So I live in Philly where football and the Eagles are a religion. I lately have been having a hard time when I turn on the TV and see Phillys latest hero. Michael Vick. I was at my mothers, sitting with my dog on my lap and the discussion of religion came up. I was saying how the teenagers at my church where discussing current events, mainly the forgiveness of Vick and his atrocities toward dogs.
My mother said that Vick has to give speeches several times a month to talk about his journey and how in his circles that he was brought up in that did not seem like a bad thing.
My 9 year son listening in “Mommy I don’t know what you are talking about”.
I reluctantly spoke “Well this football player would make dogs fight each other to the death. Then he and others would drown some of the dogs in a pond. “
My sons response was “Mom he should be put on a most wanted list”
I said “Well he did serve time in jail 23 months, because animals are viewed as property and not life”.
“Mommy that is wrong, because they are life “ he says hugging Grundy our bulldog.
I sit here thinking about the physical act of killing another living thing. How it did not occur to this man that holding a struggling animal under water was not wrong. No matter how you were raised something fighting for its life in your hands does not feel wrong.
Loss of life any life is wrong by human hands.
And yet he is idolized in many Philadelphia eyes, so yes I struggle to forgive and feel he is reform from this man treated as a hero. It seems to me like remorse was the right thing to do to get the pay check.
How do I explain to my son how people are human and they make mistakes when this human was inhumane? Also how come people can over look his past an say Vick is a hero and savior for a team?
So I struggle with forgiveness.
In case you missed the story of the Vick Dogs and what is being done to rehabilitate them.
It is certainly a constant struggle to forgive. Whenever I think about Vick, I have to go through the forgiveness process over and over. But that’s what forgiveness is about…when you make the choice to be a person who forgives, it’s just as much work as it is for the person who did wrong in the first place.
I’m another Philly resident, and I have pretty much given up on the Eagles because he is the QB. I believe in the transformative power of the human spirit, but also felt like it was impossible to cheer for this person. So I can’t offer any help, but wanted to let you know that you’re certainly not the only one who feels this way. The day Vick was named starter I cut a check to PAWS. Also, it makes me extra appreciate the work of the Utleys for the PSPCA and the way that can sort of help balance the scales a little bit.
I am with you 100% on this issue! I also live in the Philly area, and I wrote about this back in October- here’s my post if you want to check it out:
http://adventuresinmommyhood2009.blogspot.com/2010/10/i-never-was-sports-fan-until-i-started.html
I feel a little lucky though because my daughter is so young and I don’t have to have that tough conversation with her yet, but if he’s the franchise QB and my in-laws are such diehard fans, I know the topic will come up some day.
Good luck! It seems like you have a wonderfully compassionate son! And in my eyes, his compassion is with the right creatures 🙂
I so wish Vick didn’t pull out of the Oprah interview because I feel like this is such an I interesting topic — right and wrong, hero and villain, redemption, forgiveness, and second chances.
I am a dog lover through and through and I thought Michael Vick was a monster when all that went down. However, he served his time. And thus, doesn’t he deserve a second chance? Certainly he should be allowed to earn a paycheck and it just so happens that his profession is football. I’ve even found myself rooting for the Eagles just because he’s an underdog (ooh, no pun intended there, I swear!!)
Let’s think of some other “villains” who did horrible things but served time and now are regarded as “heroes” again. Martha Stewart?
Great post!