PETA member in Bangkok
Do you think you could withstand an evaluation of your future intentions if somehow it could be done? I'll bet you have something you keep hidden that you don't want anyone else to know.
And yet, your hidden beliefs or intentions don't necessarily manifest themselves in actual real-time activities, do they?
The demand from PETA that Roger Goodell not even consider a Michael Vick reinstatement to the NFL prior to determining his ability to feel remorse is just chutzpah of the first magnitude. Here is the statement from PETA's president, Ingrid Newkirk:
Commissioner Goodell knows that he has an obligation to the league and to millions of fans, including children... to make sure Michael Vick is mentally capable of remorse before he can touch, let alone wear, an NFL uniform again."
Capability for remorse is now the standard for employment in the NFL? I thought it was whether a person acted on his bad intentions. And we're speaking about future intentions here. Vick is paying his price for previous acts.
Mind you, this is not a commentary about whether Vick should or should not be allowed a second go-round in professional football. He hasn't completed his sentence nor had a chance to re-enter polite society. Once that happens we can start the opinion machine cranking.
Recidivism is always a concern when a prisoner is released from jail. And the rate can be high depending on the nature of the crime committed. PETA might want to work with Vick's parole officer and mental health professionals if their goal is to prevent cruelty to animals.
And why is this happening now? Well because Billy Martin, Vick's criminal lawyer was in negotiations with PETA about the public service announcements his client had agreed to do for the organization once he completed his sentence. Would you endorse an organization's good works if it turned around and said you were a piece of garbage?
Comments
Everyone is intitled to redeem themselves regardsless of what crime they did.Peta you be ashamed of yourself for trying to hold michael vick back.Vick have learned from his mistakes. Get a life
Vick didn't just "commit a crime." He admitted to "enjoying" the torture ritual. He and his scumbag cronies laughed and whooped it up as they slammed dogs to the ground, broke their backs and watching them squirm and cry out in pain. They thought it was hoot when they held their heads down in water and slowly drowned them to death. It was a great time when they hung them from trees and watched them kick and fight for air while slowly dying in horror and pain. This is PSYCHOPATHIC behavior. Remember... most serial killers started out torturing and killing animals. I think he absolutely should get his head examined. He is a monster and should NEVER allowed to again be a role model in this society. Let him rot in prison.
It is PETA that needs to have their collective heads (buried where the sun don't shine, BTW) examined.
Are these the same people that wanted the word "fish" changed to "sea kittens" to make them less appetising to those who consume them? Imagine.
**Sea Kitten Tournaments.
**Sea Kittens and Chips (Arthur Treacher would vomit).
**Oh say can you Sea Kittens.
Are there no bounds to which these boobs will go to get their name in the paper? Vick did a sickening thing but it is time to, sorry about the pun, let sleeping dogs lie.
:-)
Jenni13: I agree it was ghoulish. Society decided his prison time and he is serving it. PETA wants a guarantee he'll never act like that again and links playing football with that likelihood. I don't think that flies.
Oh, almost forgot. If I join PETA do I get the pictured caged model in the bikini????
Ted; the reference to Arthur Treacher is a hoot. Betcha more than half our audience doesn't know who he was.
Believe it or not, there was one still in operation until a few years ago just blocks from my house. It's now a Sonic.
You know... I'm not a fan of PETA's either. I think they are lunatic radicals. But I do agree wholeheartedly that Vick should NOT be allowed back in the NFL. And, although it's not PETA's place to call for a mental evaluation, at least someone is doing it! He really does need to have his head examined. He, his friends AND his family should be most concerned with getting him some intensive psychotherapy so that he isn't a danger to society rather than putting all their efforts into pretending he has remorse so that he can start racking up all those precious millions again.
Jenni13: You are in good company with many others who feel this way. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
Michael Vick and his "posse" are indeed a bunch of sick low-life cowards. This piece of trash needs to banned from the NFL for life. I for one will boycott the NFL if he is ever allowed back in.
Harry: well you are clear on that one my friend. All expressions of opinion welcome here.
And, on top of it all, he was a sucky QB ... yea, Matt Ryan!
Great article! Peta uses shock tactics that amount to bullying. And of course Michael Vick should be allowed back in the NFL. He did his time. I think we can all agree he paid a hefty price. Now let him live his life. If the NFL lets Ray Lewis play, Michael Vick is a no brainer.
You were right on about KLAC. This is an outrage!
As a fiction writer, I have to back Jenni13's comment, "most serial killers started out torturing and killing animals." I have friends who've used their psychology background to write plenty of stories using that context.
As a non-fiction sports guy, I think it should be up to the league, but why any sports team would gamble on a man who broke the law and jeopardized his contract is beyond me. Who knows whether or not he'll break the law again, and why waste time when new and younger talent is available?
Charles Barkley, the anti-role model he is, said it best, "I don't believe professional athletes should be role models. I believe parents should be role models."
Leonard Little killed a person. Someone's MOM. He is allowed to work. Apparently moms rate behind dogs these days.
Demonhoopa: Yeah, you notice how that has been lost in this shuffle?
They can do whatever they want, but honestly, the guy is a freak athlete. Let him come play for the Jets :)
Tyan, I am a Jets fans and I would take a 40-year old Favre over Vick. That said, the future ex-con should be allowed back in the NFL. He did the crime, also the time and everyone should just move on.
Now if he is unrepentant and does his impersonation of Pacman Jones, let the commish have at him.
Did you delete my comment relating to Vick?
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