August 10, 2007
An eye for an eye?
I’m a dog person. I take pet ownership seriously. We (humanity) made the choice to domesticate dogs and other animals, creating breeds that are completely unsuited for the feral lifestyle of their ancestors. That places the responsibility to provide for their needs squarely on our shoulders, individually and collectively as a society. They repay us with devotion and companionship, whether we do a good job of meeting their needs or not. I’m fortunate to have the hero-worship of two dogs who think that the sun rises and sets at my bidding. I can do no wrong in their eyes. Their affection and dependence demands that I do my best for them. It’s a simple trade-off in my eyes, and I’ve never quite understood anyone who doesn’t see it as such. It’s a knife in my heart when I see animals neglected and abused, and even moreso when the abuse is deliberate.
Michael Vick is a case in point. He didn’t just abuse the pit bulls in his care, he tortured and killed them for sport. His original pleas of ignorance (”I didn’t know they were doing that on my estate!”) have been proven to be lies. His history of abuse of animals and involvement in dog fighting is well-documented and proves that he not only knew but enthusiastically supported the atrocities that were committed, whether he was present at each incident or not. That being the case, Jo at Fickle Food has asked What should happen if Vick is found guilty? She proposes five possible answers to the question and has created a contest* on her blog to encouraging others to let their outrage be known. The punishments she asks us to select from are:
1. Public service or better yet, nothing…they’re dogs, it’s not like he killed a human, what’s the big deal?
2. He should be suspended from the NFL and fined. Dog fights are illegal after all.
3. He should get suspended, a fine + some jail time, we need to send out a clear message to people who abuse animals!
4. He deserves suspension from NFL for life, a stiff fine, one he’ll really feel + some jail time with a seven foot tall room-mate nicknamed “Bend’em-Over Bubba”…
5. Roll him in bacon grease then toss him into a ring with a pack of his former victims.
My kneejerk response is “6. Two through five above.” His crime is heinous and demands a response in kind. Part of me wants him to suffer greatly, physically, emotionally and financially, for the atrocities he has committed. It’s only fair, isn’t it?
I won’t argue with the fact that he’s done terrible things and should pay for them, but I balk at wanting him to be repaid in kind. The very act of wishing torture and pain on this man, no matter how much he deserves it, diminishes my own humanity. I’ve shelved my anger and disgust because to hold onto them makes me less of a person. My answer, then, is number four above, with Bubba removed from the scenario. Take away his livilihood. Assess steep fines, dedicating everything collected above court costs to humane societies and education programs. Lock him up for as long as the law allows. Banish him from the sport he loves. Try to rehabilitate him (though I suspect he is lacking the conscience that rehabilitation requires.) It’s not enough, but Bubba and bacon grease wouldn’t be either, would they? Nothing can undo the pain he inflicted or bring back the dogs he killed. Allowing his own propensity for violence to infect us would only perpetuate his vile influence. Let’s put our anger aside, but demand that the courts and the NFL apply the full weight of their power to his situation. It’s the right thing to do.
*You can enter Jo’s contest, too. Click her link above for details.
[tags]animal abuse, dog fighting, dogs, Fickle Food,Michael Vick [/tags]
Posted by skeet @ 9:11 am • current events, Society & culture
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August 10th, 2007 at 9:26 am, Flo Says:
Amen Skeet, Amen!!! I thought exactly the same thing. Wanting to physically hurt him is a primitive reaction. Since we are supposed to “evolved” I agree that taking away his money and his livelihood is the way to go. I was very glad to see the NFL ban him from training camp, I just hope they follow through and kick him out if he is found guilty.
August 10th, 2007 at 9:53 am, jo hutson Says:
Thanks Skeet! You are very wise, Grasshoppa! JO
August 10th, 2007 at 9:54 am, Fickle Food » Thanks To Skeet! Says:
[…] the “What should happen to Michael Vick if he’s found guilty” contest can be seen here. Thanks again […]
August 10th, 2007 at 10:54 am, Eliot Says:
If this guy really loves football, it should be a big punishment for him, if he can’t play. But it does not help anybody if he gots physical punishment. Let him pay a fine and ban him from football a cuple of seasons!
August 10th, 2007 at 11:23 am, Anime Girl Says:
Although I am a cat person, and have no love for dogs, that is cruel. I find dogs annoying most of the time, and some are dangerous (like the pitbulls). However I don’t like to hear about people treating their animals cruelly. They do derserve some kind of punishment.
August 10th, 2007 at 11:30 am, Vanda Says:
Y’all are a better person than I am. These dogs can’t speak for themselves. I know full well that the only protection they have is the full weight of the law.
I’d love to make him suffer as the dogs did but of course that’s not going to happen, but it doesn’t stop me from wishing it.
August 10th, 2007 at 12:01 pm, Gally Says:
Animal Abuse is absolutely horrific. We all know he won’t be punished enough by the law. They’ll probably slap a fine on him and send him away to the NFL. It’s terrible.
I have to agree with your #6. Although I have to add a #7: Make him live like a dog with an owner who abuses their pets. Make him wear a chain collar and see how sorry he feels after that.
August 11th, 2007 at 9:05 pm, annulla Says:
I agree with you 100%. The punishment can never really fit the crime, because people of good conscience could never condone this man being torn to bits by a pack of rabid dogs. So let’s throw the book at him, ban him from football, and hit him in the pocketbook. Sadly, that’s the most we can do, and it just isn’t enough.
August 12th, 2007 at 9:57 pm, skeet Says:
I understand the insticnt to wnat to strike out at someone like Vick, Flo. Giving in to the impulse would be so dangerous, bringing us down to his level and demeaning us all.
August 12th, 2007 at 9:57 pm, skeet Says:
Mahalo Jo, and mahalo for asking us all to stop and think about it!
August 12th, 2007 at 9:58 pm, skeet Says:
I agree, Eliot, except that I think his suspension should be “for life.”
August 12th, 2007 at 10:00 pm, skeet Says:
I agree, Anime Girl. Cruelty to animals should be treated seriously.
August 12th, 2007 at 10:02 pm, skeet Says:
Vands, I think anyone with a heart and a conscience wants Vick to hurt as badly as the hurt he’s given. We’re bettert than him, though, so he’ll get much better treatment than he deserves.
August 12th, 2007 at 10:04 pm, skeet Says:
Gally, it would certainly be justice to treat him the way he treated those poor dogs, but what would it do to us as a society if we give in to that desire?
August 12th, 2007 at 10:14 pm, skeet Says:
Annulla, I understand the desire to give in to our baser instincts when confronted with someone like Michael Vick. I’m tuely grateful that most of us are able to control those impulses.
Read any good books lately?
August 13th, 2007 at 10:22 am, Fickle Food » Contest-Poll: What should happen to Michael Vick Says:
[…] the contest has ended and I want to thank Jayme, Leigh, Ryan and Skeet for participating! I’ve been in quandary as to how best to randomly chose a winner and I […]
August 13th, 2007 at 11:09 am, jo hutson Says:
Congrats you won! To see the details check
http://www.ficklefood.com/uncategorized/contest-poll-what-should-happen-to-michael-vick/
Thanks for participating! Jo