While I too am disgusted by the lion killing

[BainsBane]

I can't help feel that the attention is disproportionate considering all the people of color being killed and brutalized by police throughout this nation. I wonder if Americans cared as much about them as the lion, we might actually do some good here in the US where our fellow citizens are being hunted.

So are foreign visitors, as this case I just read about shows. (Video of the assault at the link.)

An elderly man was recently visiting Alabama from India when he found himself beaten by police who left him paralyzed.

Madison, Alabama police brutalized the 57-year-old Indian citizen who had committed no crime, he was only going for a walk on the sidewalk outside of his son’s home. Now, one officer is being charged for leaving Sureshbhai Patel temporarily paralyzed and hospitalized with fused vertebrae, as a result of the severe beating he received from the police.

“He was just walking on the sidewalk as he does all the time,” Chirag Patel, the son of Sureshbhai said. “They put him to the ground.”

No crime had been committed. Madison Police on Monday issued a statement saying the department had suspended the officer and were investigating the use of force in this case. The police statement wished the man a “speedy recovery.”

Chirag Patel is an engineer who had just flown his father to America from the small Indian town of Pij.

Sureshbhai Patel was trying to help his wife care for Chirag’s 17-month-old son, so that Chirag could finish graduate courses for his masters degree in electrical engineering at the University of Alabama.
http://countercurrentnews.com/2015/02/cop-criminally-charged-after-indian-man-paralyzed/

No, it's not either/or, but the lion is getting more attention.

[Facility Inspector]

1. there should be more room for both/and

and less room for either/or

[HERVEPA]

2. Yeh, before your post, nobody knew about these things.

They have gotten plenty of attention, and deservedly so.
And this deserves the attention also, because it shows blatant cruelty.
Your post was just unnecessary.

[pecwae]

27. Thank you. nt

[geek tragedy]

3. This isn't a competition.

Republicans are trying to say the same thing about . . . aborted fetuses.

There are only 30,000 lions left in the wild. And their numbers are dwindling fast.

[BainsBane]

7. I'm talking about once living people

not fetuses. Yes, I agree it is horrific, absolutely. But social media is on fire about this, whereas too many make justifications for police killing people of color.

[geek tragedy]

8. as I said, this is not a competition, outrage over illegal animal cruelty and killing of

threatened species is its own issue.

[Facility Inspector]

12. Yes

there can actually be more than one issue. Even two.

[BainsBane]

15. Some black people on Twitter are using lion avatars now

They seem to wish they were treated with as much concern.

https://twitter.com/elonjames

[geek tragedy]

16. good for them. I'm sure that'll accomplish tons nt

[CTyankee]

42. I have felt physically sick over the deaths of black women in custody...

and I felt the same over the death of the lion. Perhaps it is the feeling of the helpless against the death machine of whatever social construct, I don't know. But it is the same nausea and disgust. Does that make sense to you...I wonder because I am left with my nausea and disgust and I would like to hear from others whose voices I like and trust...and you are one of those voices.

[hlthe2b]

4. If you think devaluation of animal life does not have a strong correlation with devaluation of human

life, then I think you have missed the point.

It is NOT those who are horrified by the death of the lion who fail to appreciate the horrific problem with an out-of-control police force and their associated racism; rather, it is far more likely to be those who DO NOT feel horror for the death of animals.

[shenmue]

6. People who abuse animals are very likely to assault people as well

Serial killers usually grew up doing evil stuff to animals first.

[AngryAmish]

32. You know, I have never seen that mentioned on the Internet before

[shenmue]

5. People are more important, but unnecessary cruelty to animals is stupid

This problem can be addressed too, in my opinion.

[BainsBane]

9. I agree. And animals are apolitical

which makes it easier for people to rally around them. I just wish concerns for human life could cut across political boundaries as well.

[shenmue]

10. Understood.

Agree.

[BainsBane]

17. This is interesting

@elonjames I suggested that all of #BlackTwitter change our avis to Cecil bc #CecilIsBlack and #BlackLivesMatter

[shenmue]

18. Not really

Again, two different issues.

Yes, people do care about people.

[demmiblue]

49. +1

[Hello Dragon]

11. Agree

100%

[Snobblevitch]

13. I agree except that I would not limit it

to the deaths of people of color. It seems to me that whenever an animal is killed illegally that people get extremely upset, even more than when a child is killed by a parent or somebody else.

[hfojvt]

14. yeah, right now it is all about the lion here

which is getting far more love than Geist ever did.

but "severe beating" is hyperbole and so is the whole meme of "black people being killed by the police".

Have you seen the WaPo database of police shootings?

http://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/national/police-shootings/

They appear to be fairly rare, if also too common.

558 in 7 months works out to less than 1,000 per year.
49% of the shooting "victims" appear to be white, non-hispanic.
about 85% of the "victims" were armed.
even an unarmed man can be somewhat of a threat.

Actual homicides by non-cops appear to be more of a threat in this country. At least 5,980 black people were murdered in 1999. Compared to perhaps 240 (80% of whom were armed) who were killed by the police.

[kwolf68]

19. Another one of these posts

The social media buzz has been ablaze with the shit police are doing to black folks. It sickens me, but I am an environmentalist. While I am certainly left on most all issues, my main issues revolve around nature (since that's where my life work has been directed). I am profoundly disgusted at how black people are treated, but my rage is my rage and if it's directed toward that which you believe is not worthy (and I should be directing it more at the police) that's your problem and not mine. And it's a joke that some imply that it's "racism" that those of us are passionate about "a stupid lion", when we "should be as passionate" about you name the cause.

We have what?.... 80-90 million Liberals in this nation? I think that's enough to where my SINGLE directive toward MY issue won't greatly impact the issues you believe are more important. In short, Liberals can work ON ALL things that matter to us: Environment, women's rights, minorities, labor, etc.

[BainsBane]

20. Animal killings aren't just protested by liberals

They cut across political boundaries. I wish people from across the political spectrum could view the lives of those killed by police similarly rather than making excuses for why they deserved to die.

[MH1]

35. I think any time you can teach the respect for life,

you get a step closer to someone having empathy for other people who die senselessly.

I mean, the really whack thing about Sandra Bland is that she was pulled over for a freakin' turn signal. That's gotta reach a few people if they would just stop and think for a moment.

I just think anytime you can get someone to exercise their compassion muscle, it might make it work better the next time they're in a situation where they should be using it.

I agree that it's infuriating though.

[kcr]

40. I do too, but I'm not sure slamming the coverage of the lion story

and making people feel bad for caring about it will accomplish that.

[BainsBane]

41. I don't believe that is what I am doing

at least that isn't my intent.

[Journeyman]

21. Eh, it's people. I saw a movie a few years back, "The War Horse," set in WW1. . .

We saw images of untold slaughter in the trenches and along the wire, and the crowd sat aghast but immobile and silent. However, when a horse went galloping across No Man's Land in shear panic, tangled itself in the wire and bucked and reared in obvious distress, the crowd gasped and was visibly shaken by the sight.

People. We react in the strangest of ways. I don't believe we're any less disturbed by human suffering and death; we're just better able to express our pain and horror in situations where we are somewhat psychologically removed from the impact.

The pages of literature are rife with such instances. I especially remember Billy Pilgrim in Kurt Vonnegut's Slaughterhouse Five. Witness to the largest massacre in European history, Billy only cries when confronted with the brutal way he and the other soldiers had treated a team of horses, had treated them with no more sensitivity than they would a six-cylinder Chevrolet.

People. I know we care even more deeply for slaughtered humans than we do dead animals. Surely you remember the recent massive protests against police brutality and recognize the ongoing efforts to combat it? Do you sincerely believe this lion -- a figure of the moment in the news -- will engage more public outcry and sustained effort than have the recent dead in our streets and jails? No, of course not. People are simply engaged in the moment, and their expressions of horror at that beast's senseless demise are -- in many instances -- a continuation of the ongoing condition we face in society about us, another outlet for their rage at the untenable violence with which we all must contend.

[Gidney N Cloyd]

22. The lion story spiked temporary interest and will be off the radar in a couple days.

[shanti]

25. exactly

i don't understand the poutrage about it remember the story of the white woman claiming to be black?

me neither.

[Bluenorthwest]

23. Since this thread ran on without mention of Mr Patel, I'll add that he was attacked in Feb and

his attacker currently faces Federal Civil Rights charges among other things, the story is actually widely known in some circles and has been something of an international incident with political apologies and all manner of reaction.
So it's not as if Patel was attacked this week and people paid not attention compared to a lion. The OP also exploits Mr Patel by implying his case has gotten little attention and his attacker no punishment when his attacker is likely to go to prison for 10 years.

I'd also like to add that in the US there are hate crimes against persons every single day. Any time you speak of any subject, you are doing that 'instead' of talking about the minority members who just got assaulted. It's every day. Not always as bad as Patel, but frequently. Who usually speaks of this? No one. Ever. At all. I think it was 13 trans women of color murdered last year. Nary a blip.
June 30: Seattle residents targeted in three anti-LGBT attacks over Pride weekend
July 6: Woman facing hate crime charges in anti-gay attack in Brooklyn

We could do this all day long.

[BainsBane]

28. My OP exploits Mr. Patel by posting about it

Obviously it didn't just happen because the cop was just indicted. The article also provides the dates of the assault.

This isn't oppression Olympics. There are indeed hate crimes every day in this country, but the numbers of people of color murdered by police are tremendous, and they rarely get indicted because they do it under the color of authority.

[MicaelS]

24. Considering how Americans act / react toward their "companion animals"...

I am not the least bit surprised with all the furor over the lion killing.

[BainsBane]

29. You don't like pets?

[MicaelS]

36. I like them fine.

I realize that to many people, their pets ARE members of their families. BUT, when I see people saying they would choose their pet over another human being, that when I think people go too far.

Understand?

[BainsBane]

38. Yes, on an intellectual level I understand

and of course you're right. But in terms of my own personal, emotional reaction, it would be hard for me not to choose my dog first. We seldom are faced with such circumstances though. In fact, I feel pretty certain I never will be.

[Rex]

26. Another one concerned about the lion getting too much attention.

Seriously, this place is so asinine at times.

[hifiguy]

39. Ain't it the truth.

[MH1]

30. Both are an opportunity to right a wrong in our laws

And we should take that opportunity in both cases.

But let's talk about the differences. This lion killing was blatant and even admitted. The loss of species / loss of biodiversity is a very real threat to human civilization (even if the majority are not aware of this due to a severely deficient education). The callousness of the "big game" hunting industry is a very real threat to several key species. It may seem to some like "just a lion" BUT IT IS NOT JUST A LION.

Sandra Bland is an urgent case in a wholly different way. She is a human being with a family and people who loved her and she lost her life for no goddamn reason and we need to address the sickness in the system that treated her like that.

The article in your link is just another example of the same sickness. I suggest that there is a common cause, at least partial cause, for all 3 of these sick behaviors.

(but oh by the way I can't help but ask, when the hell did 57 become "elderly"?)

[BainsBane]

31. Sandra bland and the 1000+ other Americans killed by cops

or who died in police custody.

How does the lion case impact our laws? It happened in Zimbabwe.

Yeah, I hear you on 57 being elderly.

[MH1]

33. For one we can ban the import of hunt "trophies"

particularly if it is an endangered species or meets other criteria. (I would ban it all but that might be harder to do).

IANAL but I am sure there are many other things that can be done to dissuade people engaging in that so-called "sport".

[BainsBane]

37. We could extradite him to Zimbabwe

to face prosecution there.

[hifiguy]

34. Maybe it's because in a case like Cecil the lion, there's a chance

outrage can actually accomplish something. There's no gigantic system that has institutional patterns of behavior, which are virtually impossible to change absent revolution. There's just one arrogant, dickish "bad guy" who can be called out into the spotlight of public shame for a despicable act. And it has largely been effective.

Institutions can and do regularly brush off public protest and sweep injustices up to and including murder under the rug. Corrupt people run the systems and cannot be dislodged because the corruption will be protected at all costs. At gunpoint when necessary.

It's very hard to fight a completely corrupt "city hall" but easier to do a little bit of justice in a case where the cards aren't marked and dealt from the bottom of the deck.

[Texasgal]

43. Please don't chastise me

about what tragedy's I should be should be outraged about.

I'm a pretty smart Woman and can actually be outraged at more things than one. My focus and my attention in real life involves me putting food on the table for my extremely critically ill husband. So, if you would... please not chastise me.

Thank you.

[BainsBane]

44. I did not chastise you

I expressed an opinion. I didn't follow you into a thread and say you shouldn't care about a subject.
I expressed a view that is in fact the truth: Americans care more about animals than black lives. That is the fact of this racist society we live in. You chose to make it about you. I had no awareness of your views on this subject until you decided to enter this thread and decide it was all about you, not Mr. Patel, not black lives, and not even Cecil.

[Texasgal]

45. I apologize then.

This thread appears as though you are chastising DU'ers as a whole. I am a DU'er therefore my post read as such.

If you were not speaking of DU'ers in general, then my apologies.