Yesterday, The San Antonio Express-News published an article titled "Horse Slaughter on the Border," along with graphic photos of horse carcasses hanging in a row.  The front page had a picture of two horses being coralled into a "kill box."  The paper then asked the question,"Was the report on horse slaughter too graphic?  Should newspaper publish such graphic descriptions and photos?"  http://blogs.mysanantonio.com/weblogs/feedback/archives/2007/09/19458.html

The comments varied with people writing this was sensationalist journalism which will lead to nothing and the newspaper should be ashamed; claims that this ruined their day and have frightened their children; animals need to die; save the horse; save pound animals and the horse; thankful for the story, but not the pictures, and etc...

Here is my response:

The story and pictures not only give insight into the cruel world that is animal slaughter, but encourages me to maintain my subscription to this paper.  [ I decided on Friday to cancel, but changed my mind because of this article.]

Some have commented that their Sunday mornings were ruined, but those same people likely sat down to a breakfast full of dead pig with a tall glass of milk from infected cow's udders.  Others have written that their children did not need to see such graphic violence, yet they most surely feed their children dead animals every day.  To have reverence for the horse, the cat, the dog, and yet to turn our backs to the slaughter of animals that Americans feel is palatable is not only hypocritical but disgusting.  Even the horsewoman quoted in the story is president of the Cat Congress, yet says that we should continue to kill horses "humanely" to ship as meat to other countries.  I would like to ask her if she'd enjoy a heaping plate of her favorite pony.  I assume the answer is no. 

Let's get real.  Animals are killed in horrible fashions in Mexico, America, and everywhere else.  If you can't stand to look at those pictures due to the violence, but can still seperate those horses from your beef you are living in denial.
One person wrote that animals HAVE to die in order for us to live.  I promise that this is not true.  In a city full of obesity, where the air smells of fried chicken, I can promise that I know many healthy, thriving vegans and vegetarians who live next door.  I applaud the journalist and photographer for their work.  This must have been quite difficult to investigate, but perhaps their efforts will prompt some San Antonians to reconsider how they choose to live.