The Road Ahead for Michael Vick
After careful consideration, we have decided to speak out now about Michael Vick because of the special circumstances involving the ASPCA. Several months ago, Mr. Vick's PR representatives approached the ASPCA to help educate America about the heinous act of dog fighting following his release from prison. We were the first animal welfare organization given the opportunity to work with Mr. Vick but immediately turned him down due to the unique knowledge we had of his indescribable and barbaric acts of animal cruelty where he and his associates savagely electrocuted and beat dogs to death after they lost their brutal fights.
The ASPCA's general consultation and our specific role in processing the forensic evidence in this case were key elements that resulted in Mr. Vick and the three other defendants all pleading guilty to felony crimes. As such, this organization and I personally have seen the acts of cruelty committed by Mr. Vick first hand -- acts so heinous that the public has never laid witness to them. And now that Mr. Vick has spoken out for the first time since his release from prison, the ASPCA wants to make clear why this organization chose not to partner with him in his supposed rehabilitation efforts. We are simply not convinced that Mr. Vick has demonstrated compassion toward animals as living beings or the necessary remorse for his criminal actions against them.
60 Minutes provided a convicted criminal a national platform to selfishly focus on his own recovery when, in fact, the animals, the victims who cannot speak for themselves, should have received the attention. CBS did a grave disservice to the animal welfare community by failing to show the ugly truth of Mr. Vick's actions and the horrors of dog fighting and animal cruelty in this country. The continued attention paid to Mr. Vick is only reinforcing that criminal behavior does not destroy fame and fortune.
The ASPCA works every day to prevent animal cruelty, in the absence of tougher, more consistent laws and lack of education and awareness. We serve as the animals' voice, as millions of animals suffer alone and in silence because they cannot speak out against their perpetrators. When a crime against animals is committed, the ASPCA's priorities are to build a sound case that results in successful prosecution of the perpetrators, as well as the rehabilitation of the victims. Our direct involvement in the Vick case yielded success in both areas, and in fact, we work every day to ensure perpetrators like him are behind bars.
Although Mr. Vick has served his time and is now entitled to employment, the ASPCA was strongly against him being able to immediately re-join the NFL, to play alongside highly paid elite athletes who are looked upon as our heroes and role models. Today, it is difficult to see him in the uniform of a Philadelphia Eagle because of the startling lack of judgment and moral character he has demonstrated over the past several years. It is questionable whether he will have any credibility as an educator on the dog fighting issue. The ASPCA welcomes a national conversation on animal cruelty and especially dog fighting, but questions Mr. Vick's ability to lead it. The ASPCA will heighten its efforts to bring this national travesty to the surface through meaningful education and discussion that brings the hard, cold sickening reality of a fight into stark relief for those who might wonder why all the fuss about a dog fight. A true national discussion would focus not on one man and his crimes, but on a nation that allows dog fighting to happen every day without a national outcry. This is where the ASPCA will focus its energies in the coming months.
Mr. Vick has indeed been given another chance to play football with the Philadelphia Eagles. It is important to state that the ASPCA is extremely disappointed that owner Jeff Lurie hired him for his team before it was clear that Mr. Vick has truly developed a sense of compassion for his victims, the animals whose lives were taken by him. The ASPCA believes in second chances -- in redemption -- but that second chance has to be earned through contrition, conversion to the cause of animal welfare and finally, through hard work. Mr. Vick has only now begun his journey toward a second chance. It will be a long and hard road for him, and while we wish him well, we also want to remind the nation that the work of ridding the nation of dog fighting is as compelling a story as one man's path to redemption. Let's not forget to focus on the animals, the crimes that are still being committed every day in the United States. What are we, as a nation, going to do about that? How are we going to express our outrage long past the first time Mr. Vick takes the field in Philadelphia?
Compassion for animals is the hallmark of the ASPCA and the ultimate message that we hope is gleaned from this horrific story. While this case has garnered the national spotlight because of Mr. Vick's notoriety, it is the end result that will matter most. Will Mr. Vick have learned something -- and taken the opportunity he has been granted to impart to his legion of fans the importance of compassion toward animals? Certainly, only time will offer us an answer -- but we will be watching.
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Khalil Gibran's wisdom is very rarely found on this plane of existence - the wisdom that flowed through his pen is evident of his contact with an elevated state of consciousness. His book of poetry "The Messenger" (mistranslated as "The Prophet") has a subject on Crime and Punishment (and hypocrisy) that is worth digesting...
On Crime and Punishment
http://leb.net/~mira/works/prophet/prophet12.html
The entire book...
The Prophet
http://leb.net/~mira/works/prophet/prophet.html
And Ghandi said."The greatness of a nation and its moral compass can be judged by the way its animals are treated. I hold that the more helpless a creature, the more entitled it is to protection by people from the cruelty of human kind." So grow up and deal with it. Vick blew it. Geeeez.
Mahatma Ghandi also said...
“The weak can never forgive. Forgiveness is the attribute of the strong.”
http://thinkexist.com/search/searchquotation.asp?search=forgiveness&q=author%3A%22Mahatma+Gandhi%22
Get stronger.
Thank you for posting this. The only legit football now is college. Vick's unspeakable crimes are being treated as minor offenses. The NFL and Eagles are absolutely disgusting. Both deserve to lose all support. Rev. Bookburn - Radio Volta - Philadelphia.
Two years in the federal pen for a "minor offense"? A $60 ticket is punishment for a "minor offense"
When rich football players start fighting homeless people in pit rings rings on chains then maybe, MAYBE, the world will work out its demons but I doubt it. Bring back the gladiators. Let Vick fight a lion bare handed. Let's get totally Roman!
Seriously though I really appreciate your bringing the facts into the light. It is a shame that your post got so little sensible and serious treatment. Your ASPCA group was completely right in setting the record straight on this inhuman brute aberration. People who do this are human beings in the clinical sense only and do not deserve to walk freely alongside the rest of us. Thank you sir.
Send all dog fighters to jail for a minimum of 10 years hard labor at the Parchment Farm.
The Road Ahead for Michael Vick...is none of your business.
He paid with a loss of income - current and future, a loss of $1 million for the care of the dogs, a loss of freedom for a year and a loss of respect and status. He lost everything that he had except his family and that's still not enough for you - leave him alone and let him get on with his life.
At this point you're just exploiting the situation in order to bring attention to yourself and you cause - a worthy cause, that doesn't need to exploit Vick to be viable.
You're WRONG. It is the business of all civilized societies to give a sh*t when monsters inflict their barbarism on the innocent. An absence of morals and conscience cannot be measured in $$$. No, "everything except his family" is NOT ENOUGH. He should be cleaning out subway bathrooms in New York for the next 20 yrs, minimum.
...with his tongue
Unless you live on an island, I'll put up any amount of money on a bet that your life style inflicts harm on animals or other people.
Do you wear wool? Leather? Eat meat? Own a cell phone? Get gas that originated in a country that uses the revenue to oppress women and foreigners? Own a computer? Own jewelry that was mined and exploited from poor people in 3rd world country? How many animals had to die to supply the electricity that used to type that self-righteous non-sense? How many animals died so that you could read your latest newspaper or magazine while you sip on the latte that used beans that came from an exploited South American country?
The only difference between you and Vick is that you get to hide behind anonymity - so drop the self-righteous act and leave Vick alone.
Let him who is with out sin.....
Civilized societies? we invaded a nation which posed no threat to us, bombed and killed thousands upon thousands of it's people, tortured and brutalized many others (people, not dogs), all based on lies, greed, and deception yet you and Ed Sayres get on your high horse, moralize and refuse to cut Vick any slack while the perpetrators of monstrous war crimes and torture (again, people, not dogs) are not only immune from their crimes but actually occupy elevated positions in politics and the media, please don't talk to me about "civilized societies".
I'm sympathetic to the cause and harbor no special sympathies for Vick, being a pet owner myself, but do believe, as others have pointed out, that Vick is being made a scapegoat, perhaps even unconsciously, for our collective cruelty, not only to animals but towards our fellow man.
It's also the business of civilized societies to acknowledge the duality that exist with in us all - the ability to soar to great heights on behalf of our fellow man and nature and the ability to fall to great lows at the expense of our fellow man and nature.
A "civilized" society would not be so hypocritical about a fellow human being that falls victim to the short comings that exist with in us all. We all fall victim to those short comings, just not so publicly.
The wisdom of Khalil Gibran is worth committing to memory on this subject. His book of poetry, "The Prophet" (mistranslated - it should read "The Messenger" in English) has a section that speaks to this exact life situation. It's perfect for civilizing society, enjoy...
The Prophet
http://leb.net/~mira/works/prophet/prophet.html
(specifically) On Crime and Punishment
http://leb.net/~mira/works/prophet/prophet12.html
I assume you are adamantly opposed to killing unborn humans before they are born?
excellent piece. i agree wholeheartedly. Michael Vick should have to work a lot harder than he has recently to be able to get his life back. what about the lives of the poor animals he snuffed out so cruelly.
totally concur.
What Michael Vick did was horrible. I think anyone who loves animals would agree. He served his time, and now I think he can be the right person to reach young dog fighters and inner city youth. Although I respect the ASPCA, I think the Humane Society, with Michael Vick's help, can reach more people on this issue. Their program looks excellent, and seems to be working. Let's look at the goal: Do No Harm. We can not know what is in another person's mind, but actions speak louder than words. He, like all of us, deserves a second chance.
A couple of things. You sir, and your organization have zero credibility in the urban and rural black communities. If you actually wish to speak to a population it is best to find someone with a shared cultural ethnic and economic experience. You have no wish to work with Mr. Vick, fine. Don't work with him. He has paid more for his cruelty than many who are cruel to humans. He has paid as much as is rational. 250 million dollars, 2 years in federal prison. If he had, as Donte Stallworth did, killed someone with his car, he wouldn't have done more time, or lost as much. Mike Vick plays in a blood sport. 300 pound men in thin padding running 4.4 40 yard dash times slamming into each other over and over again. This is what pro football is like. Stand fifteen feet back from a concrete wall. Run, as fast as you can at that wall. Do it 30 times a sunday and ten times a day for half a year. You wonder why he has no regard for dog lives, a billion people pay money to watch him slowly cripple himself.
Mike Vick made a mistake. His abuse of dogs is disgusting and tragic. Luckily for Mr. Vick you have no say over the rest of his life.
J
not enough and it never will be. He will not be accepted and the public will not forget.
Most pro football players know the difference between the game they play and animal cruelty. To attribute his lack, of compassion, morals and common decency on the fact that he plays football is ludicrous at best. It's his choice to "slowly cripple" himself. The dogs had no say in their fate.
Your argument is lame.
I happen to know that the ASPCA has assisted in cases other than dog fights. They have been at the forefront for years and years working on abuse cases with all kinds of animals.
I am proud that you, ASPCA, turned Vick down as a spokesman. I, for one, do not believe that he is remorseful for the pain he visited upon those dogs. I don't think he gives a ____ about dogs. I am so upset with HSUS for working with him. I cannot believe that Wayne Pacelle is treating him like he is some god that he discovered. Limos and all that goes with it. I suppose that is coming out of HSUS's budget that comes from the donations that they ask me for every week or two.
Nope, I'm on your side now and will strive to help in any way I can. I worked for 5 years investigating large animal abuse in Oklahoma and I know how hard it is to go out day after day finding yet another animal down or dying.
Hang in there, ASPCA, you did the right thing.
It is agreed that Mr. Vick was involved in heinous activities against animals, but he has cooperated in doing everything he could to make amends, and did comply with all that was required of him. He had no guarantee at the time, that he would ever be able to play football again. He indicates while in prison, how badly he felt about his deplorable role in abusing these helpless animals.
It appears however, that ASPCA is expecting Mr. Vick to meet some standard which they are holding high over his head:
"We are simply not convinced that Mr. Vick has demonstrated compassion toward animals ... or the necessary remorse for his criminal actions against them."
What WOULD Mr. Vick have to do to convince you, I wonder?
And this: "Let's not forget ... the crimes that are still being committed every day.... What are we.. going to do about that? How are we going to express our outrage...(after) Mr. Vick takes the field in Philadelphia?"
Soooo, we are supposed to hold Mr. Vick accountable and liable for all the other crimes going on against animals in this country that has not yet come to light? Seems to me to be a pretty steep hill to climb.
And I wonder, how do we know but that Mr. Vick is deeply disturbed by what he was involved with? Unless we were inside his skin, how could we possibly know? Easy to judge from our indignant perches, isn't it?
I appreciate what the ASPCA does, and I'm thankful to the people who dedicate their time and efforts to helping animals. I donate both time and money to my local Humane Society. I'm also a lifelong pet owner - dogs in particular - and have never "bought" a dog, choosing instead to get them from shelters and rescues.
That all said, my response to your post is: Neat. Now leave him alone.
He's allowed to work for anyone who will hire him. That the job he's doing pays him a lot of money and provides him with fame is irrelevant. To say he should have had to wait longer or prove he's contrite is nothing more than fanciful ideology and does no good besides fueling your own anger.
Leave him alone? Fat chance.
Another dog fighting ring busted yesterday in Georgia. This is a truly despicable 'sport' cultivated by truly despicable human garbage.
Yes... and where is the ASPCA on this latest atrocity?
I'm sure Vick's remorse is based on financial loss and loss of income. He's saying whatever he has to to get employed and start making big bucks. Hopefully he will NOT get any endorsement deals. If he does, those will be much easier for the rest of us to boycott than Eagle's games. I don't live in the area and don't attend or watch football games anyway. But products I can boycott if any company is stupid enough to sign him.
Yep. I'm sure Vick is sorry he lost all that money and salary. There's your remorse.
Yes, I'm sure, that you're sure that you know...
Thank you for a well written, heartfelt post.
Unfortunately, I think anyone who believes that Vick is remorseful for anything other than damage to his public persona and career is sadly mistaken.
Approximately one in 100 human beings is psychopathic. He fits the profile. This means he is lacking a functioning moral compass for any sentient being other than himself. Sad and frightening, but I think true.
There was no help for the dogs tortured on his property. Let him now give lipservice to those working to end this and other crimes against animals. Given the absurd adulation for professional atheletes, he can be useful even if he is not sincere.
Yes! Excellent post.
Tjank yuo for writing this. vick has done thois to himself. he had years in the spotrlight all the while being a incredibly horrible person. i ask for my birthday and christmas gifts be to our local humane society/spca. i urge other to do the same or similar. it makes a huge difference. then maybe the money for investigatores would be there. there are millions of pets in each city, to expect the aspca to catch them all, prosecute them all fully is OUR responsibilty, they depend on us. the animals depend on us. the voiceless need us.
Michael Vick was torturing dogs for at least 5 years. In that time, I am sure he made the acquaintance of many many others engaged in the same horrible acts. Due to his inflated celebrity status, I'm sure the most evil of the evil were anxious to know him.
If he is so repentant, why wouldn't he bring others to justice? I don't understand why so many people are "buying" his tales of remorse. He couldn't care less about dogs or the people he offended. He should be too ashamed to show his face, let alone take the field in front of a national audience.
I couldn't care less who supports his family. What happens to the families of other criminals? If he cared so much about his family and his career, he should have stayed on the right side of the law.
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