living because he ran afoul of the law. We do that quite enough already, how many black men have to be locked up for very large parts of their lives before America is satisfied that it has done enough? He did 23 months in prison--not some county lock up but *prison*. How long does he have to serve? Let's also keep in mind that the ONLY reason he didn't serve longer is because he is a celebrity. The next time you're out around town, take a look at a random black man, now imagine him convicted of the same crime that Mr. Vick committed and imagine what his prison sentence would look like. We're talking a minimum of 5 to 10 years. Like I said, America is already what I consider overzealous and unbounded in its enthusiasm for locking up black men for the term of their natural lives. I'm not sure that Mr. Vick should have to rejoin the 850,000 black men already in prison. (That's one in every nine.)

Cheers
Aj

[Sachita]

sorry typing one-handing lol

yes I agree with animals that work and treated properly.

and I also think you're right that he was punished and it should be enough, right? I agree with this but I am just exhausted at the media on this. I'm overly sensitive and had a knee jerk reaction. He did his time and we, even the president can move on. I have not done the research so forgive but I'd like to see Vick and Obama working together on setting a strong example. Now that would get a hell yeah from me but honestly I doubt I will ever be able to forgive him for what he allowed to happen to helpless animals. No ever.

Originally Posted by dreadgeek

I don't know about gambling and won't waste a lot of time on that subject. But as far as using animals as working animals--herding, etc.--yes I think that is absolutely acceptable. I own a sheepdog, it is clear that his instincts are to herd. Particularly with the animals that we have co-evolved with and that we have bred into their modern forms (dogs, cats, horses, chickens, etc.) we absolutely should continue with employing them in the ways we bred them to be employed. We, as a species, created the modern dog and most of our dogs would not, in point of fact, do well if humans disappeared. Dogs need humans at this point. Anyone who has lived with a dog knows that we have created a breed that wants to socialize with us and is sensitively tuned to human facial expressions and vocal subtleties.



How long of a prison sentence does he have to serve? He was *already* punished.



Sorry, I just can't sign on to the idea that yet ANOTHER black man should spend the rest of his natural days behind bars or be utterly unable to make any kind of living because he ran afoul of the law. We do that quite enough already, how many black men have to be locked up for very large parts of their lives before America is satisfied that it has done enough? He did 23 months in prison--not some county lock up but *prison*. How long does he have to serve? Let's also keep in mind that the ONLY reason he didn't serve longer is because he is a celebrity. The next time you're out around town, take a look at a random black man, now imagine him convicted of the same crime that Mr. Vick committed and imagine what his prison sentence would look like. We're talking a minimum of 5 to 10 years. Like I said, America is already what I consider overzealous and unbounded in its enthusiasm for locking up black men for the term of their natural lives. I'm not sure that Mr. Vick should have to rejoin the 850,000 black men already in prison. (That's one in every nine.)

Cheers
Aj

[julieisafemme]

Here is an update on some of the dogs from Vicks property who were lucky enough to end up at Best Friends.

http://www.bestfriends.org/vickdogs/

Obama still has my vote. I don't though understand what would drive him to use this case to highlight the issues ex-cons face when coming out of prison.