Ookie Found Jesus, Did He?
I would be really curious to hear the explanation given by those who support Atlanta Falcons' quarterback Michael Vick as to how it is OK for him or anyone else to involve themselves in the vicious "sport" that Vick financed for the past several years.
In case you weren't aware, Vick is awaiting sentencing by Judge Henry E. Hudson after admitting his guilt and entering into a plea agreement between himself and the Unites States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, Richmond Division.
What was he guilty of? "(T)ravelling in interstate commerce and using the mail or any facility in interstate commerce with intent to promote, manage, establish, carry on, and facilitate the promotion, management, establishment, and carrying on of an unlawful activity ... knowingly sponsoring and exhibiting an animal in an animal fighting venture ... knowingly buying, transporting, delivering, and receiving any dog for purposes of having the dog participate in an animal fighting venture..."
This good ol' boy and his accomplices started up the Bad Newz Kennels in 2001 and maintained it until April 2007. It was indeed bad newz for any of the dogs he brought there because the kennels' sole purpose was to stage fights to the death between dogs, while cruel, vicious-minded types like Vick stood, watching and cheering on the four-footed combatant on whom they had placed their bets.
At the end of the plea agreement document, (viewable as a PDF) Vick attached his signature to the following paragraph: "After consulting with my attorney and pursuant to the plea agreement entered into this date between the defendant MICHAEL VICK and the United States, I hereby stipulate that the above Statement of Facts are true and accurate, and that had the matter proceeded to trial, the United States could prove these facts beyond a reasonable doubt."
The NFL reacted promptly to Vick's admission of enjoyment in facilitating the deaths of the dogs. Commissioner Roger Goodell suspended Vick indefinitely and wrote a letter to the bloodthirsty quarterback stating: "Your admitted conduct was not only illegal, but also cruel and reprehensible."
One of the activities engaged in at the Bad Newz Kennels was the testing of dogs to determine their fighting ability. I am guessing that none of the cowards involved actually got into the ring with the animals to carry on the tests in personal combat with the dogs. The animals were rated and dealt with depending on their passing or failing the test. Apparently, Vick and his fellow creeps felt that death by hanging or drowning was the appropriate consequence for a dog who failed its test. After all, they wouldn't want to lose money by placing bets on an animal that was anything less then a killing machine. Vick says that he did not personally kill any of the animals but that he did play a "collective" role in the deaths.
Pardon my asking, but what the hell is a collective role? Does that mean they took turns hoisting the dogs up by ropes around their necks? What exactly does it mean? It can not be anything less than a total disregard for the sanctity of life, a criminal willingness to deal out arbitrary death, simply because they were able to.
Vick has agreed to charges that he financed the bloodsport but is claiming that he did not receive "any of the proceeds from the purses" accruing from bets placed.
Bullshit.
Vick's admission of guilt was played out before the media cameras after weeks of lying to the Falcons owner, the NFL commissioner and all his fans. When he did decide to 'fess up, he used his most penitent tone to tell the audience, "I'm upset with myself, and, you know, through this situation I found Jesus and asked him for forgiveness and turned my life over to God."
More bullshit.
Heartfelt apologies to the public have become the flavour of the week for malfeasants, quick fixes to the problem of their tarnished reps. They carry as much a ring of sincerity as would a statement of regret by one of the 9/11 terrorists. Words on their own are empty vessels. They mean very little unless the person uttering them fills them up with actions. What action is Vick going to take to prove that he does indeed regret his part in dealing out death to life forms unable to defend themselves against him?
Said Vick, "(W)hat I did was very immature, so that means I need to grow up. I hope every young kid out there ... will use me as an example to using better judgment and making better decisions." Working to make himself a better example to those young kids is not going to succeed if it doesn't take the form of some highly visible efforts to better the quality of life for wronged individuals. Since the defenceless victims Ookie preyed on were dogs, maybe he could show those kids out there how to be a better person by campaigning against something like the puppy mills where dogs regularly suffer deprivation and death all in the name of the mill owner's profit margin. Vick could take some of the millions from his QB earnings and put them to use in a public education campaign against the bloodsport he used to finance. He could start a public-speaking tour, visiting schools and talking about how he stopped victimizing those less powerful than himself. Maybe he might reach a school bully or two and help them to turn away from their vicious ways, just as he claims he has done.
I won't believe Vick has found Jesus or any other deity unless he puts his money and his time where his mouth is.
In case you weren't aware, Vick is awaiting sentencing by Judge Henry E. Hudson after admitting his guilt and entering into a plea agreement between himself and the Unites States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, Richmond Division.
What was he guilty of? "(T)ravelling in interstate commerce and using the mail or any facility in interstate commerce with intent to promote, manage, establish, carry on, and facilitate the promotion, management, establishment, and carrying on of an unlawful activity ... knowingly sponsoring and exhibiting an animal in an animal fighting venture ... knowingly buying, transporting, delivering, and receiving any dog for purposes of having the dog participate in an animal fighting venture..."
This good ol' boy and his accomplices started up the Bad Newz Kennels in 2001 and maintained it until April 2007. It was indeed bad newz for any of the dogs he brought there because the kennels' sole purpose was to stage fights to the death between dogs, while cruel, vicious-minded types like Vick stood, watching and cheering on the four-footed combatant on whom they had placed their bets.
At the end of the plea agreement document, (viewable as a PDF) Vick attached his signature to the following paragraph: "After consulting with my attorney and pursuant to the plea agreement entered into this date between the defendant MICHAEL VICK and the United States, I hereby stipulate that the above Statement of Facts are true and accurate, and that had the matter proceeded to trial, the United States could prove these facts beyond a reasonable doubt."
The NFL reacted promptly to Vick's admission of enjoyment in facilitating the deaths of the dogs. Commissioner Roger Goodell suspended Vick indefinitely and wrote a letter to the bloodthirsty quarterback stating: "Your admitted conduct was not only illegal, but also cruel and reprehensible."
One of the activities engaged in at the Bad Newz Kennels was the testing of dogs to determine their fighting ability. I am guessing that none of the cowards involved actually got into the ring with the animals to carry on the tests in personal combat with the dogs. The animals were rated and dealt with depending on their passing or failing the test. Apparently, Vick and his fellow creeps felt that death by hanging or drowning was the appropriate consequence for a dog who failed its test. After all, they wouldn't want to lose money by placing bets on an animal that was anything less then a killing machine. Vick says that he did not personally kill any of the animals but that he did play a "collective" role in the deaths.
Pardon my asking, but what the hell is a collective role? Does that mean they took turns hoisting the dogs up by ropes around their necks? What exactly does it mean? It can not be anything less than a total disregard for the sanctity of life, a criminal willingness to deal out arbitrary death, simply because they were able to.
Vick has agreed to charges that he financed the bloodsport but is claiming that he did not receive "any of the proceeds from the purses" accruing from bets placed.
Bullshit.
Vick's admission of guilt was played out before the media cameras after weeks of lying to the Falcons owner, the NFL commissioner and all his fans. When he did decide to 'fess up, he used his most penitent tone to tell the audience, "I'm upset with myself, and, you know, through this situation I found Jesus and asked him for forgiveness and turned my life over to God."
More bullshit.
Heartfelt apologies to the public have become the flavour of the week for malfeasants, quick fixes to the problem of their tarnished reps. They carry as much a ring of sincerity as would a statement of regret by one of the 9/11 terrorists. Words on their own are empty vessels. They mean very little unless the person uttering them fills them up with actions. What action is Vick going to take to prove that he does indeed regret his part in dealing out death to life forms unable to defend themselves against him?
Said Vick, "(W)hat I did was very immature, so that means I need to grow up. I hope every young kid out there ... will use me as an example to using better judgment and making better decisions." Working to make himself a better example to those young kids is not going to succeed if it doesn't take the form of some highly visible efforts to better the quality of life for wronged individuals. Since the defenceless victims Ookie preyed on were dogs, maybe he could show those kids out there how to be a better person by campaigning against something like the puppy mills where dogs regularly suffer deprivation and death all in the name of the mill owner's profit margin. Vick could take some of the millions from his QB earnings and put them to use in a public education campaign against the bloodsport he used to finance. He could start a public-speaking tour, visiting schools and talking about how he stopped victimizing those less powerful than himself. Maybe he might reach a school bully or two and help them to turn away from their vicious ways, just as he claims he has done.
I won't believe Vick has found Jesus or any other deity unless he puts his money and his time where his mouth is.
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