Michael Vick – To Play or Not
by Jan Gilmer 7/29/2009

Animal lovers who are also football fans, face a dilemma come this fall - to watch NFL games and support an organization that would allow a convicted animal murderer to play for them, or to ban everything NFL. Where do you stand?

The NFL has decided, for whatever insane reason, to allow Michael ‘mass murderer’ Vick back into the fold to return to life as usual. Is this a mistake on their part or is the outrage of animal activists everywhere unjust?

You will hear people say “He paid his debt.” REALLY? Sitting in a cozy jail cell for 20 months and his luxurious mansion for 3 months was payback for brutally abusing, torturing and murdering numerous dogs? Maybe if he would have been forced to live chained, while being beaten, electrocuted and forced to fight vicious fights for those 23 months, we could talk about payback.

You’ll hear others say “He admitted his mistake. He deserves a 2nd chance.” REALLY? A MASS murderer, who has been voluntarily participating in these horrific acts, for at least 5 years before getting caught, says he’s sorry and all is forgiven? Would you allow a mass murderer of people (just a different species of animal) free to resume ‘life as usual’ after serving such a short sentence, apologizing, and promising never to do it again??! Would he be allowed back at his job as if nothing ever happened?

It is beyond comprehension that we, as a species, think that only our lives matter. That other living, breathing, feeling beings are without consequence and are here for our mere pleasure and satisfaction, no matter the cost to them.

You get outraged at the slightest harm brought to a child (another innocent, defenseless being), but abuse, torture and murder an animal and you brush it off as ‘bad judgment’.

Explain to me how that makes sense? Explain to me, how the taking of one life is of any more importance than the taking of another? It is unacceptable to take the life of ANY living thing and yet the human race murders on a daily basis and thinks nothing of it.

The NFL has made a bad decision, plain and simple. In allowing Vick back they are supporting the idea that abusing and killing animals is ok as long as you apologize when you are caught. Athletes are admired and emulated by young people and should be held to a higher standard and yet these organizations seem to only be concerned with money and not public responsibility.

Maybe when the NFL realizes their pocketbooks will be hurting from this decision, they will change their minds. Any team that dares to take the risk of taking Vick on board will surely suffer the fans outrage. Any sponsors who dare come anywhere near Vick, his new team and even the NFL, will suffer from bans on their products. Maybe it will be for the wrong reason, but if hitting them where it hurts is the only way to get the message across that Cruelty & Murder will not be rewarded, then that’s what must be done.

That’s how I see it! Now how do you see it? Cast your vote and be counted.

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