My Friendly Pets

We thought when Michael Vick pleaded guilty to federal dog-fighting charges that would be the end of it, but it hasn’t been. For some reason, the media and the public are intrigued by this case. There are some who say there is too much of a media frenzy surrounding Michael Vick and we should all leave him alone. But then there are others, who feel that Michael Vick, a famous promising athlete with a $130,000,000 NFL football contract should be held to a standard where his character and his crime should not go away quietly. The cruelty and disregard for life (many dogs’ lives) should not be forgotten and he should not be allowed to shrink into the darkness simply because of his guilty plea and potential prison time.

It is amazing to see the people who come to his side and the comments that they make. Probably, one of the most disturbing comments were recently made by Whoppi Goldberg on The View, discussing how dog fighting is a common practice in the south and he shouldn’t be chastized and held in the public eye to such a degree when this “sport” goes on in the south all of the time. Are you kidding me? Jennifer Springer, a blog writer also, wrote on her blog about Whoppi and her comments. These can be seen on www.about-sacramentoca.com. Jennifer and I have similar views and cannot ignore the barbaric nature of the crimes committed against these dogs.

In Atlanta, ESPN recently held a “town meeting” about Michael Vick and his supporters came in droves, but not in the numbers expected, not even enough to fill the parts of the Georgia World Conference Center that weren’t closed off. John Goodwin of the Humane Society of the United States was heckled for his defense of the dogs killed from this sport. Can you imagine people heckling a man speaking for the animals that can’t speak for themselves? That is indicative of the pro-Vick supporters. These are people who worship the image of a man who they think “made it” because he can throw a leather bound ball and run far and fast. In reality, that’s what football is. Does his skill in any way let us know of his true character and the values he places on life? Of course not, but those who look up to such a man, live in the same shallow existence. If you can defend someone who values the lives of other creatures so little and advocate for that same person who engages in a sport that mames and kills then maybe you get what you deserve from your hero worship. Nothing!!!

More astounding was the final comment that this was a racial issue. It was stated that if Michael Vick was a white man who engaged in this behavior, it woudn’t have been such a big deal and that person wouldn’t be facing the same charges and or prison term. Again, are you kidding me? It is an insult to the people who fight for animal rights to be accused of racism. Race is not and has never been the issue. Michael Vick’s character and illegal behavior is the issue in question, not the color of his skin.

I truly hope this issue doesn’t go away. I hope it stays far enough in the public eye, so that something is done to rid the country of this hideous display of inhumane behavior. Enough said about Michael Vick for the evening…but it won’t be the last word.