Nethaway: Horse racing cruelty

WACO, Texas — Before the lifeless body of Eight Belles was hauled off the Kentucky Derby track, the usual crowd was calling for a ban on horse racing.

It's shameful, of course, but there will always be a subset of humanity ready to exploit tragedies of all sorts to advance their own political or personal agendas.

In this case, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) not only attacked the sport but also the jockey who supposedly knew that Eight Belles was injured but continued to whip the filly to her second-place finish before she collapsed with two broken front ankles.

PETA's condemnation even extended to presidential candidate Hillary Rodham Clinton, who picked Eight Belles to win, and daughter Chelsea, who attended the event.

In the long run, however, PETA may prevail in this dispute despite the organization's outrageous and inaccurate charges involving Eight Belles and horse racing.

Civilization appears to be marching inexorably toward a shared ethic expressed in heightened empathy and sensitivity for the feelings and conditions of other people and animals.

From PETA's perspective, the feelings and conditions of animals appear to trump those of humans. PETA has called for a ban on horse racing but not a ban on car racing that occasionally kills people.

Other people and organizations can be counted on to take up the case to ban dangerous motor sports just as they did for bare-knuckle prize fighting.

There was a time, as we all know, when gladiators fought to the death for public entertainment. These professional fighters fought one another. At other times they fought wild animals, condemned prisoners, rebellious slaves or whomever the ancient Roman fight organizers thought would entertain the crowds.

Practices considered barbaric based on the current prevailing ethic were perfectly acceptable for at least 600 years during Roman times.

It's easy to forget that slavery itself was a common practice among many, if not most, cultures throughout history up until the past few hundred years.

What was considered an accepted practice for thousands of years now is outlawed in nearly every nation, although the incredibly cruel practice of slavery still exists in some parts of the world.

Gladiatorial fights in Roman arenas may be gone, but not the blood sport of bull fighting in arenas in Spain, Mexico and elsewhere.

Legal chicken fighting still draws big crowds in many countries. Illegal chicken fights and dog fights draw smaller crowds of fans in the United States.

Still, the movement is away from sports and activities that could harm the participants, be they human or animals.

While spanking children with belts, switches, paddles, spatulas or whatever was handy was a common disciplinary method while I was growing up, the practice in the United States has steadily diminished out of concern for small bottoms and delicate psyches.

Not only has corporal punishment fallen into disfavor, but the same is happening with capital punishment. While still allowed in many states, the trend in the United States and internationally is moving away from taking the lives of condemned prisoners.

This change is a far cry from the public floggings and executions before large crowds in countries and cultures throughout history.

While the Catholic Church suppressed heresy through a series of cruel Inquisitions for several hundred years, some other faiths were doing much the same to preserve their beliefs.

Gentlemen in the United States used to settle their differences on the field of honor with deadly weapons. In 1804, Vice President Aaron Burr killed former U.S. Treasury Secretary Alexander Hamilton in a duel of honor.

Over time society accepted more less-violent methods to settle disputes.

As time goes by, societies redefine cruelty. The transition from cruelty to caring is part of the march of civilization.

That's why, in the long run, PETA may finally be right about horse racing.

Rowland Nethaway writes for the Waco Tribune-Herald.