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Editorial
No reason not to fear
It
was not very long ago that our
brothers in the cockfighting sport
in the US also thought it crazy to even
consider that something might happen to
cockfighting in the land.
They had the reason to think so. Cockfighters were among the Founding Fathers. Abraham Lincoln loved the sport.
Cockfighting counted judges, politicians, rich and influential men among its followers. Nonetheless, when the country’s newer crop of politicians realized they
could gain more votes by siding with the more popular animal rights movement,
they passed laws prohibiting the sport.
In the Philippines, we also think likewise. Nothing will ever happen to cockfighting. Sabungeros are over confident to the point of being arrogant. We hear challenges like these: “You want a revolution, stop sabong.” and, “ No way, there are
so many sabungeros in Congress.”
What we have failed to consider though is the fact that these sabungeros in Congress are first and foremost politicians. Will they fight for sabong at the expense
of their political career? When time comes they feel they will get more votes by
siding with the ARAs they will abandon sabong.
And, while the opponents are doing much— lobbying, subliminal suggestions,
advertisements, PR and publicity—we are not even thinking about it. (see examples of propaganda vs. cockfighting.)
Frankly we have no reason not to fear. Yet, we don’t fear. It’s sad because only
fear would have driven us to unite and protect sabong before its too late. We
still have the numbers, and if we have the will, we might yet have the resources.
Thanks for sharing Roosterman.
Roosterman N0. 37