Multiculturalism Vs. Animal Rights

Political Mavens/Jewish World Review ^ | July 25, 2007

[theothercheek]

The Washington Post reports on a federal lawsuit seeking to clarify a Clinton Administration animal cruelty law. At issue: Whether online transmissions of cockfights from countries where the "sport" is legal can be sold to viewers in the U.S.:

One evening last week, two roosters in a ring surrounded by cheering spectators pecked and clawed one another in a fight to the death. With each lunge, feathers flew, then floated to the ground. Finally, one bloodied bird, its eyes plucked out, lurched and faltered.

"Red is blinded," shouted the announcer. "Red goes down. ... Now he's really hurt. ... A tremendous blow by Blue!"

Every state in the nation has a law banning cockfighting. But this match was held in Puerto Rico, where the fights are legal, and transmitted to the States by the Web site ToughSportsLive.com.

The company that operates the Web site, Advanced Consulting and Marketing, argues that cockfighting is part of the indigenous culture in numerous countries worldwide, and that restricting online broadcasts of the contests is a violation of its First Amendment rights. For their part, animal rights activists liken cockfighting to child pornography, which is not protected under the First Amendment.

Each side claims its position is bolstered by a law signed by Bill Clinton that made it illegal to "create, sell or possess a depiction of animal cruelty" to make money – unless the depiction falls into the category of protected speech, which is defined as "serious religious, political, scientific, educational, journalistic, historical or artistic value."

The ambiguity in Clinton’s law is a perfect metaphor for the brain freeze that afflicts liberals with two or more of their cherished values are in direct conflict.

Editorial Note: Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick will no doubt follow this case closely. If ToughSportsLive.com prevails, Vick can take the same tack and argue that dog fighting is indigenous to the ghetto street culture in which he grew up, and is protected under the First Amendment.

[ROTB]

>the indigenous culture in numerous countries worldwide

... is crap. That’s why people come HERE.

[Clioman]

Interesting comparisons...I’m thinking honor killings, clitorectomies, slavery, and child-adult arranged marriages. “Hey, this is our culture...we gotta right!”

[theothercheek]

Yes. And in each of these cases a combination of moral relativism (who are we to judge other cultrues) and multiculturalism, liberals are like deer in the headlights. They don’t know what to do. Why hasn’t NOW been at the forefront against honor killings, burkas, genital mutilation, arranged marriage? Why hasn’t PETA protested against the mass slaughter of cows, sheep and goats in the streets of Europe every time the Turks celebrate a Moslem holiday (the blood literally runs in the street). Why, why, why?