‘Human cockfighting’

Cockfighting is a banned sport. Dog fighting is a banned sport. Yet, for humans, the smarter species, human cockfighting is OK? (6/1, A-1, “.‘In the ring, I’m somebody’; Mixed martial arts, once likened to ‘human cockfighting,’ has evolved, promoters say”)

Movies with sex and violence have R ratings to prevent children from watching. Yet to think that a parent would allow his or her child to watch or participate in this sport in any way is unimaginable. Where have we gone as a society to think this behavior is OK?

“In the ring, I’m somebody” makes you a nobody who can hit someone. If you want to be “somebody,” might I suggest you volunteer at a food bank, go on a mission trip with a local church, feed the hungry, help fix someone’s home in need of repair, be a big brother to a fatherless child, assist the elderly, visit a cancer ward or do something for someone less fortunate than you. That makes you somebody.

Kristy Hobbs
Trimble, Mo.

Mike Parker “doesn’t hate” the man whose face he is now beating. This front-page article about mixed martial arts was highlighted by brutal imagery in the ring.

Only a few inches away is the beautiful face of murder victim Kelsey Smith. “A year after she was murdered, her friends act on her parents’ advice of moving on and living strong.”

This tribute is marred by the questionable juxtaposition. What on earth were the editors thinking?

C.A. Phillips
Merriam

Comments

[Marctnts]

"Yet to think that a parent would allow his or her child to watch or participate in this sport in any way is unimaginable. Where have we gone as a society to think this behavior is OK?"

Let's see, consenting adults (or adults on the behalf of children) are fine competing in contests which test individual combat ability. I'm not sure I see anything wrong here. Like the laws governing prostitution, drug use, seat belts, helmets, smoking, and hundreds of other things, it seems that people like Kristy know better than the rest of us and are looking to the government to protect us from ourselves. At the rate we are going, there will come a day when personal liberties are nothing but a fond memory.

As an aside, I wonder if Kristy has a problem with football, hockey, rugby, boxing, or the numerous other sports which could be considered "violent" and have higher injury rates than MMA. I watched a 20/20 special with John Stossal last friday night talking about this very thing, and apparrently, even cheerleading has a higher rate of injury.

[solomon]

Two interesting letters about completely different things.

The first letter is about something the writer does not understand at all. Dog and Cocks, along with all the other animals humans have used for their enjoyment, are/were/will continue to be items that humans employ for their amusemnt. its rather sick, and thats why over the past three hundreds of years in Europe and America it has come into the place where it is not viewed as appropriate.

The other letter wants you to remember a missing person that has maintained a presence in our thoughts, but not with enough reverance.

[Stifled Freedom]

We have gone to a society where politics has been heavily influenced by religion which barred the any sexual content as immoral and gleefully allowed the violent content in media and entertainment for reasons I dont even know.

[NoMoreMrNiceGuy]

Kristy you are prefectly fine though with kids looking up to thugs just so long as it's a collegiate backed sport.
Football is violent and many of the players are not upstanding. MAybe some of us do not endorse organized religion. Many of us pay very high taxation in comparison to others yet people like yourselves continue to say we should give more. Maybe the lazy welfare bunch should give their time and effort to those that need it. If you do not like martial arts, boxing, etc then simply do not watch it, many of us enjoy the sport. Although it appears the MMA is becoming a fashion statement and a fixed theatrical show like "wrestling". Kimbo SLice, what a joke, when they eventually match him up with a real athlete, he will be done.

[T. Hanson]

If you want to fight and you love being in shape go use it where we need it. The military.