"DAWGS MAUL VICK!"...
Posted on 10/04/2010 10:55:49 AM PDT by Kaslin
First, a disclaimer. I am not particularly a Michael Vick fan. Nor have I ever cheered for the Philadelphia Eagles. The NFL is not a top priority for me. However, for the rest of this season, I will be a fan of Vick and the Eagles, which means I will spend more time than usual following the NFL.
Why? Because of the R words. The real American R words have been experiencing a renascence just across the line from New Jersey in Philadelphia, the new home of Michael Vick.
“Redemption.” In 2007, Michael Vick experienced professional death. When he pleaded guilty to federal felony charges around his dogfighting operation, Vick quickly lost everything. His name became synonymous with evil and cruel. His reputation was shattered to bits. His freedom vanished with a prison sentence. His fortune quickly evaporated into bankruptcy. His future appeared bleak.
After more than two years in professional and personal purgatory, Vick returned quietly to his football career last year in a backup role to Donovan McNabb. Vick played occasionally, and he kept a low profile.
Now, two weeks into this new season, Vick re-emerged in the role of starting quarterback for the Eagles when the planned starter, Kevin Kolb, suffered a concussion. Vick's play was so spectacular that coach Andy Reid restored him to his long-lost role as starting NFL quarterback (let’s hope that hit by the Redskins’ defense Sunday didn’t stunt the process).
While the NFL does not top my priority list, I am a fan of second chances. We are moral beings, capable of making good decisions and bad, capable of helping or harming others, and capable of learning from our mistakes in order to become better versions of ourselves. Second chances are crucial. And Vick, thus far, is making the best of his. Redemption.
Through this slow "Restoration" process, Vick has been quiet, unassuming, and dare I say, humble. He has spoken sparingly, and when he has spoken, he has said the right things. The better things have gone on the field, the more his jersey sales boom off the field, the more Vick has remained steady and even-keeled. In his first start, his on-field performance sparkled, as he threw for nearly 300 yards and 3 touchdowns while running for another against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Vick still never acts as if all is forgiven. "I needed to change my life," Vick said again last week.
Vick now lives like a guy whose experience in purgatory has taught him that he never wants to go back. He admits weakness, acknowledges feeling vulnerable and expresses gratitude to the Eagles, who generously offered him a second chance. The blossoms of redemption are beginning to show.
All of which leads to additional R words. “Racial reconciliation.” Remarkably, it went almost unmentioned, even unnoticed, that a white NFL coach selected a black back-up quarterback to replace his white starter. Injury initiated the change, but then Andy Reid, the white coach, said that Vick was simply playing too well to remain on the bench. Vick became the starter. He had been evaluated by his employer based solely on his performance.
The fact that a white employer (in a situation regarding the historically racially sensitive position of NFL quarterback) evaluated talent, and went with the best performer without any regard to race failed to gain notice in the media coverage. That omission is wonderful. It merely points to another step in progress for a culture that itself is a moral being, capable of improving itself and learning from its mistakes. Judging a man by his performance and the content of his character, without regard to the color of his skin, has taken us some time to achieve. And now that it occurs frequently in America, it is worth celebrating our culture's own redemption.
While many merely focus on the football, the story of Michael Vick is worth celebrating. Thus far, Vick is traveling well a road that is possible only in America. The land of R words. Redemption. Restoration. Racial reconciliation.
Vick over and over again tortured and killed animals. Pedophiles also "pay their debt," in your words. This does not mean they are rehabilitated and should be allowed around children. Sociopaths do not change and cannot be rehabilitated. And Vick's behavior demonstrated he is a sociopath. Ask yourself: What kind of person enjoys torturing helpless animals?
Two categories of men I have no respect for: The kind who beat up women and the ones who take pleasure in torturing animals.
Thank you! Exactly right. Considering the race of the starting QB is something that never even crossed my mind.
Besides, “race” issues are no longer an issue in America. If we can elect Obamapuke we HAVE to be color blind AND stupid.
I will always root against him. In fact I’m glad he got injured yesterday. I hope he felt just half of the pain he made those innocent dogs feel.
Whether he paid his debt to society or not, as far as I’m concerned what he did is unforgivable. He will never be anything but an animal abuser to me.
I thought the “R” words were “Ron” as in Mexico and “Raging” as in case of herpes.
I agree with you 100%.
As a *Christian* I forgive him, and wish him well and hope he has found a love for animals who are GOD’s creation....
GOD cannot forgive us, if we refuse to forgive other’s.....
as far as I’m concerned what he did is unforgivable...
Mat 6:12 “Forgive us the wrongs that we have done, as we forgive the wrongs others have done us.”
Luke 6:37 “...Forgive, and you will be forgiven.”
Mat 6:14-15 “For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But, if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.”
Vick got caught and THAT is why he is “remorseful”.
There is nothing in Vick’s past to indicate he would have EVER come to the realization that what he was doing was disgusing and ended the operation on his own.
His entire family are worthless thugs.
The sort of abuse he engaged in is the sort of behaviour usually exhibited by budding serial killers....
I was at a place Saturday where they were giving a Kenny-G concert, the entiure place was *Asian* with a few scattered other races as in caucasion or hispanic but very few....
Most of the Asians were speaking *Chinese* and one of the workers said *Yes* there are alot of Chinese here and they bought up all the 5,000.00 tickets that included dinner front row table sitting..
Nobody IMO was being racial, we just realize all the Chinese now have the money, and can do all the things Americans can no longer afford to do...
I have a hard time not admiring at least the unbelievable athletic talent he possesses, even though he may be a scumbag. I think he might be one of the best overall athletes to play the game.
As I said in an earlier thread, I am a dog-lover. The ASPCA radicals have used Vick for publicity, so they got what they wanted out of the Vick-affair and it cost them nothing.
The entire thing is sordid... including the alleged "rehabilitation."
Vick’s misdeeds were of such a nature as to place him beyond redemption in my mind. I am convinced that the only remorse he feels is at being caught. He is a truly vile individual.
When I saw the “R” I thought - Republican.
Seems that was not the case.
"DAWGS MAUL VICK!"...
In fairness, Ray Lewis agreed to plea guilty to obstruction of justice charges for covering up for his friends, who were later aquitted of murder. The victims were most likely participants in a drunken brawl and had the misfortune of being on the losing side. The dogs had absolutely no role in their fate.
Neither Ray Lewis nor Mike Vick should play in the NFL. And just because Lewis was welcomed back (IMHO, a wrong decision), does not mean that Vick and everyone else who commits terrible crimes should be. I do not know much about Lewis, but Vick’s behavior was sadistic, that of a sociopath.
I think there's a difference between having a hand in stabbing a person to death and animal cruelty.
Vick did do time for it (Lewis got off scott free), and has lost his fortune and his already shaky reputation. I'm not sure that he should completely lose his ability to make a living.
“Besides, “race” issues are no longer an issue in America.”
###
For whites and Asians perhaps.
But. sadly with the vast majority of blacks and the majority of Hispanics, race issues remain front and center.
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.