Above: Powell Funeral Home
First, I say welcome to Philadelphia, Mr. Vick. As many others, I look forward to his contributing talents as a Philadelphia Eagle. Michael Vick knows that he’s been watched as much off the field as on. The off the field debacle is one that relates to a crime that led him to a conviction after a trial for criminal behavior relating to dog fighting. There are purported to be 40,000 such operations in existence. The purses are as high $100,000. 100,000 younger gang members engage in dog street fighting. Dog fighting is illegal in all 50 states. It is a misdemeanor in Idaho and Wyoming. There is an organized infrastructure for what is a criminal industry in the US.
The outcome for the discovery of Michael Vick’s operation and conviction was a hard lesson for him. He, not his public distracters will pay the price for his poor judgment, forever. It is however his price to pay, not ours. In his defense, his talents are displayed in a contact sport that requires all of the abilities that it takes to win for both his owners and for the fans who watch him and bet on his ability to defeat his opposition. Sadly, there have been deaths to occur and major injuries that come with the sport of football and other human contact sports. The sport he plays however is legal. There are his fans. There are those who have watched Vick move through his trials and detractors with warrior character. He accepted his punishment without whining or lying. He never blamed those who turned on him. He is minding his business and will be a better man as a result. The public is so very fickle. As Vick is used as the permanent example for animal abuse, the sport continues. Animals are raised for the slaughter through sport or for food. Roosters fight to the death for money. Chickens are shot up with hormones for massive production to satisfy hunger.
Michael Vick, Phila. Eagles Player.
Cows are fed soy to replace grass. We eat beef filled with glycosides. As the media continues to focus on this one man and a segment of the public remains unforgiving, many others know personally the pain of incarceration. Imprisonment results in many who find the challenges of rebirth difficult at best.
The history of betting for sport began during the enslavement of men on US soil after the colonists introduced boxing for betting sport. Animal fighting is as old as colonization. To make Michael Vick the poster “boy” for animal cruelty is far from the reality of the continuous illegal activitives surrounding animal cruelty.
Mr. Vick is blessed with talent. With the support of those who understand the pain of isolation and know that the compassionate are often self effacing and unforgiving, know too that they will ultimately find another cause worthy victim to berate. Those who bet, train, sell, mistreat and enjoy all animal sport and animal food are still in the game. Vick is no longer in the animal game. He’s back in the human stable of acceptability. For many males of color in the US, their prowess in sports has been their means to respectability and wealth. Those who are protesting his return should rejoice. If animal resurrection is more a goal than humanity, that becomes a concern not a question. The promanate question should ask the whys and how’s of the operations of illegal dog fighting that still permeate our culture. These activities that continue as the media and protesters focus on one Michael Vick should be re directed to current perpetrators with the same vigor that has been demonstrated towards him.
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