Now Peta is after Pedro Martinez
 

I really hate these people. When they went after Vick, I thought they went overboard but I could certainly understand their position and I did think the actions warranted a response. But this is just ridiculously stupid.

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/baseb...terstitialskip

So Martinez and Juan Marichal went to a cockfight. As is pointed out in the article, cockfighting is LEGAL in the Dominan Republic. It's legal and a part of their culture. So while I understand that some people may think it's wrong and disgusting and I can appreciate your feelings, how did Martinez do something wrong here?

So now Peta is urging Martinez and Marichal to take the same animal-sensitivity courses that Vick took and they sent a letter to Bud Selig asking that all players and staff take the course. The Humane Society is saying that the Mets should take action to distance themselves from Martinez and that Major League Baseball should condemn him and Marichal.

The Mets for their part issued a statement saying that while they don't condone any behavior that involves cruelty to animals, they understand that in many countries, things like cockfighting and bullfighting are not only legal but part of the culture.

So while many people on here may not like it, why should he be condemned by baseball for doing something that is both legal and a part of his culture?

PETA is ridiculous and this story is really overblown. Not only is cockfighting legal in that country unlike dogfighting here but Pedro also wasn't funding an illegal gambling ring on top of it which is what I think made the Vick situation a big deal. Should any Asian players that have ate animals back in their home country that are not allowed for consumption in the US also have to take this course? Actually, I'm sure if PETA had their way they would.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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?

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.

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

As a liberal it is your duty to tear down anything American

Every time I hear the term PETA, I see the image of that Swedish singer who appeared on some awards show about 10 years ago with a goose around her neck.

true....where would you like me to start.....weather?:p

We have great diversity in weather in America

Bingo!

I was not making any commentary on dominican culture as I know little about it....however my mother lived there for many years. If you say our culture is superior then I have no argument for you.


but it's all relative....
we house animals in 'factory farms' and have little protection for the animals in our food supply, "downer" cows for example....they view cock fighting as sport, we view it as cruelty. Here these coporate farms are viewed as the 'food supply' I view it as cruelty.