First thing, Amstaffer, I in NO WAY meant to imply that the culture of young black men, or people of any ethnicity are responsible. I used the word subculture in a very generic sense, to mean a subset of a larger culture. I avoid the phrase Counter Culture cause it means something different to everyone and is highly politically charged. It is deeply, deeply unfortunate that this has become a racial issue in the press and in the minds of the public. It isn't a racial issue, it's an animal cruelty issue. And there are people of all races involved.
I can see your point, there's a very fine line between explaining someone's behavior and justifying it. Whoopi came close to that line, but the problem for anyone walking it is that different people will take what you say in different ways. I have no idea what Whoopi meant to say, but I am still willing to give her the benefit of the doubt. As far as I can tell, she always uses that motherly tone of voice.
Concurring with Tosca, Michael Vick is blot on soceity, and the condemnation of him is completely justified. But I don't think trying to explain his behavior is a mistake. Whether its bloodlust, or culture, or just plain stupidity, knowing why people do these things is important to fighting it. Even more important is educating those who are not involved but aware of it to report it and ostracize those who engage in it.
As for the culture issue and whether he was 'raised' to these things, I want to discuss an uncomfortable truth. Namely, that the days when this sort of thing was widespread was not so long ago. And the days when less horrific, but still appalling treatment of animals was acceptable is very much within living memory.
I grew up in a rural area. it was known that cock-fighting went on, though not, to my knowledge, dog fighting. And I knew many people, who were othereise good people and upstanding citizens, who treated animals in a way that I do not approve of. I don't mean they were delibrately cruel or abusive, but they viewed animals as a means to an end. Not just livestock but dogs and cats and other pets. They had a very unsentimental attitude towards animals . . . the dog doesn't hunt? Shoot it. Cat doesn't catch mice? Dump it at a shelter or hit in the head with a hatchet. Horse foundered and will be heathly but un-ridable? Take it to the glue factory. I know people here will find this horrifying, but it was a fact of life. I never liked it, I still don't like it, and thank god my parents had a more generous attitude. Of course, they could afford to . . . their livlihood did not depend on their animals and they could afford to feed and care for a 'useless' animal. Now, these folks would not condone what Michael Vick was doing. They'd say it was cruel, and there is far too much evidence that he got a kick out of killing his dogs, not to mention them tearing each other apart. But they might well say, that they are his dogs, that's what they are bred to do, and its not really any of their business what he does with them . . . though they'd tell their kids to stay the hell away from him. These aren't bad people, at least, not in balence . . . they love their kids, pay their taxes, and many of them are deeply fond of animals . . . they just have no use for one that doesn't serve its purpose. They are also deeply independent and don't like anyone telling them what to do. I do not mean to defend how they, and certainly not Michael Vick, treat animals. But its real, and we should face up to it.
On a more personal, and more painful note, I visited my grandmother recently. She used to raise Dalmations for show. Very, very good Dalmations, not only winners, but suitable for work, and with good temperments and no deafness. She loves animals, and has always been surrounded by them. Too old now to raise her own dogs, she has a rescue Dalmation who she adores. But while I was visiting, the topic of her breeding days came up and she told me, in a perfectly matter of fact away that she tested the puppies at 6 weeks for temperment and deafness. If they didn't pass, they were knocked in the head and disposed of. Lemon marked Dalmations suffered the same fate unless she had a pet home lined up. She was even rather proud of it . . . it was part of being a responsible breeder to her that no flawed animal would be allowed to live, let alone allowed to breed. It was quick, she said, and better for everyone. When I remembered to say something in response, I pointed out that behavior training can help with temperment and that deaf dogs can be trained. She would have none of it 'We didn't do it that way, and I never sold a bad dog.' was what she said. I am certain she honestly believes that she was doing the best thing for the breed (which in terms of not allowing such animals to reproduce is certainly true) and for the puppies themselves. I was none-the-less appalled, I still am. But I don't love her less for it. She's right. That WAS how it was done then, expecially in the area of the country she lived in. She's very old, and I can't expect her to appologize for it because we know a better way now. (Notably, she did have some very choice things to say about Michael Vick)
I do expect Michael Vick to appologize, and sincerely, and not with attestations of religious conversion. I also know better than to hope that this will happen. I suspect the only thing he feels sorry about is that he got caught.
But we would do well to remember that a good part of the reaction to this should not only be condemnation, but education. Education not only that dog fighting is wrong and still very much present in our nation, but that animals are entitled, by law and morality, to a minimum of humane treatment and that there are other ways to do things. Further that society at large no longer approves of these practices, not because they are bleading hearts, or because they want to interfere with your way of life, but because our understanding of animals has grown, because our empathy has grown, and because our investment as a society to the welfare of animals has grown. Moreover, that indifference and tolaerance are what feed this sort of cruelty, what allow it to exist in the shadows, to suddenly burst onto our television screens, turn our stomaches, and shock our consciences.
