Beautiful afternoon. Sun is shining. Great day to take the kids to the park. Or take the tykes to a cockfight!
Cockfighting, a bloodsport, is still legal in New Mexico and Louisiana. It is an ancient "sport" going back thousands of years. It is wildly popular not only in Mexico and parts of South America but Europe. And in many countries like the Philippines, "sabong" as it is called, is close to being their national sport.
Gov. Bill Richardson, has finally decided to take a stand against cockfighting in his state of New Mexico.
"I believe the people of the state want to abolish it," the governor, a Democrat, said in his art-bedecked office. "It’s a bad image nationally. I’m putting my weight on it. It’s going to make it pass, and it’s the right thing to do."
Bad image? What about cruel? Roosters do feel pain. We're not talking about flies or worms here but birds. The Human Society of the US states:
The birds, even those who do not die, suffer in cockfights. The birds cannot escape from the fight...Common injuries include punctured lungs, broken bones, and pierced eyes.....birds' legs are usually fitted with razor-sharp steel blades or with gaffs, which resemble three-inch-long, curved ice picks....designed to puncture and mutilate.
It has got the so-called "sportmen's" community all worked up. Cockfighting is a touchy issue. For example, super crazy Congressmen like Steve King of Iowa said he wouldn't support any animal welfare legislation unless Roe v. Wade was overturned. Angry Bill F. wrote:
....there is no real reason to ban cockfighting, except for those holding public office to appease rich animal rights groups...I think cockfighting is perfectly natural and is not cruel in any way....Why should New Mexico listen to out-of-state animal rights groups anyway? (note-Bill F is from Virginia)..
Not only is Gov Richardson in trouble with many who want to watch roosters slice and peck each other to death, but some are calling the move "racist." Jack Cairnes, said:
.... a ban is being promoted by a "small group of extremists traveling from state to state interfering with rural life.'' He said it was a rural-versus-urban issue that "borders on being a racist issue'' because many cockfighters are Hispanic.
Cockfighting is barbaric and cruel. The roosters suffer painful injuries and horrible deaths. Those who defend this cruelty say the animals are are "bred" to do this. Nonsense. Nature doesn't put sharp metal spurs on their legs, drop them in a ring with no escape to kill each other. Humans do that.
The idea it somehow diminishes someone's culture is hogwash. The same argument was used by people to justify slavery, segregation, human sacrifice, and so on.
It is unfortunate Gov Richardson has fence sat on the issue for so long. It is a right or wrong moral issue. No one has to "study" it. I am getting ticked off by politicians who can't or won't think on their feet because they must do a "market analysis" on the issue first.
However, I will give Richardson the benefit of the doubt--this time. He may have been acting his ambassador nature. You just don't shoot your mouth off because it could mean WWIII.
The important thing is Gov Richardson will sign the bill when it crosses his desk. For that, he deserves a thank-you.