Looking for dog fighting and cock fighting materials? Amazon.com's the place for you...!

Though I wrote Amazon much the same message, I’m going to quote my best friend Wendy’s message to them because she was a bit more specific and articulate…

“I have recently become aware that Amazon.com sells books and DVDs promoting dog and cock fighting even though they are illegal activities and obviously inhumane. I have spent a LARGE amount of money at Amazon.com over the years and am a devoted customer. I am telling now, though, that I will not make any further purchases as long as these reprehensible items are sold on your site.”

As you might gather from Wendy’s message, yes…Amazon.com actually sells books, magazines and DVDs the promote dog fighting and cockfighting. As appalling and disturbing as that is in itself, the “official” Amazon response to both Wendy’s and my messages is as follows…

“Thank you for writing to Amazon.com with your concerns about selling books and DVDs promoting dog and cock fighting.

“As a retailer, our goal is to provide customers with the broadest selection possible so they can find, discover, and buy any item they might be seeking. That selection includes some items which many people may find objectionable. Therefore, the items offered on our web site represent a wide spectrum of opinions on a variety of topics.

“Amazon.com believes it is censorship not to sell certain titles because we believe their message is objectionable. Therefore, we will continue to make controversial works available in the United States and everywhere else, except where they are prohibited by law. We also allow readers, authors, and publishers to express their views freely about these titles and other products we offer on our web site. However, Amazon.com does not endorse any opinions expressed by individual authors, musical artists, or filmmakers.

“We value all feedback from our customers, and I thank you again for taking the time to send us your comments about this issue. We hope you will allow us to continue to serve you.”

I’m speechless…unfuckingbelievable. That these people would use freedom of speech as justification for selling material that promotes illegal and grossly inhumane activities is completely offensive. As my friend Ginger said, “I can appreciate they don't want to censor, but I seriously doubt they would sell kiddie porn magazines and that's the same type of thing. They just don't want to take animal abuse seriously. That's very disappointing from such a huge company.”

Another of my friends, Shonda, said, “Yeah, that is crap. I just happened to go looking for some stuff on Amazon today but remembered your email. Glad I didn't order from them after all.”

And that’s exactly what I hope to achieve with this blog/bulletin. Please forward this to all your friends so that we can boycott Amazon.com. That Amazon sells this kind of crap – and uses the soapbox of “freedom and censorship” from which to stand when justifying their right to do so – is unconscionable.

Thanks for reading this and please let me know if you need additional information with regard to how I found out about this particular issue…