IF THERE WERE 25,000 DOGS IN NOLA W/O WATER OR FOOD...

[growlypants]

would the reaction be the same??? I think not. Now before I make a more general comment regarding this issue, I want to state FROM THE START that I am NOT, in ANY WAY comparing black people to dogs. So get that out of your mind FROM THE BEGINNING. If you continue to believe this is what I'm trying to get across, go somewhere else, read another post. I am simply trying to put this horrid situation in another light to see if my fellow DU'ers think the reaction from the public and from governmental organizations would be the same. So with that out of the way, let me begin.

Lets say some tragic act of nature occurred in a major United States city (to make this relevant, lets just use flood as an example and we'll make NOLA the major city) and 10,000 to 25,000 dogs were stranded on roofs, many with puppies, and a large number of them had gathered at the local sports stadium because it was the only dry place in town. They had no food, they had no water, there were dog carcasses floating in the water, they were barking for help from the rooftops and crying for help from the stadium. Would this country have allowed those DOGS to sit there and starve to death for SIX DAYS?? I think not. Actually, I say NO CHANCE. The public outcry would be OVERWHELMING. Groups such as PETA and the SPCA and many MANY animal lovers would literally "flood" NOLA in an attempt to save these wretched animals. Peta and other "animal rights" organizations would have hired helicopters (famous people probably would have offered their OWN helicopters) to fly in giant quantities of water and food for these dogs. The federal government would have also gotten into the act because of the vocal demands of the public. Pictures of National Guardsmen holding young puppies under their arms as they carried them through the muck and mire would be plastered all over the papers. They would have rescued them.

So whats going on down in NOLA??? Why are these PEOPLE, living breathing human beings, people with minds and thoughts and souls, being left to literally ROT in the heat and water?? Is it because they are "black people" and not cute little furry dogs???? Is it because they are some of this countries poorest citizens, and not happy jumping barking canines?? I hate to have such thoughts like this, but I believe its true. Is this government really this disgusting? Really this FOUL?? Apparently, the answer here is a profound YES. How is it possible that the outcry over the plight of 25,000 canines would be more, louder, more demanding than that over fellow HUMAN BEINGS?? I love my dogs VERY much, and I would not have entered the Superdome if I was not permitted to take them with me becuase they are my best friends, but they ARE NOT HUMAN BEINGS. They are DOGS. Where are our prioritires in this country??? WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!??????????????????????

[Mythsaje]

1. Dogs aren't political...

people are.

And so are the reasons this happened.

On edit: Well, dogs ARE political, but not in the way that humans are. They're not involved in OUR politics.

[meow2u3]

3. But dogs are involved in our LIVES

and sometimes, even our livelihoods.

[Mythsaje]

4. I'm the first one to agree...

I'm in canine rescue. We've sent money to the Human Society and are involved in gathering pet supplies for the refugees.

My point is that the original analogy was critically flawed...dogs are not a political issue and the comparison isn't valid for that reason.

[rzemanfl]

2. They put dogs out of their misery when they are suffering, let's

NOT go here.