As noted in my last post, when I am abroad, there is a tension between my reluctance to pass judgement on the people or cultures I’m coming into contact with and my personal reaction to activities I deplore. Cockfighting is one such activity. I find it sickening to see people force two live beings into deadly combat. Aware that my own status as an omnivore also links me to the deaths of many a bird, I do not have any pretensions of superiority when I express to those in the vicinity of the violence that I do not enjoy the bloodshed. Many locals turn out to share my feelings - but the fights have always continued as scheduled.