Some people abuse language in terrible ways, but something tells me that RL White is not kidding when he says that Michael Vick is being persecuted.
R.L. White, president of the Atlanta chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, said his organization does not condone dogfighting or any other illegal activity, but he told reporters that Vick should be given a chance to redeem himself.
“In some instances, I believe Michael Vick has received more negative press than if he would’ve killed a human being,†White said. “The way he is being persecuted, he wouldn’t have been persecuted that much had he killed somebody.â€
I find it offensive to suggest that Michael Vick is being persecuted. He engaged in illegal activities of his own volition. But I must admit that I do agree that there probably more press about this than if he had killed or raped someone. It is kind of a sad thing. You never know what can happen, Ray Lewis is still playing.
The NAACP lost its way long ago. Vick is a miserable excuse for a human being and greatly over-rated as a football player.
Our store has pulled Vick footballs from the shelves. They aren’t being sent back. They are being destroyed. Hmmmm ….
I think Stephen nailed it.
Totally, I can see how Vick is a much worse monster than some guy who kills his wife. After all, that’s not gratuitous cruelty…
Ok, let’s clarify that we are not saying that they are morally equivalent. Murder of a human is worse.
That being said, there are gradations of evil. I won’t justify the murder of a person.
Society has a problem with continuing to support athletes who engage in heinous behavior.
Gratuitous cruelty is a grave evil: arguably worse than killing a human being in a moment of extreme provocation.
I agree wholeheartedly.
Anon,
I guarantee that if he is incarcerated and he gets out while he is still relatively young a team will take a chance on him.
Gratuitous cruelty is a grave evil: arguably worse than killing a human being in a moment of extreme provocation.
Right, like say, your wife or girlfriend because they decided to cook dinner, or not, or because they talked to their mother on the phone, or looked at you funny, or maybe your ex-wife, because she doesn’t live with you anymore, or some woman who went out on a date with you once, because she didn’t go out with you twice. Yup. That’s what we read about in the news all the time; yup, lots of press. Yup, that’s why when sports players engage in DV – as apparently they do in relatively outsized numbers for the population at large) we hear all about it. Yup, yup, yup.
Totally, I can see how Vick is a much worse monster than some guy who kills his wife. After all, that’s not gratuitous cruelty….
Of course when Don Imus made a stupid and insensitive comment, he was made to pay with his career. Mr. Vic is allowed to treat animals in a most vile and cruel way, and he should be forgiven, even though he has not even said “I’m sorry for what I’ve done” yet. The two faces of the NAACP, you can’t ever get away from them
The NAACP can give it their best shot, but the fact that M. Vick made stupid choices….Illegal stupid choices…..cannot be stroked, spun, or ignored. Should he be allowed to play again? I’m sure he’ll be able to once he gets out of the prison system, but the bigger question will be whether any NFL program will touch him with a ten foot pole…..or should I say, one of those electrical prods the dog fighters use to electrocute the underachievers.
My colleague at work certainly feels more strongly about this than if Vick had killed someone.
But part of it is, dogs are basically defenseless. I mean, it’s like abusing a child that isn’t capable of defending itself.
I value human life more than the life of a dog. But any time you take a defenseless animal, that is capable of suffering, and you inflict suffering on it for your own sadistic pleasure —
Gratuitous cruelty is a grave evil: arguably worse than killing a human being in a moment of extreme provocation.
Debbie,
I did see that. I can’t say that I was surprised to see it.
Mark,
I am sure that there are more than a few people who feel that way.
Alice,
I hear you.
Anon,
OJ was far more famous than Michael Vick.
I think that they did discuss RICO in regard to Vick, but the plea let’s him avoid that.
I don’t agree that this is getting more air time then if he killed a person, take a look at O.J. he got a lot of air time.
What I don’t understand is why Michael Vick is getting a slap on the hand, when Mayor Vincent “Buddy†Cianci was convicted of Racketeering when there was less evidence against the Mayor then F.B.I currently has against Michael Vick. He should be charged under the RICO statue for controlling, forming and running an organization which he himself committed and executed criminal activities. This guy should go away for at least 10 years and never be allowed to play pro-football again. And can someone tell me what the NAACP has to do with this?
It seems to me he’s getting off a little easy. We’ll see how much time he serves, how much money he pays in the end.
Re. the comments by the NAACP, everyone knows that many people in this world care more about their pets (or other people’s) than about humans. For some it’s misanthropy, others feel they can easily improve an animal’s life- not so easily a human’s. It is sad, but at least they care about something.
Fuck Vick. Poor baby.
They should use his jersey to clean up dog crap. The one he is wearing. While he’s wearing it.
I’m getting sick of hearing this stuff. Poor Michael, look what he’s going through. No way. Look what those dogs went through at HIS hand.
Did you read that the kennel is accepting Vick Jerseys to use to clean up the floors of the dog kennels??? People are sending them in, they don’t want to keep them. I don’t boame them.