STRIKES me funny that last year I was writing columns urging a ban on no-holds-barred fighting, often referred to as ''human cockfighting." Legalized cockfighting
would be a chicken poxThe legislature did pass a ban, and the governor signed it.
Little did I know that the House Agriculture Committee, led by the enlightened representative from Volcano, Robert Herkes, would approve a bill to legalize real cockfighting.
A Big Island businessman named Ken Fujiyama, certainly a sporting man, thinks it could make rich men out of some of our state's lower forms of civilization. Why -- by exporting fighting birds to the world, these sub-intellects could generate millions of dollars for the the progressive state of Hawaii.
Cockfighting is legal in the Philippines, Mexico and parts or all of five U.S. states -- Arizona, Louisiana, Missouri, New Mexico and Oklahoma.
Yes, I know they want to put boxing gloves on the birds' feet, and yes I know I am going to be called ''culturally insensitive" by the Inhumane Society.
But as a sportswriter, I believe there's some reason for concern when elected representatives of the people seriously consider legitimizing an activity like this as a sport.
THE cockfighters see their fowl as emblems of bravery and resistance in the face of insurmountable odds. And, boy, don't we love to watch basketball or football players who display those qualities?
Well, apparently some high school coaches in rural states have been known to try to inspire their teams by having them watch cockfights. One study found that this became a common practice at a summer football camp for boys in a midwestern state during the early 1960s.
Cool, huh?
There was a connection established between the cock's attitude in the fight and what was expected of the young athletes. That was made pretty clear.
You can't run away in the face of overwhelming odds on the field -- just like the bird can't leave the cockpit.
Got to stand your ground, son.
Legalize cockfighting and it could be a wonderful substitute for that action-adventure movie coaches often take their football teams to see before a big game. Man, if they could just see them birds going at it -- would they ever play that night.
Don't laugh, because the cretins who want to legalize cockfighting consider youth their greatest investment.
THE fighting cock is a symbol of machismo, a quality taken to the extreme too often in this state.
Most people feel that urbanization and the greater availability of televised combat sports will cause cockfighting to go the way of bear-baiting and fox hunting.
They're right, thank goodness.
I know that this bill will not make it. But remember how wimpy our legislature has been about cockfighting.
When state Sen. Suzanne Chun Oakland (D, Palama-Alewa Heights) proposed a bill to outlaw the sale, manufacture and possession of gaffs, the bill died in committee.
Maybe it was for the same reason bills to outlaw assaults on referees have always died.
Maybe it's a cultural thing, and if people enjoy it, why deprive them? We're only talking about chickens and refs.