Tuesday, May 23, 2006

Barbaro: Do We Care Too Much? [J. Mark English]

Jane Schwarz, author of "Ruffian: Burning From the Start" wrote a sappy piece in the New York Times yesterday, giving explanation as to why we care about animals when they are injured. She writes:
No one wants to see a racehorse break down. The most hardened trainers and the most avid fans seem to agree on this much: A horse has to win, but nobody wants to see one die trying...
...Horse racing is as competitive as any sport ever invented. Trainers use psychological tricks to try to outsmart the competition. Before the continuous monitoring of races, jockeys would poke, pull, kick and whip one another down the stretch in attempts to gain the lead.
But when their horses are hurt and have to be destroyed, it breaks their hearts...
...At the medical center where Barbaro was being treated, people left signs for the colt, expressing their love for him.
Perhaps the real miracle — the one that matters to all of us, whether we know it or not — is that so many of us are still capable of caring so much.
Still wiping the tears away? It is just a horse! No one knew the name of this horse until a few weeks ago, and all of sudden people are leaving signs for a four legged animal? Save those cards for soldiers who are returning from war. Support the Our Fallen Heroes Foundation, or the Fallen Heroes fund.
The New York Times claims on its cover that it has "All the News thats Fit to Print"... And they print a hyper sensitive animal loving story in place of perhaps printing something much more important in regards to world affairs? Get over it Jane Schwartz. We may want to care so much about this horse, but do you really think it gives a damn about us?