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| Vick's crime is more gruesome than most |
| By philly.com |
| Published: 08/19/2009 |
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Since the Philadelphia Eagles decided to sign Michael Vick, we've been treated to another replay of the fundamental American drama about sin and redemption. Coach Andy Reid has reminded us that Vick, who was convicted on multiple counts of cruelty to animals, has served his time - "gone through the right process," as he put it. Therefore, in the best tradition of repentance, he is entitled to a second chance. To some extent, it's hard to argue with Reid's logic. A society with so many people in jail had better have a second-chance attitude, if only for the sake of making peace with all the ex-offenders our system generates. But Vick's crime is different from most. He was convicted of running a business centered around the spectacle of dogs tearing each other to pieces. He was also convicted of electrocuting one dog, drowning another, and beating a third to death. Their offenses? They weren't very good at tearing other dogs to pieces. The former Atlanta Falcons quarterback has indeed paid his criminal penalty, and that account is settled. What hasn't changed is that Vick is the kind of guy who had no problem beating a dog to death as punishment for its lack of fighting prowess. We may even wonder whether he took some pleasure from it, although we don't know that. What we do know is that his character includes a streak of savage cruelty. That character flaw is particularly disgusting to many of us. But public disgust isn't enough to justify the argument that Vick has no place in Philadelphia. Read More. |
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