Why Michael Vick Should Be Forgiven

America has a real opportunity to gauge its capacity for forgiveness in Michael Vick. Americans love their pets and especially their dogs. But here was a man who ran an illegal dog fighting operation that engaged in the most horrific treatment of pitbulls imaginable, including electrocuting them, shooting them, and drowning them. Few of us can even comprehend such barbarism.

But he went to prison for two years, paid a million dollar fine, found G-d through Tony Dungy, the former head coach of the Baltimore Colts, devotes himself to spreading the message of ethical treatment of animals, and sounds genuinely repentant. And we ought to accept his repentance.

The ability to change one's way, to be forgiven for one's past errors, is the hallmark of every world faith. Without a belief that people can fundamentally reorient their lives, most of us would be done in. On a regular basis, I counsel men who have been abusive to their families, women who have been unfaithful to their husbands, and children who told their parents they wanted them to die. I meet businessmen who have gone to prison for theft, politicians who abused the public trust, and journalists who fabricated stories. They seek a new path, forgiveness for their sins, an opportunity to heal the pain they have caused, a chance to be born anew. And in each situation our response ought to be the same. Repentance is meaningless as a verbal commitment. Telling us you regret your actions is only a start. Real redemption comes about through positive and sustained action. In essence, you can be forgiven for the bad you did once you have shown a capacity to reorient your life and practice ongoing good, particularly in the area where you caused harm. But to deny to any of these people the opportunity to start anew is to deny the simple truth that each of us is comprised of angelic and demonic inclinations and that with real effort the former can finally triumph over the latter.

America is generally becoming a harsher, more judgmental society. Turn on the radio on any given day and you'll hear the mortal combat of left versus right, liberal versus conservative, Democrat versus Republican that has come to define the American political discourse. When I spoke to a conservative political group recently about President Obama, I explained my principled opposition to many of the President's policies, especially toward Israel. I said I found the President to be mature, charismatic, highly intelligent, and well-intentioned. But his pressure on Israel for a unilateral ban on settlements was prejudicial, misguided, ill-informed, and ultimately destructive to any possibility of peace. Pressure on the Arabs to accept Israel's existence and respect their own people's rights is what was necessary, and Obama was simply too soft on tyrants. I was astonished at the response. 'The President is none of those things. He's a fool and he's a fraud.' Okay. We can resort to character assassination. We certainly witnessed the lengths to which some on the left were prepared to go in destroying the good name of George W. Bush. And we can continue to divide this country along political lines. But are any of us properly served when we can find no good in our fellow Americans?

It was even sadder listening to Israelis last week when leading a trip for Mayanot-Birthright. The secular-religious divide in Israel is simply out of control. So many of the secular Israelis I spoke to hate the religious. They characterize them as freeloaders who refuse to serve in the army and live off the public purse. They are backward Neanderthals who preach intolerance and hate. And it affects their views of Judaism. While the American participants on the trip were thrilled to be Bar Mitzva'd at the Wall (only a handful of our men and women had even had that central rite of passage), our Israeli participants mostly sat and watched, refusing to be touched by the light of Jewish life. Conversely, many of the religious spoke of secular Israelis as hedonists who have no morality and are deeply ashamed of their Jewishness. What seems astonishing is how neither group accepts the absolute necessity of the other. Without secular Israelis who largely built the country and work so hard to defend and maintain it, religious Jews would not have the security and freedom that is the hallmark of Israeli democracy. Conversely, without religious Jews sustaining Jewish commitment and observance there might be precious little to fight for, as Israel becomes more and more like any other decadent Western nation. But judging and dismissing is so much easier than forgiving and embracing one another.

I am not so naïve as to believe that the simple story of an American athlete seeking redemption will heal these vast divides. And yet, there is something to learn from the fall from grace of a man who had once had the most lucrative contract in NFL history and whom few ever expected to see redeemed. The lesson is this: with rare exceptions, there is always a way back. True, there are some sins for which there is no repentance, and I have long believed that Israel ought to have the same death penalty for cold-hearted terrorists that we have here in the United States. But for the vast majority of human sin, there is always a way to repent. It involves a genuine acknowledgment and admission of error, restitution for the crime, acceptance of a harsh but just penalty, and a lifelong commitment to positive action that will negate the harm done. More than anything else, it involves turning to G-d, the source of life and renewal. For a man who has been unfaithful it means showing his wife extravagant affection. For someone guilty of theft on Wall Street it would mean educating business school graduates on the importance of honor and ethics in the market.

For Israeli society it means having the Yeshivas take out a few hours a week to practice acts of gratitude and thanks to the brave soldiers, the majority secular, who defend them, such as raising money to build swimming pools to mitigate the sweltering heat of some of the army bases that we visited. And for secular Israelis it would mean volunteering, maybe once a month, to assist religious families, say, build a new room to accommodate their ever-growing families. Yes, one might say that their children are their own responsibilities. But then one of the Jewish people's greatest challenges is simple demographic survival and every Jewish child born is another brick in the edifice of an eternally-challenged people.

Rabbi Shmuley Boteach is the founder of This World: The Values Network. In September he will release his new book, The Blessing of Enough.

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Comments

[Scriobhaim]

In general, Rabbi, I am in sympathy with your plea for a less harsh, less judgmental spirit among our people. There is, however, something in your whole approach that just doesn't sit right, seems to contradict the whole aim of your article. It's hard to put one's finger on, but perhaps I can express it this way: Rabbi, I have no intention of forgiving Michael Vick. I also have no intention of not forgiving him. In short, I have no intention of even thinking about him, unless the story is brought to my attention by articles like yours. I don't know the man. He doesn't know me. No relationship there. I'm not walking around every day harboring a grudge against him. His life will go on, for better or worse, without reference to my inner state.
You see, the problem with your article is, it perpetuates the very kind of mass thinking that inevitably engenders the spirit you deplore. It perpetuates the illusion that we are all CALLED to live vicariously, slaves of the entertainm­ent-advert­ising complex, making the stories of people who are anointed as "famous" our own internal "issues". Calling us all to forgive Michael Vick, you assume all of us have nothing better to do in our personal, local, actually meaningful lives than to think about Michael Vick.
Rabbi, you're wrong.

[miles120]

Rabbi, it seems like many of the people posting on this blog are the ones who need forgiveness.

Forgiveness, as interpreted by my atheistic brain, is a recognition of transcendence and a conference of grace on those who need a chance to atone. It is perhaps the only way for someone to truly reform. Everything that is of the physical world can and should be forgiven. And yes, it does challenge those of us who didn't transgress to provide forgiveness to others.

I rescue pit bulls, and am associated with a wonderful agency that rehabilitates feral dogs. The subjects of Vick's heinous behavior are innocent, which makes this whole situation harder. But the alternative is to simply descend into the same moral slime that characterized Mr. Vick before he began his new journey. Let's give the guy a chance and see what he can do.

[ingabelle]

I'm not against forgiveness per se; that would be too dogmatic.
Guess I'd just like to see some GENUINE non-PR manufactured atonement first.

[miles120]

Oh believe me, I get it. But forgiveness is about you. It's all about your recognition of something outside yourself. It's about letting go of hatred, which is reprehensible on any level. It's about modeling behavior for others. It's about creating a better reality through our actions.

There is no "per se".

[juliaizen]

During the African-American slave era, Vick would have been the perfect, abusive master. Being who he is however, he has found another defenseless population to torture; dogs. You advocate forgiveness (because they are "only" dogs?). How do you feel about extending your forgiveness toward some of the more brutual guards in the Nazi concentration camps?

[ingabelle]

All this garbage people like to spew about forgiving Michael Vick is simply a way for the writers to feel good about themselves for being so "forgiving".
Drop it!
Isn't it really up to the animals to forgive Michael Vick? Those who were actually wronged?

Go spend your time doing something worthwhile, like championing abused animals. All the philosophizing about forgiveness is utterly missing the point.
Why are writers on the HP so set on showing the world how wonderful & forgiving they are about this piece of human garbage? Do any of you have pets that look at you with utter love & trust?

[fya]

I don't need to forgive Michael Vick to feel good about myself - I already do. What point am I missing? I love animals just like other animal lovers, but we need to put things in perspective. Should this man never be forgiven and be punished for the rest of his life (he's 29years old)? You mean to tell me he should never be forgiven. That's just ridiculous. Should this be the end all and be all of his life? PETA is supporting him - for goodness sakes - PETA!

[ingabelle]

I'd like to see a long history of hard work & blood/sweat/tears for animal rights (& much work for awareness of how cruel things like electrocuting & beating dogs is) on Michael Vick's part before he gets lauded as redeemed & forgiven. Prison time was just the beginning.
Punishment does not equal redemption.

[makesmewonder]

Rabbi:
Why don't you spend your efforts and words on behalf of the innocent victims he tortured and killed ? I'm sure Mr. Vick can take care of himself and doesn't need you to champion him.

[ingabelle]

Yep.
The guy who people are falling over themselves to forgive is making millions of dollars & is back in the public eye again, & until I see otherwise, I'm inclined to think he is laughing all the way to the bank.
Nothing is too vile for the NFL.

[fya]

I forgive Vick. He was punished and now its time for him to reconcile with the public. There are convicted rapist, molesters and the like that live in my building, next door, down the block and around the corner. Many of them have not been punished the way Vick has. Many have not served ANY jail time. And these men hurt women and children. Most got probation and walk the streets freely. Were is the justice there. I love dogs. I used to bring strays home. My American Staffordshire passed away at 13 years a couple of years ago. I would never advocate fighting dogs or any animals but let the punishment fit the crime.

[cucumber]

It's not up to us to forgive him. It's up to his victims. But he to.rtured and k.illed most of them.

[FosterMom]

Apologies, Rabbi, but there is no "way back" for the animals he systematically tortured and executed.

Actions speak louder than words.

The actions: tying female dogs to "rape stands" to be forcibly bred, removing all of their teeth (without anesthesia) so the aforementioned females could not defend themselves, as well as starving, beating, electrocuting, drowning, or hanging all dogs that didn't want to fight.

The words: a halfhearted, lawyer written and approved, apology.

I am an animal rescuer who works with dogs that have been subjected to similar treatment as those in Vick's Bad Newz Kennelz. And after seeing the scars, both physically and psychologically incurred, and still seeing that these animals DO want to be our companions despite their traumas, is why I cannot forgive Vick.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/08/08/dogs-as-smart-as-2yearold_n_254821.html
The average dog has the intellectual capacity as that of a 2 year old child. If he had done this to toddlers, would he be so easily forgiven?

"On a regular basis, I counsel... journalists who fabricated stories."
None of the involved parties here killed another.

You see, humans have the ability to walk away from a situation; these dogs had no such choice. Taking pleasure in participating in heinous activities such as dog fighting for as long as Vick shreds the soul beyond repair.

If you had experience with the outcomes of this immeasurably cruel activity, perhaps then you would feel less inclined to forgive.

[makesmewonder]

Thank you for such a well-stated comment. I agree totally. It is the dogs who should have our sympathy, compassion and support, not the person who intentionally made them suffer.

[Tulka2]

Rabbi, here is a Buddhist story. First of all know, Beloved, that there is no "self" and all suffering comes from thinking self is separate from cause and effect. Perfecting self in an illusion.

In the many long days following the Buddha's enlightenment, Buddha heard one day of a serial killer. He had a name that is known to this day, i just don't remember it. This Killer was famously fierce. He lurked in a high mountain pass and killed travelers as they passed. He was so crazy he made a necklace of their body parts. When Buddha heard of him it was because this Killer had just killed his own mother. Shocking in a culture that reveres the person who brings you to the place where you might become enlightened.

Buddha felt great pity at the karma this Killer was accruing. Pity for how far from enlightenment the Killer was putting himself. Buddha, in spite of the fear of his friends, marches up the mountain by himself to confront the killer.

The Killer threatened to kill Buddha and Buddha said that would be okay, but why not have a little talk first? Well, that was that. The Killer fully accepted the terrible karma he had made for himself. Buddha gave him the task of helping people over the mountain pass for the rest of his life. He became a great and mighty saint.

[ModernTimes1]

"But he went to prison for two years, paid a million dollar fine, found G-d through Tony Dungy, the former head coach of the Baltimore Colts, devotes himself to spreading the message of ethical treatment of animals, and sounds genuinely repentant. And we ought to accept his repentance."
Al great stuff. And sure it was dfone without any coaching or help from a PR firm, right?

As soon as Mr. Vick proves to society at large that is all genuine and not PR I am sure he will be forgiven.
But some people should be forgiven to be somewhat skeptical while Vic is trying to resuscitate his career and is making all the right noises.

Meanwhile he got a multi million dollar contract so in practical terms he's has been forgiven already.

[Tulka2]

Agreed. I have forgiven him already and the law has a hard time measuring remorse, but we are not really being asked to forgive him. We are being asked to buy him. We are being asked to step up and buy tickets. Not the same thing as forgiveness.

[citizenviewer]

Well said. Vick served his time. Legally he's free and clear. That doesn't mean he deserves to get paid $1.6 million in a job designed to make him a hero. And how much of his salary is he donating to say, animal shelters? As far as I know, zero.

[Tulka2]

Do we forgive all the thugs fighting dogs or just the one set to make a football team (white people) millions of dollars?

And the repulsive fact that Vick is out there speaking to little children about how they should "love their animals" (his words on 60 Minutes), really makes my skin crawl. Word. Little children do not have to be taught to love dogs. On the contrary, children need to be carefully taught to be cruel by brutal adults. Vick needs to talk to the adults in his own culture.

I am so perfectly willing to forgive the sinner. It would be academic to me except i saw Vick's cold, cold, and angry eyes on 60 Minutes. Go play ball. I don't care a whit about football. Just don't wave this stone cold killer in my face and say i am lacking because i see what he is.

[Nommo]

You are lacking. You revel in your own hatred. Michael Vick is going to go on with his life, and you'll be seeing his face far more than you can handle. No one is waving anything in your face. You did not get Boteach's point at all if that is all you can garner.

And just so's you know, animal fighting is a multi million dollar activity right here in the good ol' US of A. They still shoot racehorses too.

[Tulka2]

Yes, i know it's all about money and greed and I forgive Michael Vick . I am not into football and so would never buy a ticket anyway. Forgiveness and buying tickets are two different things. Do you get that?

[fya]

Where is the uproar against cockfighting?

[Puller58]

Sorry Rabbi, but Vick is hardly out of the woods concerning his past. In the first place, the dog issue isn't his only problem. The local news in Atlanta reported that the Falcons used former player Billy "White Shoes" Johnson as Vick's "fixer." When he ran afoul of the law, Johnson was there to bail him out. Vick is essentially a spoiled "man-child" who does as he pleases as his talent has given him cover over years. I remember a book called "Pros and Cons: The Criminals Who Play In The NFL." He fits the pattern. Vick's defenders will eventually cry racism, but once his career flatlines, it'll be Mike who?

[Gover]

I could never forgive him because I don't believe he's capable of feeling guilt for what he did on it's own merit and not as a result of any consequences that he suffered.

I'm sure he understands it's very unpopular to have so little respect for the life of dogs, and I'm sure he understands it's highly illegal and expensive and embarrassing to get caught running a dog fighting ring, but I truly believe that a functional piece of this man's humanity must be missing for him to have done what he did.

[pattyfish]

NO

[JohnFromCensornati]

He probably doesn't feel like he needs my forgiveness, but I'll need to see a lot of *devotion* to spreading the message of ethical treatment of animals before I'm convinced.
Regardless, he's served his time and I don't think it should keep him out of the NFL.