Posted on 10/13/2012 8:39:28 AM PDT by ColdOne
(CNN) -- Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Michael Vick, who served 18 months in federal prison for bankrolling a deadly dogfighting ring, now has a dog.
"I understand the strong emotions by some people about our family's decision to care for a pet," he said in a statement released Thursday. "As a father, it is important to make sure my children develop a healthy relationship with animals."
He added that "our pet is well cared for and loved as a member of our family."
(Excerpt) Read more at cnn.com ...
* If he’s really repentant, he will voluntarily stay away from kids.*
Which is EXACTLY my point about the dogs and thank you for saying this. If he was sincerely repentant he would stay away from dogs. Voluntarily.
My principle on the issue comes from the Bible. The value, for killing an animal, was an agreed upon price between the animal killer and owner. Vick paid that agreed upon price, in principle.
Im also taking a look at the bigger issue, ending animal cruelty. You’re not going to end it by preventing,once-cruel, people from owning animals because you’re not giving them the opportunity to learn how to care and love animals.
By allowing him the opportunity to learn, and teach bid kids, it’s quite likely that the cycle will end with Vick and that’s worth something.
But I do understand why you want Vick to suffer eternally for what he did, as I love animals too.
And you are so wise that you KNOW he is only sorry because he got caught???
Good for you. Now you are a mind reader as well.
What about his kids, do they also pay the price for his sins or are Michael Vick’s sins only his own?
If one of your ancestors committed a sin, should society continue to make you pay, or did or ancestor’s sins die with the ancestor?
I’d really rather end animal abuse by giving people second chances. Michael Vick may never learn how to love an animal, but his kids are learning.
You’re putting words in my mouth and using the Bible in a very twisted way to support you’re thinking.
First of all, he killed alot of his OWN dogs, not just other peoples dogs so, did he agree with himself on what the price would be? Second of all, the other dogs that he stole or got others to steal for bait dogs didn’t get too agree what their price would be so your reference to Scripture is moot ( and insulting)
I never said he should be punished eternally for what he did.
Im not putting words in anybody’s mouth. Either a punishment ends, when it has rub its due course, or it doesn’t end. If it ends, then the privileges taken away during the punishment gets reinstated. That’s reasoning.
I love animals. I respect farmers, but I could never do what they must do to put food on theirs and my table. I would own a couple of dogs, if I could give them a permanent home, but I cannot, so it’s my loss on that point.
But I do understand the meaning of justice, to which one of the principles of justice is to not over-punish for a crime. If a person has fulfilled the penalty of the crime, he is set free fully.
Your post was very eloquent and worth pondering.
Not too many years ago, dogs and cats were not a part of the family as they are now.
My granddad lived on a farm (as do I). They were fed and given all needs to live. If one of the resident dogs/cats got killed by coyotes or however, it illicited no more than a shrug of the shoulders.
Fast forward several years. He had to come and live with me. I had six very large “part of my family” dogs in the house. Since he was in his 80’s...I’m sure he thought he was moving into an asylum. But he had no choice.
One of the family dogs took him under her wing and he fell in love with her. He would have killed anyone that tried to hurt her.
So I guess the point of this boring story, lol, is that people’s hearts can change. Perhaps Vick’s will as well.
And as you said, breaking the cycle of violence is very important.
Excuse me but do YOU know otherwise? I stand by my previous statements. Take em. Leave em. Stick em your pipe and smoke em. If he were the fine decent Christian you have made up in your mind out of, thin air then he wouldn’t consider owning another dog. Call me judgmental, mean spirited or a hateful bitch I DON’T CARE.
“Call me judgemental, mean spirited or hateful..”
I don’t think anybody has done this on this thread. Those were your words.
It’s not for us to try and figure out if somebody is really sorry. It’s also not for us to vary the punishment based on whether a person really is sorry or not. One measure of a person’s sincerity is whether or not he is willing to take the sentence meted out to him, regardless of the mitigating circumstances.
For example, David Berkowitz, whom we also know as Son of Sam. He comes up for parole every couple of years. Every couple of years, he writes letters to the victim’s families and assures them that, though he doesn’t have a choice about the parole hearings, he is not seeking parole for his crimes. He is content to live out his remaining years in prison until they cart him out in a box. Would you be willing to respect his claim to repentence?
Michael Vick also fulfilled his sentence in full and claims to be repentent of his crime, why isn’t he due the same acceptance of his claim to repentence? He gives witness to his claim by having changed his behaviour and he also fulfilled his sentence in full, without making excuses for his crimes.
Thank you.
This is one of those cases that go beyond the academic claim to be willing to forgive your enemies. This is where rubber is hitting the road and a good test of one’s real willingness to forgive when the hurt is deep.
classy
5th MEB, “Your not sure about how much more he can be punished? Send him to me and I would be more than happy to demonstrate.
What I send back could be disposed of with a simple flush of the toilet.”
It amazes me how many people on the FR claim to be Christains and Conservatives. Being a Christain implies you have compassion and forgiveness. Being a Conservative, usually implies your a Constitutional Conservative. Your statement shows none of this regarding Michael Vick. It implies no forgiveness, no compassion. It insinuates the use of cruel and unusual punishment, which would directly violate the 8th Admendment. While violating the 8th Admendment we become hypocrites of the very people we strive to be. Michael Vick made his mistakes. He seems to acknowledge them. It is easy to get carried away with anger with henious crimes, especially against people are animal who cannot defend themselves. However, I really believe it is just best we move on and wish him the best with where he is in life.
* I don’t think anybody has done this on this thread. Those were your words.*
No sh*t
* classy*
Thanks! I do what I can
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.