As if it were yesterday, I remember 1977. On the patio in Okmulgee, Okla., my sister and I beat a frog to death. Probably beat it to death, there is a part of me that's pretty sure we just messed it up really bad.
My mother absolutely flipped out. Went mental. How in the hell could you do that to a defenseless animal? I'm not sure whether I was just yelled at or spanked or what, but it made an impression on me, and I have been an ardent animal lover ever since.
It is the center of our character as humans how we treat those within our domain. Many believe that because animals are under it that we can do as we wish, and Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick is accused of being a sponsor of one of America's most violent dogfighting rings.
Just how violent was the dogfighting ring Vick supposedly sponsored? Dogs that didn't perform up to snuff in the ring were drowned, hanged, electrocuted, shot to death or left to die malnourished. As if dogfighting itself weren't cruel enough, the NFL's second-most popular player in terms of jersey sales was responsible for torturing dogs.
You have to understand. I live in a state where cockfighting was legal for the longest time. While I love animals, never was I moved to stand up for the fighting rooster. Sure, it was cruel and ridiculous and extremely white-trash, but I always figured that common sense would win out and that the "sport" would be made illegal.
It was, and just this week, 75 people on the Oklahoma-Arkansas border pleaded not guilty to charges stemming from a cockfighting raid in Van Buren. Damned in-bred hillbillies; you should absolutely be ashamed.
However, we have a different sentiment for Michael Vick.
If it is proven in a court of law to be true that Vick was at the head of a multi-state ring responsible not only for dogfighting but also for the torture and execution of dogs outside of the ring, he should be banned for life from the NFL. Life.
ESPN's Colin Cowherd said on his radio show the past couple of days that the Michael Vick story is the O.J. saga of this decade. It transcends sports, and "outside of being a serial killer or pedophile, this is the worst thing somebody can do."
I disagree.
Pedophiles behave compulsively. They're truly sick and need to be locked up the recidivism rate is so bad.
Serial killers have various motivations, and while the ends of the means is clearly evil, it is possible for a serial killer to be quite charming.
No, what Michael Vick is accused of is more akin to violent child abuse, the kind where the strong father beats his child, breaking bones, leaving marks both physical and emotional. What O.J. Simpson did to his wife and Ron Goldman, supposedly, was bad, evil, terrible.
This is almost unforgivable.
Western Christians don't worship animals like some do in the East, but if we did, it would be the dog. Not only are dogs man's best friend, they are clearly intelligent, emotional beings, even while prone to chasing their own tail.
In this day and age, dogs are even more defenseless than children. Heck, we teach our kids to report fondling and abuse. They know how to use 9/11.
Dogs TRUST us, and damnit, there is the highest moral obligation to not violate that for the purpose of harming them. Does that mean I'd swerve my car causing it to wreck, putting my family in harms way, to avoid a pooch pedalling his way into the street?
No. We understand that it's humans first, animals second.
Sen. Robert Byrd from West Virginia said today:
"I am confident that the hottest places in hell are reserved for the souls of sick and brutal people who hold God's creatures in such brutal and cruel contempt."
Byrd said that in his 89 years, he had seen one execution but wouldn't mind seeing another if it involved the types of things Vick and his crew were accused of.
The Atlanta Falcons and the NFL have to realize just how much America and the NFL-watching public loves its dogs. Michael Vick's career is over. It is ruined, and my hope is that it brings to light every instance of dogfighting in this country, grasping it from the evil underground and bringing it to the light, causing those who would act to hurt dogs like this to face strict, severe, swift punishment including life sentences for the most extreme offenders.
Pedophiles are sick. Serial killers are dangerous and evil.
But those who would abuse dogs to this extent are morally vacant. It's as if I want the media to publicly address Vick's mother and let her know in no uncertain terms just how badly she failed. How we teach our kids to treat animals is a direct reflection of how we teach them to treat people.
Those who hurt animals are vastly more apt to commit violence against humans.
Now, I'm not going to Nancy Grace this to death. Vick is allowed due process like anybody else, and frankly, with genuine, heartfelt contrition on top of a commitment to get active against this sort of thing, Vick could survive this.
But I just don't think that's going to happen because, as I've argued here, those who would abuse dogs to this extent are, at the very heart of it, bad, bad people.
This is a fascinating situation. All decent people find dogfighting evil. This judgment transcends political parties, race or economic status. Vick is screwed when everyone joins together and agrees he is an evil bastard. Sweet little old grannies would love to put a bullet in his head. I hope he gets anally raped every day he is in prison.
How did he sleep at night? I hope he has the worse nightmares from now on ,
As he has sown so shall VIck reap!
WE NEED TO PUT THE SCUM OF THE EARTH SUCH AS MICHAEL VICK AWAY FOREVER. IN THE REALITY THAT THIS WILL NEVER HAPPEN, I FEEL A JUST PUNISHMENT ALONG WITH LOSING HIS NFL CAREER WOULD BE TO MAKE HIM PAY MILLIONS OF DOLLERS TO PETA/ HUMANE SOCIETY AND BECOME THE POSTER CHILD FOR ABUSED ANIMALS.THE NFL HAS NO ROOM FOR THE LIKES OF MICHAEL VICK.
Re Michael Vick. To put this in perspective: He mainly hurt dogs. Now these were not your run of the mill lovable, cuddly dogs like chihuahuas, or lassie who would save little Timmy from the abandoned mine shaft. No, these were potentially vicious dogs, engaged in "organized fighting" (each other). Had they not been fighting each other they might have been mauling little children and old people (many examples abound). Think of Vick's dogs as participating in their own darwinian struggle and winnowing out the children maulers; also, consider they were occupied and not roaming the streets. Oh, I love dogs, yes, just not Pitbulls and their ilk. I say we should euthenize all pit bull type dogs so we can concentrate on loving lovable, cuddly dogs, like the ones that save little Jimmy from the abandoned mine shaft.
Look at the history of hte pit bull. They are not ferocious killers by nature. They are people pleasers and gentle if reared that way.
Senator Byrd speaks nobly, but he obviously did not consider Blacks to be among God's creatures as he went about his Ku Klux Klan duties. I wonder about that "execution" he claims to have seen.
Vick slept at night because in his mind, he never considered the life of a dog to be anything more than that of a bug. Same point of view the Palestinians have towards Israelis; the way White American's used to feel towards the Native Americans or Africans; Nazia and Jews; Turks and Greeks; Catholics and Protestants, and Islamists and the rest of the world....the list is endless. So, if you downgrade your victims far enough then there is NO EMOTIONAL connection to what you are doing and, therefore no conscience or moral check valve that tells you what you are doing is wrong. Still, Vick is done. He will be bad PR that no NFL team, not even the Raiders, would want to deal with. He wont be going to Canada either; they don't give visas to felons; maybe area bowl, or he should finish his degree and hide in some corporate job. Personally, I see him as a beer delivery guy.
I say "amen" to Jack's comments...succint while encompassing the breadth and depth of this strange (read: PERVERSE) choice of investment on Vick's part.
As to Sen. Byrd...I thought long-time pols knew how to be more circumspect in their statements. Seems he's falling into the Helms/Thurmond "gettin' old, forgettin' how to self-monitor anymore" syndrome.
I totally agree that pitbulls are gentle by nature and have received a bad rep because people have forced them to fight. Michael Vick and his posse made those dogs vicious as a form or entertainment for themselves. Those pitbulls were not born bad and he was not keeping innocent children from getting mauled. Those accusations are totally ignorant. If you are ever lost in a mine shaft, I hope they send a search and rescue party lead by a cuddly chihuahua.
Re the chihuahua in the mine shaft: If I have to die in a mineshaft I'd rather have a chihuahua lick me to death than have a pitbull tear me to shreds. I say euthanize pitbulls.
I have both a chihuahua and a pit.
The pit would lick you to death in the mine shaft.......the chihuahua would probably hist is leg on you and bite the pit.
I digress, so Vick has found God...
hmmmmmmmmm........
Same point of view the Palestinians have towards Israelis? I think "Jack"s confused: Twas the Israelis who view the Palestinians as bugs.
Israelis, jews are kicking everyone off the "holy" land who built houses there and dont want to be poor and live at trailors packed. Jews forced them to leave. Have you seen CNN's "Gods Warriors" show yet if not please give a looky loo.
We are not placing a dogs life above a humans to refuse a business or league entry. I guess there was no uproar from those other NFL HUMAN murdering jerk offs. Since that wasn't about something as exciting as dog fighting and become as domestically debatable, the media did not hound this other guy that bad since case wasn't having no elements to talk about and that other story didn't reach me with big news coverage. Other guy should definitely be removed no sense, no sense with that. But as far man and his media and his action to remove dangers of everyone - I am glad for anything that receives attention to help people get nasty dog injuring stopped. And we are focusing on having this entire sport prevented which will help do something in turn to help stop violence and killing elsewhere dude. Also, even if noone cares about him and the NFL - I still want people who harm pit bulls by the "sport" of dog fights to pay and serve their sentence for being so PROUD of themselves. Don't let this gross practice slip throught he cracks. They were saying on the NFL sports show that this case was about dog fighting. No sir, this was about a guy owner of dogs for this sole purpose of blood sport, also who killed his dog brutally. He should be said to be mentally ill after all that's what they do to school children doing this sort of thing for doing even less ones diagnosed a scizo I mean c'mon he sound like schizo to me.
RHINO Says,
I f there is any justice in the world we will see Vick in a Mc Donalds hat asking if you want fries with that.
As a doglover, a person who can barely pass by a dog without at least petting or talking to it- the Michael Vick case saddened and sickened me. It also fascinated me because I've never saw a famous athlete come unraveled at the rate that Michael Vick and his career have. In the very beginning when it began to trickle out in the media that he was involved in 'dogfighting'- I believe he thought it would all go away. I believe he thought he'd be suiting up and playing Quarterback for the Atlanta Falcons- with a few animal activist camped out in front of football stadiums where-ever he'd be playing. WRONG! His life imploded so fast that I don't think he could even keep up with all of the turmoil and commotion that his actions had created. First there was the loss of respect from his Falcons team, their announcement that he'd be missing from training camp and the 1st part of the season. Then the loss of endorsements, then the N.F.L's obvious disgust over the entire situation. Finally when everyone involved in his dogfighting exploits- rolled over on him and began pleading guilty- he was left with no choice but to look around at the ruins of his life, plead guilty, and begin to repair all of the damage that this has caused him, his friends & family, and probably worst of all in his eyes- his career. He had all of that money and a chance to make the world a better place, to help those less fortunate than himself, to make a difference- but he threw it all away and for what? Maybe dogfighting is a commonplace part of his culture, but that doesn't make it right Ms. Goldberg. I live in rural Indiana and crystal meth is a part of the culture here- but I don't search it out and use the stuff. Professional athletes of late seem to like to surround themselves with shady characters and THUGS. They want to money and the fame but they don't want to share in all of the responsibilities that come along with it. Guns, drugs, sexual assault, alchohol, even dogfighting- are not things that should be tolerated whether it be the NBA, the NFL, major league Baseball or any professional sports. They are given enough to begin with- without being excused for committing such heinous offenses. We can't get away with it as regular Joe in society and I think Mr. Vick has found out that when it comes to dogs and the abuse & murder of dogs- he couldn't escape the wrath that came along with his actions either.
This isn't a black & white issue. This is an issue of stupidity and I'm afraid he's learned this the hard way.
Mannn!! who ever wrote vicks career is over is a moron what is with you tree huggers and dog lovers? incase you silly people havent realized that there is a war going on where actual people are dying sons, daughters, fathers and mothers are dying every day but wheres this fire and energy black balling the war? there is none but there sure is alot of it overthose dogs, these are animals and they are expendable.The only people that even care about the dogfighting thing is white folks who have nothing better to do with their pathetic lives but support peta who has killed more dogs then mike vick in his life time. but whats so funny is even when Mr Vick gets out jail or what ever price he has to pay he will still be rich and playing football and those who write silly blogs like this will not be rich and very upset and still pathetic...get a life you losers!!
Vick was known to have said after being educated on animals..."why didn't I learn this before in my life?"
That is probably key to his behavior. There are people that have not been raised properly and not taught properly therefore you will have cruelty to animals and even humans.
A lot of people have no feelings for animals as if the God put them here for humans to abuse. People will tie dogs up outside for their entire lives. Its the cruelest thing you can do to an animal. No love or attention of any kind and its out there in all kinds of weather.
Vick will never play again cause the numbers of people against him is too great. Plus he was never that good. There was nothing buy hype about him and he only had a lot of running yards but never was he a good QB and they were always at the bottom or next to the bottom in his division. He was a lousy QB and all he could do was run fast.
I myself dont have any dogs, I have 2 cats, but since i dont have kids...those 2 cats are my life. I love dogs and hate anyone that abuses them or any kind of animals. its shows a callous disregard for life. it may "only" be a dog. but its still a life.
and what kind of person gets enjoyment from hangin' wit the homies and shooting, electrocuting, or drowning dogs.
I'm a white male and a friend of mine who is black put it in perspective for me. he said most blacks dont look at pets as members of the family, they look at them as animals. maybe by not considering fluffy or spot a family member, it makes it easier to do what michael vick did.
but as dogfighting goes, it isnt a black dominated "sport". white and black people both do it. and not surprisingly, those people of either color are usually of lower mentality. thugs or rednecks, either usually have any regard for life.