Here is a copy of the Letter to the Editor my mama wrote today. She is really ticked about this whole Vick thing. We just wanna go to the bark park.
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As the details of Michael Vick’s alleged involvement with illegal dog fighting continue to be publicized through the various media outlets, I find myself growing increasingly angry, no furious, with much of the public's indifference to this. Granted, Michael Vick deserves his day in court, but the evidence against him, all contained in the 18 page indictment, is pretty convincing. The dog fighting allegations made against Michael Vick are very serious. Not only is dog fighting illegal, it is inhumane, and the sign of a cruel and violent personality.
I encourage the public to write, call or email the NFL, the Atlanta Falcons, and the various companies that sponsor Mr. Vick, to express your outrage about this situation. Mr. Vick claims he had no knowledge of the dog fighting going on at his property in Virginia, despite the obvious dog fighting set-up that is present on his property and despite the testimonies from at least four other individuals who claim Vick is actively involved in this practice. This is not a "witch hunt". There is evidence that Mr. Vick has engaged in this illegal practice, hence the indictment.
Michael Vick has brought ridicule and shame to the NFL, and when we, as a public, sit silently by and let him do it, we bring shame upon ourselves. He has chosen a victim that can’t speak for itself or defend itself—a dog. How is this crime any less aggregious than Tank Johnson's crime or PacMan Jones' crimes? To sit back and do nothing is terrible and inhumane.
The public needs to ask themselves some hard questions. Is watching your favorite team or player on Sundayso so important that you can overlook this incredible, heinous crime? Is the fact that the animals involved are Pit Bulls, a breed that takes a lot of criticism from the public, making this crime more palpable to you? Is this the kind of person you want your child to admire and look upon as a role model?
As a dog owner and animal lover, I cannot fathom what kind of person would get enjoyment from torturing and killing animals just for “sport”, or in the name of "gambling". To me, a person like this has NO place performing in front of the public, being paid millions of dollars just because he can pass a football and run well. Instead, a person like this should have a very special place in a prison cell, or, at the least, be doing community service in an animal shelter.
Along with being an animal lover, I am a big NFL fan, and spend quite a few Sundays watching football games. If the NFL does not take a stance on this, I will have to reconsider watching it this fall. I hope others will follow suit.
Again, I am asking the public, "Where is the outrage on this?" Putting a stop to these dog fighting rings is a must, no matter if your favorite quaterback is running one or not. It is the moral and ethical thing to do.
Jersey Joe on Jul 19 at 07:24 PM