Courtland Milloy: Onions!
Well, since the Michael Vick scandal broke, I’ve been waiting weeks for someone to do it, and finally it’s happened: Someone’s decided to argue publicly that dogfighting ain’t so bad.
On the front of today’s Metro section, columnist Courtland Milloy makes the argument that Vick breeding, fighting, and slaughtering dogs is no more cruel than industrial meat production. And, mind you, it’s just an marginal outgrowth of our “culture of blood sports”—you know, monster sacks, pileup NASCAR crashes, Barbaro.
On an intellectual level and as a proud carnivore, sure, I can see where Milloy’s coming from. But as a sheer matter of degree of cruelty and malice, what Vick is accused of is off the charts. Did he even read the indictment?
But the real kicker is how, in a classic Milloy move, he brings it all back to gun violence. Now gun violence is a national tragedy. But is he seriously suggesting prosecutors pursue no other criminals other than gun offenders? And does the fact that a federal judge once heard cases involving al-Qaeda sympathizers makes him too important to hear cases in any lesser matter?
Milloy’s always had a knack for taking counterintuitive positions in extreme places. (You might recall his argument that forcing District schoolgirls to be given an HPV vaccine is racist.) But congrats, Courtland. You’ve taken counterintuitive to a whole new place with this one.
August 22nd, 2007 at 2:38 pm
i’m just impressed that he didn’t make the column all about race, because i was 99% sure that’s the way he was going to go.
August 22nd, 2007 at 3:35 pm
I’d actually like to hit any bar on a Friday and catch a cat fight.
August 22nd, 2007 at 5:54 pm
this inspired me to read the indictment. yuck.
see, now you’ve gotten me to read not only City Desk, but also things on other pages too. :)
i mean, it’s not like i have anything else to do during the day, such as, you know, work.
August 22nd, 2007 at 6:48 pm
Funny, I didn’t see any suggestion in Courtland Millard’s story that said dogfighting isn’t bad. His point, as you well know, was the HYPOCRISY of those who are outraged by Michael Vick’s case, but directly or indirectly endorse other forms of animal torture. I actually wrote a blog about this last week some time.
Specifically, the practices I mentioned that people don’t open their mouths about are: rattlesnake roundups, rodeos, livestock branding, rampant habitat destruction, hunting for “sport”, clubbing of harbor seal pups, wearing fur/suede/leather, visiting the circus, slaughterhouses, ear/tail cropping, or maybe the fact that damn every frickin’ wild animal on the planet is threatened or endangered thanks to the practices of humans.
Any outrage over those things? Nahhh… but let’s keep crowing about Michael Vick. Hypocrites.
And nice way to spin what Millard’s story was saying.
August 23rd, 2007 at 2:05 pm
Robin,
you’re all over the place there….rodeos, rampant habitat destruction, the CIRCUS??? Don’t forget frisbee dogs and catch and release fishing. And as for seal clubbing, this is widely considered an appalling issue and not a “gambling sport” as are ANY of the issues you mentioned.The issue with Michael Vick is one of a celebrity figure who thinks he’s much bigger than the law and common morality. You see, in my mind just because M. Vick does jail time, doesn’t make him a better person. He’s still got mental issues about why he found it important and entertaining to torture and kill dogs for money. He’s not a product of “rap culture” or harsh upbringings. He’s a sick individual who knew he was breaking laws and acting in a inhumane manner. The NFL is a club and doesn’t have to interact with him if they don’t want to. I don’t think you’re depriving him by banning him for life. He’s made millions already. Michael Vick is a huge figure who influences kids around the world. He’s a big fish who affects the morality ideals of many. There is no hypocrisy here and Milloy is misguided.
August 24th, 2007 at 7:33 am
Is Michael Vick really aka “Ookie”?
September 4th, 2007 at 4:12 pm
Vick’s talking points for his apology, left behind on the podium at the Omni Hotel, now for sale on eBay — item # 200149223837.