Photo Source
Photo of Michael Vick, Atlanta Falcons Star Quarterback who has recently been indicted on "Dog-fighting" charges.
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Photo Source
Rally in support of Vick Sunday,July 29,
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Michael Vick ,while I've never met you I feel in some measure I already know you. You are the "brother" from the neighborhood that everyone was rooting for to make it because of your sports acumen and physical prowess. My brother was a star college and high school football player,so I have first-hand experience on the matter.To some from the hood and in the public housing project where you grew up,getting the opportunity to play professional sports was and still is to a degree,seen as a ticket out of the "land of dead end", leading fast to nowhere productive.
I hope during this very challenging time of upheaval in your personal and professional life,you will take much needed time out to search your soul for the things you truly value in life. I hope that your choice will be those things that are life affirming.
Yes. I know football is not the most non-violent and passive sport. And,there is still a great deal of peer pressure to be and do all things machismo and conform to a certain "necessary roughness" image.However,I am sure there are those of us who would much rather read, hear about and
celebrate this aspect of you:
"Michael Dwayne Vick (born June 26, 1980 in Newport News, Virginia) is an American football quarterback for the National Football League's Atlanta Falcons franchise.
Vick rose from a youth living in a public housing project to become a stand-out high school football player, winning a scholarship to attend Virginia Tech. After two years, he cut his collegiate career short, and was the No. 1 pick during the first round of the 2001 NFL draft, joining the Atlanta Falcons. Vick became one of the highest-paid NFL players, as well as earning lucrative commercial product endorsements.
In Virginia and Georgia, he has been involved in charitable activities, especially those which benefit economically-disadvantaged youth such as after-school programs, football camps, and the Boys and Girls Clubs. In 2006, he joined his mother and younger brother, former Miami Dolphins player Marcus Vick, in forming the Vick Foundation." (More...)Not this one:"On July 17, 2007, Vick and three other men were indicted by a federal grand jury for felony and misdemeanor charges involving a 6-year long interstate dog fighting venture called "Bad Newz Kennels" and tens of thousands of dollars in gambling activities. The operation was based at a 15-acre estate in a rural area of southeastern Virginia which authorities contend was purchased and developed specifically for the criminal enterprise. Even within a controversial and brutal blood sport, the federal allegations detailed exceptionally extreme violence involving execution of losing and under-performing dogs by electrocution, hanging, drowning and shooting, including Vick's direct involvement, drawing extensive negative publicity and expressions of public outrage."Knowing that your circumstance is complex due to the fact that you are the member of a racial group that is frequently negatively portrayed in the media,I will give you the benefit of the doubt, avoid rushing to judgment-after all that is what our trial system is for- by making any conclusions and just say this.
Your background, demonstrated care and concern for the underprivileged and disadvantaged, is evidence that you can overcome this. But,I think you have some communicating to do with the animal lovers of the world,which includes amends to make with your "dog-loving" public.Maybe offering a sizable charitable donation to a public kennel of their choosing to be earmarked for education and rescue of dogs from "dog-fighting" activities i.e., the humane society, anti-animal cruelty leagues, AR advocates,etc. And, I did say
maybe,as money is not everything. If you have any pets and you treat them well,let people know it. In addition,you might volunteer to make Public Service Announcements about animal cruelty as relates to dog fighting. Offering up some community service that would include a stint of public speaking engagements and workshops about the dangers of "dog-fighting" on both the animal and human end might be in order as well.
I remain hopeful that you will find an effective way to calm the disappointment from the league of fans and ordinary people who have looked up to you as a positive role model and hero. It would be helpful to quickly address the outrage from those who have come to perceive you now as brutal and heartless to animals, and in a much broader context, as a result of the negative publicity. Whether true or false,it does not look good. I've noticed that merchandise selling concerns, promoting t-shirts with slogans about your cruelty to animals,touting slogans like "Convict Vick",etc, have already sprung up across the internet to capitalize on this unfortunate situation.
Beginning with a sincere and humble request for forgiveness couldn't hurt. Asking for it under such circumstances does not necessarily imply weakness, guilt or wrong doing.Sometimes people do become guilty by association,especially if events are carried out on their property whether they had knowledge of it or not. Asking for forgiveness,in my view,would signal that you have just come to terms with the "public sentiment" ignited by the situation and want to humbly clear it up by enlisting the support and sympathy of others. If asking for forgiveness is considered too extreme a measure to take at this time,there's always another means of "extending the olive branch..."
Now,if the whole thing has been a set-up and you are no way involved,having been diabolically framed from the beginning,then, of course, another approach should clearly be taken.
There are those,including me, who will be keeping the saddening controversy it has set off, lifted in thought and prayer.
Which image will it be?Peace,
Cynthia(Revcoolc)
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