My Possible Topics

My first possible topic is whether pet companions affect people’s behavior? (i.e. Research on the affects of abusing animals at a younger age can lead to criminal activity and violent behavior when they grow older; Research on pets relieving stress, such as in the workplace or home environment) It would be interesting to know if cats and dogs can affect one's behavior throughout life, and the difference between their responses during a situation when with or without a pet.

My second possible topic would be about the argument from the people whom think that visit zoo’s is supporting that it is okay to watch animals in jail, and that it is wrong for them to be incarcerated like such. I believe that this helps save animals from becoming endangered or extinct, and provides shelter and food, while giving education on their behaviors, and to younger children, but I also understand that there is another side to the argument.

My third topic choice is whether animals should be given greater rights to being treated fairly, and also increase punishments given to those who abuse or torture animals. (i.e. Michael Vick case and Steven’s v. Supreme Court case). What could be done to give animals rights, and how their rights would affect society.

Against Michael Vick

http://www.footballfansagainstvick.com/index.html

Please sign the letter at this website if you are against Michael Vick being eligible to play for NFL! thank you =)

M.V. let off easy for a serious crime?!

If I were to choose someone to get kicked off the island, or out of the public eye in other words, I would choose Michael Vick. He is an image of how famous individuals who commit serious crimes get let off easy. He was a leader of a big dog fighting ring, where he would raise and fight innocent dogs, mainly pit-bulls. Who can seriously enjoy such a depressing scene of dogs fighting, and what are the dogs even fighting for? A real meal if they win? A beating by a tougher dog and an angry owner if they lose? Pit-bulls already have such a bad reputation for being aggressive, and he is just giving more proof of this. In reality though pit-bulls only want to please their owner, and most have very sweet, loving temperaments when raised in a good environment. Even after his dogs were abused, almost all of them, after some work, ended up being good family dogs. I believe there were only two who were too aggressive to be adopted.

Michael Vick on the other hand is a loser, and a sore sight for an athlete and public image. He only served 18 months of his 23 month sentence. He was just recently released and has already signed up as Nike's spokesman, as well as getting his on television show on BET?! How can they let this criminal off so easy? This slap on the wrists, I believe, has not changed him one bit. Who knows, he could just end up right back where he was before, doing the same acts of animal cruelty. On his side of the argument, he is apparently enlisted with the Humane Society to help end dogfighting, and prevent youths from engaging in it. Where's the evidence is what I, and any animal lover, wants to know. He is probably just fooling the media, being a sly fox and using his publicity to benefit him in any way. It is a disgrace that he is being allowed in the media after what he did, a criminal who has not changed, and most likely will not. How can media people look past what he did with such ease, and basically give him rewards for his crimes?

What led me to my decision on this warrant is for one he is a bad role model for children and teenagers, since he is a criminal now. It shows that the famous athletes can get away with what they want. Another aspect of my decision is if we let one famous individual off easy for such a terrible crime, then other famous individuals, who commit illegal activities, will most likely be let off easy as well. This is an excellent example of how lawsuits that include the famous are usually viewed as above the law in some aspects. No one is above the law, especially not Michael Vick, and this just goes to show that courts are swayed by the famous. He needs to be kicked out of the public's view, because it is a privilege, not a right, and he committed a serious crime and should pay some serious consequences!

Ruffian.."Champions Live Forever"

Ruffian. A movie based on the true story of a famous racehorse, who changed the world of racing by doing what she loved. She touched the hearts of everyone who ever saw her run, and those who watch her movie. She raced during the time in which the racing business was going downhill, and it was because of her that fans began to come back to the track in order to watch her powerful performances. She ran each race with such a powerful stride, pride, and put her entire heart into ever step. She was a fighter, and would never let another horse come near the lead until her last race. With each race she broke a record with such ease, it looked as if she was floating over the track. She became the greatest racehorse to ever set hoof on the track.

Her trainer, Frank Whitely, was one of the greatest trainers during this time period. He was a gentle gentleman, who usually kept to himself and around his horses. He knew his horses better than most people know their children, and gave them the best care they could receive. He didn't become a trainer for the fame or money, but because of the love for the horses. He never pushed Ruffian, and that is why he only raced her against fillies. Her last race, which was the match race, was forced upon him by the owner in order to revive interest in racing from the public. This match race, colt vs. filly, became the race of the century and started a battle against the sexes. Frank Whitely knew that this race would push her, since she would be forced to run head to head with a colt, something she had never done before. He was right.

In the beginning of the race it is thought that Ruffian may have clipped the starting gate, and this is what lead to what happened. The two horses ran, head to head, the first half of the race, putting all they had into each step. After about the half marker Ruffian started to pull away from Foolish Pleasure, first by a head, then by a neck, and finally by a furlong. It was just as she started to pull away that her front right ankle snapped completely. Even with her hook hanging on by only threads of tendons and skin, she kept trying to run, trying to gain her lead back. It took the jockey a few strides to finally get her to stop running and see the damage to her hoof. He had to have her lean on him in order to keep her standing. She was then taken to the animal hospital right off the track for emergency surgery.

Hundreds of fans and news reporters waited outside the clinic waiting for news of the beloved filly. It was an all night procedure, but it looked to be successful. As she was laying in recovery and waking up from anesthesia, she began to move her legs as if she was still running in the race. They had about twenty people trying to hold her down, but it was not enough for this powerful horse and she ended up breaking her good front leg with the cast on her broken leg. It was then that Frank Whitely called the owner and asked for permission to put her out of her misery. She was then buried in the infield at her home racetrack, Belmont Park, and is still the only horse to be buried there.

It is this ending that touches me the most, and will touch almost anyone who sees her story. It is amazing how this rare horse touched the hearts of the entire country by just doing what she loved. She was so full of heart and pride, she never gave up, and became a true role model for anyone. She proved that females can be just as good, and even better, than males, and she revived the sport of racing by doing so. She was a horse of pure heart and power, with such grace and beauty that anyone who hears her story will be amazed. She is a true champion, and the greatest racehorse to ever set foot on a racetrack.

"What she left in her passing was a memory far sharper, and a vision of surpassing grace and beauty, of a soaring poetry in motion that was written in hoof beats that ring as clearly today, as they did then." -Bill Nack, Racing Journalist