Whether the dog was indeed alive still appears to be in question—that it didn't move as he held it and that the sound didn't diminish as it plummeted seem to suggest an already dead dog with dubbed-in sound—but what's unquestionable is that, even if the dog were alive, the fanatics who are calling for Motari's imprisonment (or death) over this incident are themselves most likely guilty of killing animals for pleasure.

Unless you were brought up vegetarian or vegan, it's likely you have eaten cow and pig—cognizant animals that are unnecessarily slaughtered for our own sadistic pleasure. Humans are perfectly capable—indeed, better off—following a diet of fruits, vegetables, and legumes, but with each trip to the restaurant or supermarket our arbitrary taste for animal flesh leads us to finance the painful slaughter of innocent mammals. This seems to bother few besides PeTA, an organization whose members have been accused of euthanizing perfectly adoptable dogs.

Meanwhile, for his starring role in this week's most infamous YouTube video, Motari has been villified around the world. His parents' home address and phone number—which has since understandably been disconnected—have been posted throughout the internet, with Motari's sister reporting multiple death threats. Iraqi women, children and unarmed civilians die at the hand of their occipiers daily, moving few to vociferous protest, but when a Marine chucks a (probably dead) stray puppy off a cliff, people are angry enough to threaten his family.

Motari's reputation as “the puppy killer” will long outlast his service in the Marines. He may end up dischared dishonorably or undesirably. Out in the world of work, his name will be recognizable to potential employers, and should he find himself hired he'll likely endure resentment and ostracism from co-workers. He will have to fear retribution from “animal-rights” activists and random nutcases. Regardless of what the Marines have in store for him, Motari is going to be dealing with the long-term punishment of public villification.

It is hypocritical of a society that condones the killing of animals for pleasure—whether for food or for the thrill of hunting—to be so enraged about the destruction of one small animal while remaining more or less unmoved by the reports, even the footage, of human civillians being killed by the thousands. Is the life of a dog worth more than that of a pig or cow? In a country (Iraq) where mangy stray dogs run prolific like rats in a Chicago back-alley dumpster, could Motari's act be seen as so ethically degenerate as to justify this level and intensity of public reaction?

We, as a society, kill dogs—our shelters euthanize them. We kill cows and pigs—and eat them. As The Smiths so famously sang, Meat is Murder. Usually, we don't do the killing ourselves, but we pay the murderers. Except for the case of the death penalty—which has been eliminated in most civilized states—and self-defense, western culture does not distinguish between “acceptable” and “unacceptable” killing of human beings—although in recent history Nazi Germany thought differently. But killing an animal is killing an animal—regardless of how or why it's done. Which is why all of us who are so outraged at David Motari can only be called hypocrites so long as we continue enjoying hamburgers.