Guest Author - Susan Hopf
One humane organization asked, “is it too soon to forgive Michael Vick?” The only appropriate response to this question is that this man’s abuses of his dogs should never be forgiven and to return him to the spotlight is akin to putting a fox in charge of the hen house.
Michael Vick could have been a mentor; could have been an inspirational icon for many young people; could have been a leader; could have risen above all the stereotypic pictures that one forms in their minds when forced to think about hormone laden young men with too much power and too little guidance or sense of morality. Instead, however, he chose to portray some slick gang-like hood with money to burn and the moral code of the lowest of the low, for only such men can abuse those creatures that look to them for all.
Thankfully he was caught participating in his ill-reputed activities, penalized to the full extent of the law (even though this only amounts to a slap on the wrist), was chastised in the media and served his time. Great except that now that we are all, once again, ready for football – Vick is not only forgiven he has returned and risen once again as the Eagle’s lead quarterback.
Forgiveness is a great attribute to possess but there are certain heinous activities that go beyond the scope of mortal forgiveness not the least of which should be the betrayal and abuse of innocents. Innocents include the very young, the very old and animals – our pets and domestic species especially. Michael Vick is guilty on two counts – he not only betrayed the dogs he kept and those he used for bait but also those many young men that looked up to his success as a way out of a life to which they were eventually led right back. Why is this a forgivable offense? And should it be so?
Apparently the world of football is so desperate for players that they were able to forgive and forget Vick’s abuses – perhaps Vick’s tendencies toward abuse and violence are required attributes for the sport – perhaps it is true that even bad press is better than no press and that Vick’s return is a needed shot in the arm for football (yeah right!) – or perhaps abusing animals is not as great an offense as giving others that don’t abuse animals the opportunity to succeed.
Vick’s public service messages with the humane society may be useful but probably only as useful as a bandaid on the severed ear of a pitbull. The humane society hopes to reach those that found Vick’s celebrity alluring – dog fighting included – and turn them away from that aspect of the football player’s life – I also hope that his messages serve such a purpose. Vick’s life has returned to business as usual – star of a top NFL team – oh my what a tough sentence. If there is any justice he at least will not be going (back) to the dogs for that is a far superior life than he will ever again deserve.
