With endless acts of military aggression now viewable through Internet media, one act of violence is stirring up scores of controversy. A 17-second video of a smiling Marine gripping an adorable, black and white puppy by the back of its neck before heaving it into a nearby valley to its likely death is circulating the internet.
Viewers of the disturbing video have been voicing their opinions online, often calling for the soldier's discharge as well as vigilante retaliation on the believed Hawaiian soldier and his family.
"The act itself is atrocious and just to see the disregard for life is just troubling," said Kawehi Yim, spokeswoman for the Hawaii Humane Society.
While the puppy toss is undeniably disturbing to watch, should we really be troubled by the soldier's apparent "disregard for life?"
The truth is, while we all hate to see puppies being harmed, the soldier who did the throwing, until this point, has probably been an extremely effective weapon for the United States. He has no conscience and no inhibition with death; he's essentially the perfect killing machine.
Are we supposed to tell our troops to pump lead through terrorists but value the lives of puppies?
No one has to agree with our wars, but everyone should respect that we want our troops to be as physically, and in this case, mentally equipped for war once deployed.
It's unfortunate that these soldiers felt it necessary to release their aggression on a perfect pooch, and furthermore, were foolish enough to put it on video. Internet viewers would have rather seen this soldier use his brain instead of his hook shot.
However, to try and tack this on to a military scandal resume as if it were another Abu Ghraib would be an act in heated emotion, not neutral wisdom.
The puppy was cute and innocent. But it was, after all, a puppy. Our enemies have been known to videotape the beheadings of American civilians. Let us keep perspective.
Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
