The Riderless Horse

"The very fact that horses are used in events like this show the stature that they have to most Americans. Foreign owned businesses like Cavel International, which slaughter horses for their meat and export it overseas for people to eat, are an insult to our culture."
- Duane L. Burright, Jr.

There were two things I noticed about Ronald Reagan's funeral procession on Wednesday. One was that the caisson which bore Mr. Reagan was pulled by a team of horses followed by a riderless horse. The riderless horse is tacked with an officer's English saddle with ammunition pouch, saber, and bridle. The riding boots turned backward in the stirrups are meant to symbolize a fallen leader who will never again lead his troops into battle.

To those who state that they don't see the difference between a horse and a cow, I offer up this question: Do you think Mr. Reagan's funeral procession would have had the same kind of dignity if the caisson had been drawn by cows followed by a riderless pig? I do not think so myself, and I think the most of America would agree with me.

I would imagine though that my question would be lost on those Illinois Representatives who made that very statement on the House floor when debating the horse slaughter ban on May 28th [<"Horse slaughter bill not done yet, senate sponsor says," June 2, 2004]. They were all too busy acting like high schoolers instead of doing their job. My question would also be lost on Mr. Robert Goodlatte, chairman of the US House Agriculture Committee. He is the one thing holding back HR 857, aka the American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act. Like certain Illinois representatives, Mr. Goodlatte prefers to listen to special interests instead of his constituents.

The second thing I noticed is that Ms. Bo Derek was able to pay her final respects to Mr. Reagan without being verbally attacked and ridiculed by the US House of Representatives. No US Congressmen were saying "My kids don't know who Bo Derek is," nor were there crude remarks made about half-nude pictures.

The statement "We should not be governed by celebrity" is particularly insulting to the memory of Mr. Reagan, the celebrity who served two terms in our country's highest office. Previous to this he served as Governor of California.

The very fact that horses are used in events like this show the stature that they have to most Americans. Foreign owned businesses like Cavel International, which slaughter horses for their meat and export it overseas for people to eat, are an insult to our culture. I urge everyone reading this to contact their US Congressman and Senator and ask that they co-sponsor the horse slaughter bans which are before them.

See www.horse-protection.org for more information.

Duane L. Burright, Jr.
Malibu, CA
published in Illinois Conservative Politics
06-11-2004
reprinted with author's permission

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