Valentine's Day is a day to shower those you love with gifts to express your undying devotion. For those who have met their match made in heaven and are looking to get married I offer this video. For those of use who have been married, hopefully we can say our day went a bit better.
By the time I got to the end of this video I was sitting in my chair with my jaw on the floor. I didn't know how to feel for this poor girl. Wow...
The NRSC Pledge
If the United States Senate passes a resolution, non-binding or otherwise, that criticizes the commitment of additional troops to Iraq that General Petraeus has asked for and that the president has pledged, and if the Senate does so after the testimony of General Petraeus on January 23 that such a resolution will be an encouragement to the enemy, I will not contribute to any Republican senator who voted for the resolution. Further, if any Republican senator who votes for such a resolution is a candidate for re-election in 2008, I will not contribute to the National Republican Senatorial Committee unless the Chairman of that Committee, Senator Ensign, commits in writing that none of the funds of the NRSC will go to support the re-election of any senator supporting the non-binding resolution.
To sign the pledge please go here
This is a short video slide show that I feel everyone should see. Thank you Sarge Charlie for bringing this to my attention. It brought tears to my eyes. Thank you to all of the men and women of our armed forces and their families for sacrificing so much to protect the rest of us. I have said it a million times, but I feel I can't say it enough.
PLEASE WATCH THE SLIDE SHOW HERE
I also created my own slide show. There are 140 photos that I found, and it took forever to upload them all, so please take a few minutes to watch.
I did this because as I went around the web one day I saw a lot of pictures you don't see in the main stream media. Pictures that prove that out troops are giving Iraqi's more than a war. They are far from home, and far from those they love, but hey have not forgotten what being an American is. They have not forgotten that this is a nation of hope, and love, and giving. They are our best ambassadors! I am so proud to be an American, and these pictures show you why.
Go to ImageShack® to Create your own Slideshow
An absolutely appalling and shocking story has been brought to my attention. I had to post about it here. I hope you will all read the following. This is the actual text that can be found at FOXNews.com
Web Site Kicks Sand in Faces of GIs in Iraq Asking for Mats to Ease Hardship of Sleeping on Ground
An American GI assigned to one of the harshest posts in Iraq had a simple request last week for a Wisconsin mattress company: send some floor mats to help ease the hardship of sleeping on the cold, bug-infested ground.
What he got, instead, was a swift kick from the company's Web site, which not only refused the request but added insult to injury with the admonition, "If you were sensible, you and your troops would pull out of Iraq."
Army Sgt. Jason Hess, stationed in Taji, Iraq, with the 1st Cavalry Division, said he emailed his request to Discount-mats.com because he and his fellow soldiers sleep on the cold ground, which contains sand mites, sand flies and other disease carriers.
In his email, dated Jan. 16, 2007, he asked the Web-based company, registered to Faisal Khetani, an American Muslim of Pakistani descent:
"Do you ship to APO (military) addresses? I'm in the 1st Cavalry Division stationed in Iraq and we are trying to order some mats but we are looking for ships to APO first."
On the same day, Hess received this reply:
"SGT Hess,
We do not ship to APO addresses, and even if we did, we would NEVER ship to Iraq. If you were sensible, you and your troops would pull out of Iraq.
Bargain Suppliers
Discount-Mats.com"
Khetani on Monday told FOX News that the person responsible for the email reply had been fired. The Web site, meanwhile, has been temporarily taken down.
Hess emailed that he has since found two mat suppliers willing to ship to an APO address in Iraq.
Out of one of the local papers in that area, The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, I have also found the following information:
What began as a brief e-mail exchange between a U.S. soldier in Iraq and a Wisconsin-based online retailer has erupted into an international incident that has pitted military supporters against free speech advocates and threatens to shut down the local company.
Bargain Suppliers of West Allis said its discount-mats.com Web site had to be taken down Monday to address the thousands of e-mails it's received since news of the exchange - in which an employee voiced opposition to the war in Iraq - began circulating on the Internet last week.Vice president Sajid Nasir said the employee is being "held accountable." But he said the incendiary and threatening nature of some of the e-mails - and voicemails left at the West Allis home that co-owner Faisal Khetani shares with his parents - have shaken the family.
"It's really getting out of control," said Nasir, who described the messages as "angry and vulgar."
"Our main concern is for the safety of the family. That's more important than the business," he said.
Repeated attempts to reach the Khetanis were unsuccessful.
The controversy exploded last week when a soldier, identifying himself as Sgt. Jason Hess of the Army's 1st Cavalry Division, sent an e-mail to discount-mats.com asking if it ships to military addresses.
Someone on the other end answered no, but went on to add that "even if we did, we would NEVER ship to Iraq. If you were sensible, you and your troops would pull out of Iraq."
A handful of Hess' friends got wind of the exchange, and soon it was ricocheting around the Internet - first on the Web site snopes.com, then on conservative and military forums and blogs - and has since made its way to talk radio.
Military supporters were outraged, calling it disrespectful and urging one another to flood the company with e-mails and calls.
Several posted Khetani's name, telephone number and address, which is also the business address, though Nasir insists it's for mailing purposes only.
Many of the messages invoked anti-Middle Eastern or anti-Muslim sentiment. (Khetani is Muslim, Nasir said.) Others vowed to shut the company down, and a few suggested they might make a personal visit.
"I think it's disgraceful," said Sgt. Maj. Dennis Webster, executive director of the First Cavalry Association in Copperas Cove, Texas, who learned of the e-mail exchange from a reporter.
"He's certainly entitled to his opinion. That's what soldiers defend," Webster said. "But there's a matter of respect. A young soldier isn't making those decisions. He's following orders."
Eduardo Briones, a Milwaukee native and retired Army sergeant who lives in Colorado Springs, Colo., said: "All he needed to say was no."
"I personally think we screwed up in the war, but that's not the fault of the soldiers. That's the fault of the politicians," he said.
Anti-war and free speech advocates were equally offended, by the widespread criticism of the company and the individual who responded to the soldier.
"This is a matter of free speech," said Julie Enslow, an organizer with Peace Action Wisconsin in Milwaukee. "It is totally irresponsible for radio stations and bloggers to attack a person for his personal political views."
Othman Atta, president of the Islamic Society of Milwaukee, said he would fault the worker for his lack of tact but defended his right to speak his mind.
"If you look at the polls, his opinion is reflected by a majority of Americans now," Atta said. "In the United States, everyone one is free to speak their opinion."
Atta appeared concerned that the controversy might fuel anti-Muslim and anti-Middle Eastern sentiment.
"Some people will look for any excuse to target people from the Middle East," he said.
A person identifying himself as Hess, who was reached via a military e-mail address, has agreed to an online interview but has yet to respond to a list of questions.
West Allis police said Monday that they were aware of the controversy.
"We're monitoring the situation, in case somebody decides to retaliate," Capt. Tom Kukowski said.
"But we're hoping people use good judgment."
Just for those of who have an interest you can feel free to avoid them at all costs by not going to:
Below you will find three videos that are parts of a Channel 4 Documentary from the United Kingdom called Dispatches. This particular documentary is on the Islamic Mosques in the United Kingdom. I was appalled at what I heard and saw. I would like to hope that this is not the norm for Muslims and the Islamic faith, and even it is isn't, it may be something we should all worry about anyway. It seems that these sects in the Muslim faith are trying to grow their numbers, and have probably been succeeding.
When you thought it couldn't get any worse...there is more.
It doesn't stop there either. Continue with the next video.
Can anyone else point out the gigantic flaws in the thought process of many of those doing the preaching? A few things came to my mind in the process of watching these videos. One, if you aren't happy with the form of government you live under, you could always move to a place you would be happy. Two, if you don't like democracy I could name at least three other places in this world that don't have it, and you could make a new life for yourself there. Three, I do not understand why people mock the form of government, and way life that enables them to be able to preach such garbage without fear of political or civil reprimand. Fourth, on their view of women...never mind, I am not even going to touch that one.
There were so many other thought processes I spotted that were so far out in left field. I think I have an easier time swallowing the stories told by people wearing tin foil hats to protect themselves from brain probes from outer space. Too bad this is a great deal more real.
I am just going to close by saying that your rights end, where mine begin.
I was pointed in the direction of a blog today that made me laugh and think all at the same time. It may just very well answer a number of questions.
I encourage all of you to visit the Blah Blah Blog, but I have tried to reconstruct it below for your viewing pleasure.
I hope you enjoy this as much as I did. It was just too great to pass up.
This was posted by Jules Crittenden on his blog. It is a blog I rad daily, and I had to re-post this here. You can visit his blog by clicking here.
All this talk about cranking up the heat in Iraq has me thinking. How many people really understand the mental attitude that is necessary to go into battle, if you hope to prevail?
I'm thinking about my friend, Maj. Philip Wolford. He was a captain commanding a tank company when I knew him in Iraq. His tanks, Assassin Company, usually led the battalion's assaults. Wolford became the butt of ribbing by other officers, because from the commander's hatch of his M1A1 Abrams tank, he was using his 9mm pistol and hand grenades against the enemy as often as he used his 120 mm main gun and his .50 cal. That's because Wolford got in close.
Wolford saved my life and those of the men I was riding with at al-Hindiyah, when our Bradley's guns jammed as an Iraqi recoilless rifle crew was about to open fire on us from our right rear quarter -- a high-velocity armor-piercing round that would have bounced around inside, cuisinarting me and Smitty in the rear compartment. Wolford reached down into his box of grenades, pulled the pin and threw one to take out the recoilless crew, which was too close by the roadside for him to angle his guns down on them.
The day before Hindiyah, this is what Wolford told his platoon leaders, platoon sergeants and tank commanders:
"Once the fighting starts, if there are people in the streets, in civilian or military clothing, they are the enemy and they will die," Wolford said, noting that other units had encountered Iraqi fighters in civilian clothes and civilian vehicles.
"There are some towers and high ground. We will shoot all towers," Wolford said. "They have used car bombs and suicide bombers ... If they don’t stop, fire a burst of .762. If they turn around, then they were probably going to the store to get some Saddam beer. If they don’t stop, kill them."
He talked about the paramilitaries, believed to be civilians who were forced into the fight against the Americans in Nasiriyah and Samiwah when the Saddam Fedayeen took their families hostage.
"I don’t think they are fighting for the regime. I don’t think they are fighting for the freedom of Iraq. But make no mistake about it. They will fight," Wolford said. "Like I told you a thousand times, they put one round on you, you put one thousand rounds on them, until those pajama-wearing motherfuckers stop firing. They put one AT (anti-tank) round on us, you blow the whole block up. There is no collateral damage concern that will stop us carrying our mission out. When we’re done, we’ll rename the place Assassin town, because we’ll own it.
"The brigade commander doesn’t say he wants the enemy captured. He doesn’t say he wants the enemy on the run. He says he wants the enemy destroyed. So kill him."
Turning to the map, Wolford pointed out the road that had been dubbed "Route Bruins."
"My intent is to quickly seize this crossing point at the canal, start a fight with the enemy and fucking kill him," Wolford said. "We’re not going to be jackshitting around. We’re going to be quick."
And that's what he did. I was happy to ride with Wolford and men like Platoon Sgt. Jonathan Lustig. I knew they had their wits about them, and the correct degree of aggression that would keep us alive. I should say that I repeatedly saw these men exercise caution in the midst of fire, endangering themselves by withholding fire to prevent civilian deaths. But when they attacked, and when they met resistance, they were quick and ruthless. As the invasion progressed, I realized I was willing to follow them anywhere, and I did, even on a day when we expected to die. In the company of men like that, it would have been a privilege.
Listening to the debate of the past few weeks, it is apparent to me that the Democratic congressional leadership does not understand the correct degree of aggression that is necessary to prosecute a war. I believe, from everything I'm seeing now, that our commander-in-chief does.
I read an article at CBS News today that infuriated me. The article itself wasn’t the problem. It was what occurred that prompted the article that rubbed me the wrong way.
You can find the article here.
This article was a classic example of what is wrong in American politics today. It seems that some politicians cannot form a valid argument relevant to their stance on an issue. They are only capable of personally attacking those that they oppose. Barbara Boxer, D-California, seems to be one such politician.
A quote from the article regarding her view of our country's current status in Iraq:
"I'm not going to pay a personal price," she said. "My kids are too old and my grandchild is too young. You're not going to pay a particular price, as I understand it, with an immediate family."
Boxer talked about families losing loved ones and soldiers in hospital burn units. "These are the people who pay the price."
Rice said evenly that she understands the sacrifice of service members and families.
"I visit them. I know what they're going through. I talk to their families. I see it.
I could never and I can never do anything to replace any of those lost men and women in uniform, or the diplomats, some of whom..."
Boxer cut her off.
"Madam Secretary, please," she said. "I know you feel terrible about it. That's not the point. I was making the case as to who pays the price for your decisions."
Senator Boxer knows that Secretary Rice cares very much for the men and women who are fighting on behalf of this great nation in order to extend the freedoms many of us take for granted, to those who lack them, and desperately want them. She admits that Secretary Rice. She states that she was simply making a point of who is paying the price for other’s decisions, in this case Secretary Rice’s.
I don’t see a point being made with her above statements. The comments Senator Boxer made were completely inflammatory. Especially since every American knows which men and women and their families are making the biggest sacrifices. Her statements reminded of when my father used to be angry with me. He wasn’t ignorant or naïve, he knew this, he knew I knew it, but he was angry, and just to make me feel worse he would look at me and would ask, “Do you think I was born yesterday?” or "Do you think I am stupid?" This question didn’t need an answer, and if you knew better you wouldn’t offer one. Anyone who took one look at my father would have known the answer to either question. It was only said to make the one being asked (usually me), feel stupid for whatever it was they tried to sneak past him. Senator Boxer was only trying to make someone else feel stupid for not feeling the same way about an issue as she did.
It doesn’t stop there. Barbara Boxer is wrong on so many levels. The first being the one I have already mentioned. She attacked another professional, who remained professional despite the attack, to make her supposed point. I say supposed point, because her logic is completely flawed.
First of all, no American can limit which Americans get a chance to voice their opinion. An attempt to do so is against everything our forefathers fought for. That is what makes us American, in our country that was founded on freedom. Senator Boxer cannot take that away from any one citizen or decide which citizens get to practice this freedom. I wouldn't take her right to an opinion away either, but publicly berating another person's views is not necessarily something you are given the right to do in order to express your views.
This brings me to another point. Some of us, I would love to think that most of us (but won't as I don't have actual numbers), do not have to give birth to the person to care about what happens to that person. Some of us are capable of love with out child bearing. Some of us are also capable of grief, worry, and a sense of loss for those who are not blood related to us. Some of us are very aware of the lives at stake. Among that some, are those who still believe that what we are doing for Iraq, and the rest of world is a good and worthy thing because we are able to see the big picture, and know that those of us who are able to, should help the world when ever possible. Many of that number of able Americans are also willing and have proudly enlisted in the military forces of this nation. All of those men and women who did enlist knew the risks they took, and they did in with love in their hearts for the rest of us who are not physically able to do this hard task for ourselves.
With all of that said I have some questions to ask Barbara Boxer. She said to Secretary Rice:
“I was making the case as to who pays the price for your decisions."
Senator Boxer, who pays the price for your indecision? Who pays the price when actions that weren't taken now come back to haunt us?
The innocent people all over the world will. Innocent women and children, as well as the elderly. If we can’t fight this war effectively, and support the emerging government in Iraq then some other totalitarian, ruthless, person will step in and do it for us. There will be another terrorists groups in its place, or another Saddam Hussein, or both. Then it will only be a matter of time before the United States is attacked again. I am of the belief that it will occur sooner rather than later. If this happens due to your indecision, Senator Boxer, then the deaths of all of those who die due to your indecision are on your head. Just as Clinton's inability to have Bin Laden killed when the opportunity presented itself has led to the deaths of many American citizens and that is now on his conscience (This of course only occurs when the person has one, but I can't speak to that.) This is not something that I could easily live with myself.
This is not to say that I think it is better for our men and women to die. I do not want them to die. It is evil however, for Senator Boxer to line this country up for future attacks by her lack of decision and action now. It is even more wrong for her to minimalize the lives of those that we have the power to protect in other countries. I am a firm believer that if I let other’s die when I could help save their lives I would be the worst type of person. Senator Boxer wants our fighting men and women home when they can save the lives of others and protect us in the future through what they are doing now. In a way, I also feel as if Senator Boxer is saying “American’s should not be giving their lives to save other’s in other countries because they aren’t worth saving.”
Senator Boxer is just one of many examples of why so many people hate politics today's. She shows that her idea of leading a country involves belittling those who do not agree with her views. She shows that she feels that she is better than everyone else, and that Americans in general are better than everyone else. Are we? Is this the face we want to show the rest of the world? If she truly valued American life and the lives of the rest of the human race then she would take a step back and look at the big picture.
That was a really long post and I didn’t even get started on how I feel about the “cut and run” plan for Iraq. I will save that for another day.
I would like to invite all of you to check out the blog carnival being put on by Bestest Blog. This is volume 1.4 and being hosted by It's A Blog Eat Blog World.
I am always amazed at the stupidity of members of the Human Race. Here are this years winners of the Darwin Awards. You can find them on-line here.
#1 - (17 April 2006, England) There's always someone who thinks good advice doesn't apply to him. For example, if a doctor advises that the one thing you must not do is go near a flame, as you are going to be covered wtih a flammable material, most people would take this advice onboard, and not strike a match until the flammable material has been removed.
However, Phillip, 60, knew better than his doctor. Philip was in the hospital to treat a skin disease, said treatment consisting of being smeared in paraffin-based cream. Philip was warned that the cream would ignite, so he definitely should NOT smoke. But he just couldn't live without that cigarette."
Smoking was not permitted anywhere on the ward, but Phillip took this setback in stride, and sneaked out onto a fire escape. Once he was hidden, he lit up... inhaled... and peace descended as he got his nicotine fix. Things went downhill only after he finished his cigarette, at the moment he ground out the butt with his heel.
The paraffin cream had been absorbed by his clothing. As his heel touched the butt, fumes from his pyjamas ignited. The resulting inferno "cremated" his skin condition, and left first-degree burns on much of his body. Despite excellent treatment, he died in intensive care.
#2 - (3 June 2006, Florida) Two more candidates have thrown themselves into the running for a Darwin Award. The feet of Jason and Sara, both 21, were found protruding from a deflated, huge helium advertising balloon. Jason was a college student, and Sara attended community college, but apparently their education had glossed over the importance of oxygen.
The pair pulled down the 8' balloon, and climbed inside. Their last words consisted of high-pitched, incoherent giggling as they slowly passed out and passed into the hereafter.
Sheriff's deputies said the two were not victims of foul play. No drugs or alcohol were found. The medical examiner reported that helium inhalation was a significant factor in their deaths. A family member said "Sara was mischievous, to be honest. She liked fun and it cost her."
#3 - (August 2006, Brazil) August brings us a winner from Brazil, who tried to disassemble a Rocket Propelled Grenade (RPG) by driving back and forth over it with a car. This technique was ineffective, so he escalated to pounding the RPG with a sledgehammer. The second try worked--in a sense. The explosion proved fatal to one man, six cars, and the repair shop wherein the efforts took place.
14 more RPG grenades were found in a car parked nearby. Police believe the ammunition was being scavenged to sell as scrap metal. If it wasn't scrap then, it certainly is now!
(2006, Vietnam) In a similar event, a Rolling Stone isn't all that gathers no moss. Three men scavenging for scrap metal found an unexploded 500-pound bomb perched on a hill, and decided to retrieve it with help from Sir Isaac Newton. As they rolled the bomb down the hillside according to the laws of gravity, the bomb detonated, leaving a four-meter crater and sending the three entrepreneurs to a face-to-face meeting with their Maker.
#4 - (New York) "My father works as an investigator for an insurance company, a job he frequently reminds me of how much he hates. One of his major clients is a train station. On a day not unlike any other, a man awoke on a train to find that he had missed his stop. Instead of looking out the window, or asking another passenger where the train was, he ripped open the doors of the train and threw himself through them, much to the astonishment of onlooking passengers.
"Had the ill-fated passenger taken the time to look out the window before leaping off the train, he would have noticed that it was moving in excess of 50 MPH, and it was also moving over a bridge. "Look before you leap." He died at the scene in the Hudson River.
"My father investigated this case for the insurance company. The family of the deceased was suing because 'you should not be able to open doors on a moving train.' My dad's defense was, 'you should not open doors on a moving train.' I imagine the case was either dropped or settled."
#5 - DISQUALIFIED: (2006, England) Two people, 17 and 20, imitated Darth Vader and made light sabres from fluorescent light tubes. That's right, they opened up fluoresceent tubes, poured gasoline inside, and lit the end... As one can imagine, a Star Wars sized explosion was not far behind. One died, the other survived to confess to their creative, but stupid, filmed reenactment.
#6 - (September 2006, Florida) A fearsome mythical giant was felled by a humble slingshot. But a modern speargun vs. an underwater leviathan is another tale altogether, as a Florida man discovered.
Outlawed in 1990, hunting Goliath-sized groupers remains surprisingly popular. These fish can weigh hundreds of pounds, yet there are underwater hunters who choose to tether themselves to such muscular sea creatures. However unlikely a pursuit, the poaching of groupers by divers and snorkelers continues, in defiance of both the law and common sense.
Of this elite group, our Darwin Award winner distinguished himself yet further by disregarding one essential spearfishing precaution. By embarking on this hunt without a knife to cut himself loose, the "fit and experienced snorkeler" was guaranteeing that his next attack on a giant grouper would be his last.
Why anyone thinks it's a good idea to tether yourself to a fish twice your size, I don't know. Some time later, the body of the spearfisher was found pinned to the coral, 17 feet underwater. Three coils of line were wrapped around his wrist, and one very dead grouper was impaled at the other end of the line.
In those final hours, the tables were turned, and the fish was given an opportunity to reflect on the experience of "catching a person."
#7 - (August 2006, Libreville, Gabon) In August, a congregation's 35-year old pastor insisted one could literally walk on water, if one only had enough faith. Big and bold was his speech. He extolled the heavenly power possessed by a faithful man with such force that he may well have convinced himself. Whether or not he believed in his heart, his sermons left room for only shame should he leave his own faith untested. Thus, the pastor set out to walk across a major estuary, the path of a 20-minute ferry ride. But the man could not swim.
Lacking the miraculous powers of David Copperfield, let alone holy Jesus Christ, this ill-fated cleric found only a Darwin Award at the end of his final path.
#8 - (19 March 2006, Belize) Benjamin Franklin reputedly flew his kite in a lightning storm, going on to discover that lightning equals electricity. However, certain precautions must be taken to avoid sudden electrocution. Kennon, 26, replicated the conditions of Ben Franklin's experiment, but without Ben's sensible safety precautions. Dennon was flying a kite with a short string that he had extended with a length of thin copper wire. The copper made contact with a high-tension line, sending a bolt of electrical lightning towards the man. Just bad luck? Kennon's father told listeners his son was an electrician, and "should have known better." Kennon is survived by his parents, six sisters, and five brothers.
Pit Bulls are probably one of the most argued over dogs in society today. Many believe that they are unsafe to keep as pets. There are a number of people who believe the entire breed should be exterminated. There are several examples of legislation that would introduce to law the required ban of this breed. I am of the mind that Pit Bulls aren't any more likely to attack than other breeds, but I will concede that when they do, the damage they can inflict is usually severe because of their size, the power in their jaw, their high pain threshold, and the fact that they won't quit once they have designated their prey.
I decided to visit the world wide web and attempt to gather some information regarding this breed of dog. My first stop was Wikipedia. According to Wikipedia the definition of a Pit Bull is:
"Pit Bull is a term used to describe several breeds of dogs with similar physical characteristics. The American Pit Bull Terrier and the American Staffordshire Terrier commonly fall under the category of "pit bull." There are several other breeds that can fall under the rubric of pit bull, including: the Argentine Dogo, the English Bull Terrier, the American Bulldog, and the Perro de Presa Canario. These breeds are usually not included by breed name in any Breed Specific Legislation (see below), but are usually ensnared because of a broad definition, and confusion as to what a pit bull actually is. All of these breeds as well as many others (including Great Danes, Newfoundlands and Rottweilers) are members of the Molosser family of dog breeds."
Pit bulls are commonly thought to be vicious animals who attack for no reason. I have owned dogs all my life, and have known many families that have done the same. My ex-mother-in-law is a dog groomer by trade. With this exposure to dogs and their different breeds I have personally discovered that any one breed isn't necessarily the problem. The answer is in how they are raised and treated by their owners. My ex-mother-in-law stated once that she was bit more by smaller dogs than by larger ones, but because they are small they do a great deal less damage. When the larger animals would bite it was a much more frightening experience due to their size and strength, but she found that a larger breed biting was a less common occurrence in her line of work. She had also stated that she had found that smaller dogs were actually more prone to biting in general as they felt threatened much more easily.
That isn't to say that all small dogs are vicious, just more prone to biting when they feel threatened, which is often, probably due to their size. So why aren't we hearing a call for the ban on Yorkies? Quite simply it is because they are small and when they do attempt to inflict damage it is usually minimal, and rarely fatal, and it still remains very easy to pull a Yorkie off of its prey. That isn't as easily accomplished with a Pit.
Pits are a strong breed with powerful jaws. Well, they are actually powerful all over. Once they take hold it is nearly impossible to make them let go because of their strength, tenacity, and determination. They also have a high pain threshold that was bred into them, making the ability to beat them to make them let go of their prey nearly impossible to do. These characteristics don't make them vicious however. These characteristics make them a worthy adversary. There is no reason they have to be an adversary however. Viciousness in any dog comes from their training, socialization, and treatment. Pit bulls are no more vicious than golden retrievers, beagles or other popular dogs. In a recent study of 122 dog breeds by the American Temperament Testing Society (ATTS), pit bulls achieved a passing rate of 83.9%. That's as good, or better than beagles who received a 78.2%, and golden retrievers who received an 83.2%.
I have also heard it said that Pit Bulls are not good with children. From personal experience I have found that the Pit my parents own is wonderful around all three of their grandchildren, including my son who is the oldest at eight. All three boys have tried to ride her on different occasions, and have occasionally pulled her ears and tail before we could stop them. She has never tried to hurt any of them. She simply hides under the bed when she tires of them. She never nips at them nor growls. She will just saunter away and stay out of their way. None of young the children in my family have ever been left with any of the family pets unattended, and we have not changed that rule. The rule applied to all breeds however, and always should in any family.
My parent's Pit Bull is also kind to the neighbors, and the only dog we have ever owned that didn't bark people passing on the street. She sits at the gate and hopes for a pat or two. The neighbors adore her, and have started a ritual of coming to visit her when they return from work in the evening and she eagerly awaits their visits. They all comment on her kind, quiet, loving demeanor. A neighbor of my parents, who owns a black lab, said their dog made more noise, chased people walking by the house along the fence line, and was very unsocial around anyone not living in their household. This is also the same story with a German Shepard down the street. My parent's Pit doesn't even chase the cats out of the yard, much to my father's dismay.
Through my reading and my personal interaction with the Pit Bull breed and others it has become obvious to me that the breed itself is not the true problem. The problem is commonly the way that they are raised, and the extent of damage a few dogs have inflicted do to poor training and raising by their owners. This applies to all breeds, but because of the Pit Bull's physical ability to inflict so much harm to people and other animals, their attacks, which aren't really any higher in number statistically compared to other breeds, easily make media coverage. This has subsequently given this breed a bad rap.
If you would like to do some further research yourself I have provided a list of links below to the pages I went to when compiling my information.
http://www.badrap.org/rescue/index.cfm
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-pitbulls3aug03,0,2391732,full.story?coll=la-home-headlines
http://pbrc.net/index.html
http://www.understand-a-bull.com/index.htm
http://www.pitbullregistry.com/
http://www.dapbt.org/collier.htm
http://www.aspca.org/site/PageServer?pagename=cruelty_pitbull
http://www.aspca.org/site/PageServer?pagename=pets_pitbull
http://www.americancaninefoudationlaw.com/
http://www.forpitssake.org/
http://www.chako.org/
http://www.nyx.net/~mbur/apbt.html
http://www.bannedaid.com/
http://www.pawsitivelypitbull.org/
http://www.pitbullsontheweb.com/petbull/sadreality.php
http://www.pitbullproject.ca/
http://www.pitbullpatriots.org/pbp/
http://pitbulldogblog.blogspot.com/
http://pitbull.wordpress.com/
http://www.workingpitbull.com/
And this is my parent's Pit Bull. Her name is Honey. You can click on the picture for a larger view.
I would like to invite all of you to check out the blog carnival being put on by Bestest Blog. This is volume 1.3 and being hosted by Dr. Blogstein.
My page gave Dr. Blogstein a hard time, so he wasn't able to link directly to my post for this week, so if you are trying to figure out which I submitted look below for the video of my Pride and Joy.
Enjoy!
"Bungee Baby: Nick Fennelly, 31, was rushing his in-labor girlfriend, Sharon Taylor, into the parking lot at Calderdale Royal Hospital in West Yorkshire, England, just as their baby's head started to appear, and, in a corridor inside, little Ashleigh shot out of her mother so quickly that Fennelly couldn't grab her in time. She hit the floor, skidded, and then came back on the umbilical cord, according to a December report in the Halifax Courier. Except for a bruise, Ashleigh is fine. [Halifax Courier, 12-15-06]"
How come the birth of my son wasn't that easy? Nope, I had to get the huge baby boy with the enormous head! I would have enjoyed the process so much more if all I had to do was make sure that someone was near and could catch. Here I am eight years after his birth, with traumatic memories about trying to have him. Not that he hasn't made up for the pain and suffering I was caused trying to bring him into this world. It may have been hard work getting him here, but I am blessed with a wonderful, thoughtful little guy.
With that said, welcome to the world Ashleigh, and we are glad that all you sustained was a bruise.
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