Vick is latest to take rap for the rap in our culture (a black perspective)

St. Louis Post-Dispatch ^ | 07/20/2007 | Bryan Burwell

[newgeezer]

All the breathless debates about Michael Vick are missing the point. The bigger issue has nothing to do with whether or not he deserves the right of due process, or whether NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell should suspend him, or whether Atlanta Falcons owner Arthur Blank should enable him or give him tough love. It's not even about whether ... Nike should be launching another designer shoe with his name on it.

All of those are minor distractions from ...:

How did someone like Michael Vick ever come to exist?

Are we really ready to have that conversation? Do we dare explore how a young man of such unique athletic gifts and such obvious on-field marketing appeal was allowed to turn into just another unfortunate mug shot and potential ruined life? How did that remarkable athlete get a $100 million contract with the Falcons, become Nike's poster boy, rake in endorsements ..., then find himself on the verge of blowing it all because of an incredible tale that seems to come straight out of some hardcore gangsta rap video?

... The ultimate symbols of black athletes in our society used to be men of substance and positive image. Men with social conscience and resolve such as Jackie Robinson, Curt Flood, Jim Brown, ... They carried a burden and deep-rooted responsibility to portray themselves with a sense of dignity, pride and purpose. Even ... rebels such as Muhammad Ali ... stood for something more meaningful than a multimillion-dollar shoe deal.

But somewhere between Jackie Robinson and Michael Vick, ... "Street cred" became the anthem of the modern black athlete, this misguided notion that the only way to appeal to the young demographic of the sneaker-buying public was to adopt the negative attitudes of the thug life popularized by black hip-hop/gangster rappers. ...

[perfect stranger]

After reading your second paragraph I looked to the bottom expecting to see a sarcasm tag. LOL

[perfect stranger]

no one’s rights are being violated so no it’s not immoral.

What's your definition of "immoral"? And please answer before you check any type of dictionary or thesaurus.

[fortheDeclaration]

I think it’s sick and disgusting and I would run from anyone who does it but again, no one’s rights are being violated so no it’s not immoral.

Treating animals with cruelty is immoral.

A righteous man regardeth the life of his beast...(Pr.12:10)

[fortheDeclaration]

Treat your dogs and horses how you like but can you stand there and honestly tell someone what to do with their own property?

Yes, if it is illegal, which animal abuse is.

[fortheDeclaration]

It all started with Cassius Clay, his glorification by Cossell, and transmitting his classless posturing nationwide via television.

Amen!

Ali did more to destroy boxing then any single individual.

[End Times Sentinel]

I would argue that you just haven't lived until you've seen a banana slug fight.

A lot of folks demean banana slug fighting as being "soccer under a different name, with a whole lot more violence" but I agree with you. Truly the chess of animal skirmishry, "The Savage Ballet".

Owl_Eagle

If what I just wrote made you sad or angry,
it was probably just a joke.

[Joe 6-pack]

I have a couple of big bananas my backyard. I tried to chain them up, but they kept slipping their collars, so I just put down a heavy ring of salt down to keep 'em in. Sometimes I'll toss a piece of rotting lettuce into their pens and they just go gonzo on it.

They're hermaphroditic, and I haven't found a way to keep them from breeding with themselves. I'm expecting a nice litter any day now, and would be interested in selling them to the highest bidder if you know any one interested. They're among the best fighting slug stock out there...

[Vinomori]

bump

[Raymann]

Immoral = An action which violates the rights of another person.

[Raymann]

So your standard of morality is whatever the law tells you it is?

[HIDEK6]

They’ve moved up northwest to Minnesota where the welfare is freer and the white people are even more scared.

Maybe the Minnesotans will start voting Republican, then.

[T.Smith]

I don’t watch much pro football, but I do remember watching Ladainian Tomlinson break a single season touchdown record (I think, might have been another record). He scored the touchdown, handed the ball off and waived politely to the crowd as he left the field. I was VERY impressed.

[newgeezer]

Immoral = An action which violates the rights of another person.

If your intent is to obfuscate your communications by redefining common words, you're doing a fine job of it.

[TypeZoNegative]

You might as well teach a cat to sing if you want to get Minnesotans to vote for a Republican on a regular basis.

[Red in Blue PA]

Are you being serious?

And if so, have you read the indictment?

[Red in Blue PA]

So in your world morality only applies to people?

Animals can be tortured at will?

Unbelievable.

[Borges]

Muhammad Ali was a degenerate draft dodger glorified by the socialists of our country.

Not to take this thread off topic but Ali was not a draft dodger. He took the consequences of his actions.

[Raymann]

Well people are the only beings I know of that have rights.

[ridesthemiles]

This guy gets it. Although I think that problems were there prior to the advent of the hip-hop generation. The culture needs to fix itself. White people aren’t hurting blacks and white folks can’t help blacks very much either. They have to choose to help themselves.

I predict it will take at least two more generations. Probably more.”

What difference is here than what Bill Cosby has been preaching for the past 10+ years?

This part of the USA society is marginalizing themselves more and more each year. They turn their backs on a real education, and think being a drug dealer is the same as being CEO of McDonald’s or Lowe’s.
They are headed down a very DEAD end road, and I won’t try one whit further to stop them.

[perfect stranger]

Maybe you shoud have checked a dictionary or thesaurus first.