There are a lot of people who say this but evidence doesn't bear it out. People come out of jail and get work all the time. Murderers come out of jail and get work. Are we saying that once you commit a crime, you should be locked up forever or, as some posters state, killed or torn up by wild animals? Once a criminal has been convicted and served his time, what is he supposed to do? Simply die?
Or are posters saying that criminals never change? That once you commit a crime or evil act, you are evil forever? How does that square with Christian concepts of change and redemption?
Let's think about this for a moment:
1. Do you think Vick ever would have gotten a "second chance" like this in a non-playing capacity in the NFL if he had been convicted of these criminal offenses after his playing career had ended?
2. Do you think a Wall Street executive who had embezzled millions of dollars from his clients would ever get a chance to work again on Wall Street after he "paid his dues" in prison?
Now take this all one step further . . . If you answered "Yes" to either question, do you think the employers of any of these people would get a phone call from the president of the United States congratulating him/her for giving this person a "second chance?"
With regard to your reference to the Christian concept of change and redemption, it's important to note that change and redemption is really only relevant to the person who does wrong and to the victim(s) of whatever wrongs were committed. Maybe Michael Vick has changed and redeemed himself, or maybe not. I don't mean to be flippant here, but I really don't give a damn either way because: (1) I don't know him, (2) he doesn't work for me, and (3) he ever committed any crime or did anything else that harmed me (or anyone else I know) in any way.
I only have any interest in this story at all (and my posting history probably includes few -- if any -- other comments at all on various threads related to Michael Vick over the years) because the guy in the White House who works for me . . . and is doing a piss-poor job for me . . . somehow felt a need to call Michael Vick's boss and congratulate/thank him for giving Vick a "second chance."
Just some food for thought here.
In fact, Jonah Goldberg references the Richard Cohen article that was the subject of this thread in his article.