"Afghan men hold a fighting dog on a long leash as it prepares for the weekly dog fights on December 11, 2009 in Kabul, Afghanistan. Dogfighting is facing a resurgence after it had been banned under the Taliban for being un-Islamic."
Photo: Majid Saeedi/Getty Images
Addendum: Anonymous offered an interesting counterpoint from Foreign Policy re the history of dog fighting in Afghanistan.
Like wrestling, the art in leverage, timing and speed. If, as occasionally happens, one dog shifts from wrestling to truly biting and drawing blood, the owners rush in and put both hands on the flanks of their own dogs, who break off immediately. The fight is called a draw and the next dogs come on.
No dogs die. Almost no dogs are injured (they are too valuable). Much yelling and wagering takes place, and by 2 in the afternoon everyone starts the long hike back to his village -- some with their honor enhanced by the audacity of their hounds and some with their honor diminished.
More at the link. The same source had another post about dogs in Afghanistan; unlike in Iran, the Afghan dogs are respected and while fierce are all household dogs, not strays.
I don't approve of dogfighting/bullfighting/cockfighting etc, but I may have been too quick with my implied condemnation. I also ran across something in my reading yesterday about the historically American "sport" of tying bulls to bears for fights; will blog later - but this is a football day.
That place needs be dragged into the 18th century.
ReplyDeleteAnd thanks for the change the comment policy. Happy new year and thanks for all you do!
For once, I agree with the Taliban. It's not only unIslamic, it's barbaric. Only men insecure in their own manliness need to "prove" it by fighting dogs or roosters (that's why they call it a cock fight).
ReplyDeleteActually, Afghan dog fighting doesn't bear much resemblance to American dog fighting.
ReplyDeletehttp://ricks.foreignpolicy.com/posts/2009/12/22/afghan_dogs_ii_back_when_it_was_fun
Key point: "No dogs die. Almost no dogs are injured (they are too valuable)."
Thank you, anon. Post amended.
ReplyDeleteJan 3, 1:54 AM (ET)FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) - About 169 people have been arrested in a cockfight raid northwest of Fort Worth.
ReplyDeleteAuthorities said sheriff's deputies also seized 114 roosters Saturday near Poolville in north Parker County. Sheriff Larry Fowler said Child Protective Services workers also took custody of 10 to 15 children ages 7 to 15.
Fowler says drugs and cash were seized and dead and injured roosters were found. He says the raid site had been under surveillance for two weeks.
The sheriff says those arrested will be charged with a gambling offense, and that organized crime charges may be considered against some.
John Goodwin of the Humane Society of the United States says cockfighting is a lucrative business.