Cage Fighting

What disturbing news to learn of two young eight year old boys  involved in cage fighting, and it is no surprise to learn that their involvement has caused such a storm of protest, not least from the sport's own governing body.

This is the triumph of the individual at the expense of wider social concerns. When interviewed on TV the parents of one of the boys said "It's his choice; he wants to do it," adding for good measure "and if he wasn't doing this what's the alternative? He'd be out on the streets causing trouble in gangs." Sadly it does call his parents' judgement into question, because sometimes as parents we have to say 'no'. Whatever it is that a child wants won't necessarily always be right or appropriate. Being denied on occasion is part of growing up and learning discernment for yourself. Trivially this can mean that you don't get those sweets you fancy or that new gizmo that's just too expensive. The parents' apparent unwillingness to exercise control was further highlighted by their assertion that their son would otherwise be running wild. Why? Do they have no control of their boy? Are they quietly handing over responsibility for their son's upbringing to others, who have a different agenda? Aren't they perhaps storing up trouble for the future when he truly will be old enough to go out on his own with his friends? That's the time when, if there is trouble, he would be a very dangerous proposition as a trained and experienced cage fighter. The parents are shortening their son's childhood by their failure to take charge of the situation.

There is a further worrying aspect to this case and that is that it seems to have been staged for the entertainment of a mostly adult audience. Is this not a dogfight by another name? The clue to it came in the way the parents replied when questioned by the TV reporter. Their words sounded programmed, as if this was what they had been told or coached to say.

This is a troubling story and you don't have to dig far to sense a sinister element.