In dogfighting, there are no winners for the dogs :(

Posted by: Jenny | August 27, 2009 12:25 PM

this culture of violence, greed, pretended social concerns and spoonfed apathy that we find ourselves immersed in is inhumane, rotten to the core, and needs to change. no surprise that michael vick was rewarded for his deeds, prison sentence notwithstanding.. the winner takes all machoman mentality is what drives and fuels the american dream and is an obscenity. what a tragic and deformed image of success, yet most accept this automatically without a second thought.

peace begins on your dinnerplate.

Posted by: vegancoin | August 27, 2009 01:29 PM

Does anyone have a any thoughts on the reasoning behind the NAACP's announced intention of demonstating in defense of Michael Vick?

Posted by: pomomarx | August 27, 2009 03:24 PM

To answer Pomomark above, yes I have some thoughts on it. I'm quite annoyed and doubly so, because I happen to be black. Unfortunately, there are people who believe that dog-fighting is just a "cultural" thing, as though that justifies torture and inhumanity. Slavery was a "cultural" (not to mention economic and way of life) ideal in this country for hundreds of years, but I doubt anyone would ever deem it acceptable. In all honesty, I was upset about Michael Vick's reinstatement (especially since I am an Eagles fan), but I feel that if he is truly contrite AND is willing to make amends, then I can abide by it. It sickens me though that the NAACP is really only doing this because Vick is black and not for any other valid reason.

Posted by: Adrienne | August 27, 2009 08:49 PM

Here's what's been on my mind for weeks now. Would everyone (NAACP and sports media people included) be so solidly and unequvicably behind the "second chance" mantra, if Vick had molested or abused children? Wouldn't there be more talk about his psychological state and about the specifics of his crimes? Wouldn't there be more talk about his influence on "team chemistry"?

Posted by: pomomarx | August 28, 2009 10:21 AM

I find it ironic that posters like vegancoin and pomomarx can talk about about peace and second chances while all the while claiming compassion towards animals. What about mercy and compassion toward your fellow humans.

What Vick did was absolutely horrible. No argument. He did the time and paid the price. That is what the justice system in this country is about. His profession just happens to be one where the employees are greatly compensated. If Vick was a janitor would you be complaining if he had been hired as a janitor after serving his time? What exactly does a person have to do to get on with their lives? Perhaps you would rather see that they are never employed again and go on government assistance.

Have none of you ever had a second chance to make it right? Yes, there are those that need never see the light again because they are dangerous to society but because of prison conditions we have to be careful about who is going to do life. I would rather it be the murderers of humans, thank you. And yes, I love animals, I am not black, and I think that football is the dumbest sport on the planet. I would rather watch curling.

Posted by: Liz | September 1, 2009 04:10 PM

I noice that Liz addressed nothing I actually wrote.

Posted by: pomomarx | September 3, 2009 02:14 PM