Shared from ANIMAL.CHANGE.ORG
Jon Stewart,
Pit Bulls,
and Media Hysteria
Pit Bulls,
and Media Hysteria
by Ledy VanKavage
November 01, 2010 02:30 PM (PT)
Topics: Breed Specific Legislation, Dogs
The Rally to Restore Sanity and/or Fear was a huge success on Saturday. While Jon Stewart was calling out the media for stoking fear, I was safely nestled on the couch with our three adopted pit bulls, Che, Bella Abzug, and Karma. Stewart’s words could easily describe the pit bull controversy: “The press can hold its magnifying glass up to our problems or they can use that magnifying glass to light ants on fire.” The media hysteria surrounding American Pit Bull Terriers has been lighting them on fire — resulting in the mass euthanasia of these dogs simply because of their appearance. Instead, the media’s magnifying glass should focus on the real public safety issue: reckless owners of any dog.
It’s not much of a stretch to think Stewart would agree with applying his words to pit bulls. Though animal issues don’t come up often on The Daily Show, Jon Stewart is a known animal lover and has two pit bulls of his own — Shamsky and Monkey.
And in 2008, Jon Stewart commented on the status of pit bulls in the media when Sarah Palin delivered her famous “lipstick” joke. I relished Stewart’s take on the riddle, “What’s the difference between a hockey mom and a pit bull?” Stewart answered: “One is unfairly maligned despite evidence showing they are no worse than any other dogs, while the other is an an artificial demographic no better or worse than any other kind of mom.”
In 2007, Stewart also attacked the media’s coverage of Michael Vick’s arrest for running a dog fighting ring; how they fixated on his gambling and time off the field rather than the fact that Vick killed dogs with his bare hands:
The Daily Show With Jon Stewart Mon – Thurs 11p / 10c
Vick’s Rub
| The Daily Show With Jon Stewart | Mon – Thurs 11p / 10c | |||
| Vick’s Rub | ||||
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www.thedailyshow.com
Daily Show Full Episodes Political Humor Rally to Restore Sanity
The book, The Pit Bull Placebo: The Media, Myths and Politics of Canine Aggression (pdf), shows that many breeds of dogs have gained infamy as a “dangerous” breed at some point in American history. But those other breeds were lucky to miss today’s 24-hour news cycle, which gives Jon Stewart endless material and drives media hysteria like never before. As a result of this constant media fuel around pit bulls, knee-jerk legislation is enacted which singles them out, despite, as Stewart said, the overwhelming evidence that they aren’t more dangerous than any other dog.
While many cities have passed restrictions that only apply to pit bull-type dogs (many of which are subsequently repealed for being ineffective), Ohio is the only state that deems a type of dog — “pit bulls” — as vicious. That could soon change. Thanks to the efforts of activists like the Ohio Coalition of Dog Advocates, H.B. 55 would repeal the arbitrary “vicious” classification for pit bulls in Ohio.
This important humane legislation overwhemingly passed the House and is now pending in the Senate. The Ohio Senate reconvenes after the election and could still pass this rational law, this year, if they so choose. However, there is no guarantee that this bill will even be heard and the media hype surrounding it abounds.
Let’s say “no” to the witch hunt against dogs. Sign the petition and ask the Ohio senate to reject the fear and media hype surrounding pit bulls and restore sanity with H.B. 55. It’s the fair and balanced thing to do.
Photo Credit: Marshall S. Boprey, Best Friends Animal Society Pet Bull Palooza
