The Responsibility Project^®. Exploring what it means to do the right thing

Vick: Do We Share His Blame?

174 Comments

June 26, 2009 by Kathy McManus

Former Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick was released from federal prison recently after serving most of a 23-month sentence for his role in running a dog fighting ring.

But Vick’s _new_ role—campaigning with the Humane Society to end dog fights—unleashed a torrent of public skepticism, from infuriated animal lovers to sports and opinion writers.

“People won’t easily forgive a man at the center of a ring that killed dogs that failed to fight well by hanging, drowning and electrocution,” stated one newspaper editorial. “A nation that fawns over Bo and Barney and queues up for ‘Beverly Hills Chihuahua’ and ‘Marley and Me’ will understandably be skeptical about giving Vick a second chance.”

As people pondered whether Vick was truly sincere, genuinely remorseful, and/or accepting responsibility for his actions, an assistant sociology professor at Tulane University declared that Michael Vick had been punished for “our crimes” as a “nation of outraged lobster-boilers.”

“What did Michael Vick do that is morally reprehensible?” asked Professor Shayne Lee, writing in The Philadelphia Inquirer. “Some of us forget that dogs are mere animals, and that animal mistreatment is as American as Apple iPods. Like Vick, most of us shamelessly abuse and kill animals”--for science, “leather jackets, ham sandwiches, or horse-racing.”

Noting that Vick’s actions “did not lead to the abuse of one single human being,” the sociologist said, “I think we have it backward. Let’s give the federal sentences to athletes who harm humans by beating them or jeopardize their safety by driving drunk. And let’s give slaps on the wrist to animal abusers.”

His conclusion: “If Vick is guilty, then we all are.”

Tell us what you think: Are we all guilty—or responsible--as charged? Michael Vick did the time for the crime, so should he be forgiven? Was his sentence too harsh?

174 Comments

What do you think? Leave a comment

• June 27, 2009 by Sandy DeWitt

  As the dominant species on this earth, we have power over the other species. It is our responsibility to protect the environment, including all plant and animal life. We have the right to use (not abuse) our environment. We do not have the right to cause unnecessary pain or stress to the other species that share our planet. Too late we discover that an extinct species had great value for the planet, even though we did not recognize it until it was too far gone to recover from our abuse or neglect. I don't and will never understand how inflicting pain on an animal or human is entertainment. I do not understand how watching pain being inflicted is amusing. This would include cage fighting for adult, children, and animals. There are so many varieties of sports which involve animals. Why must it entail deliberate injury or death? I love watching a well-trained animal doing what it was bred to do -- running, pulling loads, herding sheep, demonstrating obedience or agility. Obviously each of these activities offers opportunity for injury; but the injuries suffered are not caused on purpose. I'm sure if a group of people wanted to demonstrate his dog breed's tenacity and strength, an alternative program could be devised (probably already has been done by responsible dog breeders). Why not get involved with your breed association functions and challenges where your animal can compete without suffering abuse? As to Michael Vick: if he has served his sentence, it is time to let him PROVE himself. I do not mean he should be allowed to have control over animals; but if he is working with animals in a respectful manner, perhaps he will learn how a good inter-species relationship can be built and he will no longer be compelled to torture dogs.

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  • January 14, 2011 by Jenny Hansen

    I think that animal abuse is very, VERY cruel and no one should get away with it. I don't think that that guy can be trusted, so no he shouldn't get a second chance!

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    • January 21, 2011 by Marge

      Everyone deserves a second chance. Haven't you ever done or said anything that you wish you didn't, but it's too late to take back? I know I made some pretty big mistakes that I'm incredibly sorry for. What do I do? Beat myself up over it for the rest of my life? Everyone makes mistakes. If you don't then you're not human.

    • April 25, 2011 by Savannah

      I think we should GIVE Animals another chance. Animals should have another chance just like we deserve another chance once in a while. Don't you think we could give them one more chance that they deserve.

    • July 27, 2011 by James Fitz

      @ Marge - Vick didn't "make a mistake." He engaged in cruel and criminal behavior for a period of AT LEAST 6 years. During that time he took a hands-on role in the torment and killing of dozens (if not hundreds) of dogs. He "fed" family pets to his fighters and laughed when the fighting dogs injured or killed them. He hung, electrocuted, drowned, and in at least one case, repeatedly lifted a dog over his head and beat it off the ground until it died, nearly every bone it's body broken. That is not a "mistake you wish you could take back".

    • October 10, 2011 by james dawson

      NO! NO! SECOND CHANCE, THOSE THAT WOULD ABUSE ANNIMALS WOULD ALSO ABUSE WOMEN AND CHILDREN AND CAN'T BE TRUSTED.

  • April 25, 2011 by Savannah

    Yes, It is VERY, VERY, VERY, cruel but no one is going to stop Animal Cruelty I WILL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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  • September 24, 2011 by Sandra

    I think all of us are not guilty for Vick! The man took it upon himself to torcher these poor dogs. These dogs couldn't even fight back I think what he did was diplorable and should never be able to own any kind of animal.

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    • October 10, 2011 by JAMES DAWSON

      Not all of us , but a large part of us can accept guilt because we look over anything that a celebrity does wrong.It would seem the worse the crime the more they profit, Any publicity is good publicity for them.

• June 28, 2009 by Shirley Bryant

  People are always saying that Americans are so forgiving. Yet, are we? I believe Vick should be given another chance. I read up on his upbringing and he probably really did not know how horrible the thing he was doing and allowing. I believe he has other issues going on deeply inside his soul and should have counseling to get to the root of why? Unless you grew up poor, we did things to pass the time, some not so good. He reminds me of Mike Tyson who was a great fighter, but had no real knowledge of right and wrong so he was used by most everyone in his life. Now we want to persecute Vick. Reminds me of a scripture in the bible John 8:3; woman taken in adultery they only wanted to stone her to death yet the man was not condemned! My point, he who is without sin throw the first stone, no one was able to do this. Let's give him another chance.

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  • February 18, 2010 by Damaris

    I agree we should give him another chance.

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    • April 22, 2010 by Erin

      I think we should not give him another chance!

    • June 1, 2010 by lala

      nononononono.he is tourchuring animals how can u trust him again

    • January 11, 2011 by bob

      idiot. Of course we should give him another chance, he paid for his crimes and is now trying to stop it are you that coldhearted.

    • April 25, 2011 by Savannah

      I think you are being mean.

    • July 27, 2011 by K9 Handler

      He paid for the crime of racketeering. He did NOT pay for the crime of dogfighting. And people that run dogfighting rings do harm people. They steal pets to use as bait for their fighting dogs. They're also not choosy about who they allow into the fights and this is not something adults should be doing but children are certainly harmed by being spectators.

  • May 16, 2010 by Dara Woodworth

    I can't believe that I hear people say, well you have to remember his childhood. He knew what he was doing and he just got caught. We allowed him to return to football and make his millions after he did such a horrible and cruel thing and yet we still don't allow Pete Rose in the Hall of Fame. All that man did was gamble, he hurt no one by doing this. What does that say about us as a society. NOT MUCH

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    • April 25, 2011 by Savannah

      Yes he did hurt people he hurt his loved ones and many other people in his path.

  • December 15, 2010 by emily carr

    i think it is soo wrong people should not abuse animals i feel sooo bad for animals that are being abused

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• June 29, 2009 by Stephen R

  People can change. Has Vick? I have no idea -- but I don't automatically assume that he's the same person he was. Sometimes people don't think about what they're doing until they're slapped in the face with it, and then they can indeed genuinely repent. The Tulane prof's comparison to eating meat etc is not valid, however. What Vick was doing was hurting the animals for the sake of hurting the animals -- as entertainment. Farmers don't sit around devising the most cruel ways to slaughter food animals. So... Vick did his time. I say give him the benefit of the doubt if he *appears* to be trying to do good. If he later proves otherwise, society will deal with that when it comes.

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  • May 12, 2010 by Kellybelly

    Stephen R. says: "Farmers don't sit around devising the most cruel ways to slaughter food animals."

    No Stephen, they sit around devising the most PROFITABLE ways to slaughter food animals - which means the CRUELEST.

    So your logic states that it is okay to inflict torture on animals if it is for our gluttonous eating habits, but it's NOT okay to torture animals for entertainment?

    Hmm...please explain.

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    • May 14, 2010 by SANDY TWETEN

      IN A WAY WE ARE ALL TO BLAME BECAUSE WE LET STUFF LIKE THIS SLIDE. HE SHOULD BE HUNG FOR THIS. THIS IS SO CRUEL, THEY ARE HELPLESS ANIMALS WHO DEPEND ON US. THERE IS NO EXCUSE FOR HUMANS TREATING THEM LIKE THIS. THEY SHOULD SUFFER LIKE THE ANIMALS DID! THAT IS JUSTICE!

    • May 30, 2010 by Sylvia

      Hang him huh? Ok... there are some of us who give more value to animals than others. Lots of farmers look at animals as a product and quality control is important. But they love and value their pets. It's their way of life. I do believe that sometimes people can change when shown a different perspective than what they grew up with. I had family that trained pitt bulls to fight and would brag about the horrible things their dog did. In a tight circle of family/friends, it doesn't seem like a big deal. Maybe he's been shown the light, not by the sentence, but by other people showing their different perspective when it comes to animals. I don't think a we should turn a blind eye to the situation,but I do believe than people can have a change of heart and should be given that chance.

  • June 1, 2010 by lala

    how do u no people can change

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    • April 25, 2011 by Savannah

      Do you think they can change.

• July 1, 2009 by Derman Shannon

  Michael Vick is human just like all of us. Whether or not man or woman forgives Vick, it doesn't really matter; I'm sure that God has forgiven him, especially if he asked for God's forgiveness.

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  • February 16, 2011 by Julia Buie

    How do you know if he has even asked for God's forgiveness, If he hasn't even asked for the public's forgiveness?

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• July 2, 2009 by George Carter

  Whether it is a dog fight, cock fight or prized fight, we sit (usually idly) by and watch while others are inflicting pain upon another for our amusement. I have a problem with the psyche that views this as enjoyment. Yet, I enjoy prized fighting which is where one fighter (human) inflicts that pain upon another (human) and do not believe that the promoter should be charged with a crime for arranging the "entertainment." Football where on any given play one person, such as in the incident of Daryl Stingley, may become paralyzed for who knows how long. By the way, I enjoy football as well. And yet., whether we are talking about extreme sports, football, boxing or any of the myriad of sports since the Roman Gladiator, no one is charged with a crime for causing humans to inflict pain, injury or more to another. Some have said that dog fighting is not uncommon, I do not know if this is true but the Vick case served to remind/awaken our conscience that events such as this continue. Back to your questions, and I must ask a question of my own "Considering that in the prime of an athletic career, Michael Vick was jailed for one year and has served his time, why is what Michael Vick did viewed as an inexcusable incident? Michael Vick was involved and funded the dog fight arena and has served a one year sentence (impactng his potential earnings and casting a shadow on a once promising career as what the court system saw as fair retribution for the event. Should he continue to be punished for his involvement by the court of public opinion. The bigger question and a question for a larger audience, have any of us committed inexcusable/unforgivable incidents. I believe that the ultimate judge t answer this question is our Creator and through his word states that man should be forgiven seventy times seven times (and continues to say that if the events exceed seventy times seven then we are to forgive again.)

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• July 9, 2009 by johanna Bush

  Michael Vick, did his time. But did we not find out about more of these similar actions/crimes by well known people a few days ago ( July 6/09). How come CNN is not on top of this. Michael Vick is a black man, are these other well known people who comit the same crime white people????? Injustice anywhere is a threat to Justice everywhere.

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  • August 2, 2010 by Deborah

    Get a life! Everything is not about race!

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• July 12, 2009 by Annie Brown

  I think that everyone is allowed to make mistakes because we are all human. There is no one perfect. I also believe everyone should be forgiven in the process. I had a situation where I left my little boy in the hands of a man and he was so irresponsible that my little boy ended up drowning in a swimming pool. I forgive him and put it all into God's hands. I know this like totally different from the situation at hand but my point is that everyone deserves to be forgiven no matter what they have done. It's all up to God to judge and not judge anybody.

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  • April 21, 2010 by katie

    and what if he does it again can you say he should be forgiven

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• July 13, 2009 by Brenda Joyce Abel

  I am against any kind of abuse against any thing. And yes, they are just mere animals. Animals that God created, they are living breathing creatures that has feelings and they very much feel the pain that you put on them. I believe it is very sinful to willfully hurt or abuse anything. An animal is just a helpless creature just like a child is a helpless little human that depends on the care from adults. God help the people that don't understand this. And my opinion on Michael Vick, he paid for his crime and if he is truly sorry for what he did and wants to make amends for it then that is the way it should be and he should be forgive for it. If he is truly sorry for his crime then he could do a lot of good working for the Humane Society. And as for Mr Shayne Lee's opinion, animal cruelty is not as American as Apple Ipods and most of us don't shamelessly abuse and kill animals. I don't even like sports that has contact with each other where you might get hurt, but at least a human is an intelligent person that can make his on choice.

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• July 14, 2009 by kaykay casteel

  Yes, I do believe that people make mistakes but come on people that actually think with their brains won’t make that mistake of not caring about animals just to see them fight and kill each other. Some things can’t be over looked and I think he is just going to make the same mistake and do this thing again. Dogs and other animals can't defend themselves for what humans do and they have feelings too. I can’t imagine someone with a little caring about things and animals would do something like that.

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  • February 11, 2010 by Jautam

    I believe that Vick should be given another chance or more like a test, by seeing if he can leave the dog fights alone and try to work more on his career and if he is caught operating a dogfight again, that's when he should get more time in prison. Also, animals are killed everday purposely or not and nobody is getting punished for it. I don't understand how these people can judge one person and not judge the rest. YOU SHOULDN'T BE JUDGING AT ALL!! People are always trying to downtalk others and what about the ones in their neighborhood who are having and operating dog fights, but aren't doing anything with their life?!?!?! I just don't understand....

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  • May 3, 2010 by kaylee

    think put your self in there pasition and think of how they would feel when you would get abused, it would heart. Animals can't defend them selves. There are million of animal that get abused each day. Sometimes they abuse animals because they have to cause lets say that the animal is geting in to a fight with a person bitting and fighting, but people abusing animals for no reason what is wrong with people who do that.

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• July 17, 2009 by Jen Turin

  I hate to tell you this but Apple iPods are not American. They were made in China just like most things here in America. Also, you must have not thought about your statements too much because dog fighting does lead to violence against people. Dog fighting does not just involve dogs, but also drugs, guns, and other such things. Because the drugs and guns are there, it will probably lead to violence against people when someone gets cheated.

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• July 18, 2009 by charlsie lyon

  If I was on a jury in a case for dog fighting I would without a flutter ask the judge to give 10 years, no parole and no settlement. The question should be "How can a human truly be human if they can inflict that kind of pain to anything, especially a dog or horse, something that truly can love and willingly sacrifice for you. "A dog is just a dog." But the Bible told of a human who looked into heaven and saw the animals surrounding the throne of God singing and praising God. Perhaps they were measured against the animal abuser and was found wanting. God put animals on earth for the needs of man, but if He sees the fall of a sparrow I am certain he is aware of the life and death of each of his creatures.

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• July 22, 2009 by greg haugens

  I believe in forgiveness but if Michael Vick wasn't a big football player, would this discussion even be going on? How many regular people made a mistake, do their time and never get a chance to re-gain their life, even people who are mistakenly accused end up losing their jobs and families. if we are going to forgive Vick, let us get out and lobby for all who have paid their price. Vick was making millions of dollars, let him go try and get a job flipping hamburgers.

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  • April 28, 2010 by bob bobby

    a-men!

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