I wish that it was still true in America that you’re innocence until proven guilty but recent events have left doubts that this still holds up to everyday practice. Today, I became aware of this anti-Vick site that is dedicated to having the football player Michael Vick removed from the Atlanta Falcons, the NFL and from any type of corporate sponsorship.
Of course there’s a great deal of emotions and harsh sentiments surrounding this case due to the nature of the charges, dogfighting. I will not dignify these acts of cruel treatment of animals with the word “sport.” There’s nothing sporting about it and only sick individuals would enjoy watching or participating in such barbaric acts.
However, living here in North Carolina I’ve been subjected to this same type of quick conviction without trial mentality with the recent Duke lacrosse players case. This case proved to be groundless, never going to trial but there was guilt assumed from the start.
This NC example urges caution as the watch word when judging the guilt or innocence of individuals.
I don’t like Michael Vick. I think he’s a cocky, arrogant, over-rated athlete and I’m not sure there is much redeemable about him as a human being. But then I don’t know him personally.
I don’t know if he participated in the dog fighting that took place on his property in Virginia and I don’t know if he knew about it? Only a few people know the answers to these two questions.
Personally, I find it difficult to believe he couldn’t have know something about it.
But all of that doesn’t matter. it doesn’t matter what or who I like or what my personal opinions are. For the time being I’m giving Michael Vick the same just treatment that I would wish for if the circumstances were reversed.
I’m going to assume him innocent until proven guilty and hope that justice is done…whatever the verdict.
Technorati Tags: dog fighting, justice, michael vick
Sadly, today it’s all trial by media, and you’re immediately guilty once the press coverage starts. For another take on the Vick situation, read this. I can’t say I disagree with his stance:
http://www.unboundedition.com/content/view/1676/50/
jaykaydee…
Absolutely, everything’s about the press, media and what sales.
Thanks for the interesting article link…I have to say it made some excellant points but doesn’t change the core issues of this case.
I set up the site at SackVick.net. I do believe that Michael Vick is innocent until proven guilty on the pending federal charges and any other charges that might be brought.
However, I also feel that he is responsible for the results of either his actions or inactions that allowed it to come to pass that more than 60 dogs had to be removed from his property to be euthanized.
Michael Vick had contractual responsibilities to the NFL, the Falcons, Nike, Rebok and many more companies. They put hundreds of millions of dollars into an investment in the image that was Michael Vick.
Michael Vick chose to reinvest that money in property that was used at a minimum to keep dogs in an unsafe environment and according to the public information used for the inhumane treatment of dogs.
Even if you buy the argument that Vick’s friends or family took advantage of his hospitality, Vick is still responsible. It was his property and he had millions of dollars at his disposal to insure that nothing nothing might harm his image and his business partners.
From a public perspective, Michael Vick has an unwritten contract with the fans and the public. You see he is selling us his public image built up with the money of multinational corporations. We are buying under the condition that he play good football and be a person that we or our kids can look up to and admire. Michael Vick broke that contract with the public and his fans. He failed to live up to even the minimum levels that most of his fans expect. (Ergo don’t be a complete jerk, don’t harm women, children and puppies. It was that last one that got him.)
Now I am not one of those people that holds sports figures in an unrealistic regard. Michael Vick is a person and all people have their flaws. However as a football fan, as a Falcons fan, as a consumer of Nike and Rebok products, I do not want to know that any of my money is contributing to the bottom line of any business activity that directly or indirectly puts money in the hands of anyone that engages in dog fighting. Michael Vick did that. He took the money and that money ended up invested in property where dog fighting took place.
That money came from the NFL, it came from the Falcons, it came from Nike and it came from Reebok and dogs suffered and died.
This is not the end of the world. I served in the Army during the first Persian gulf war(started basic the day the ground war started and the war was over by the time I was out of basic). There are much more important things going on in the world in Iraq, in Afghanistan, Pakistan, in Washington and more.
However, this is a very good example that people are still responsible for their actions. Vick is responsible for his actions. He is not guilty yet, but he is responsible.
By the same token, George Bush is not guilty of torturing people in Abu Grahb, but he is responsible.
We have a serious problem in our country. Many leaders and public figures are not being held accountable for their actions and they are not living up to their responsibilities. This is an opportunity to insure that Vick is held responsible for his actions and investments and lack of action to protect the dogs on his property.
Suspending him from the NFL without pay pending the outcome of his trial is appropriate because he is responsible for what he did and for what he did not do even if some of those things are not punishable by law or even if they have not been judged by a jury of his peers.
He needs to be held accountable legally, which is in progress. He also needs to be held accountable financially and from a business perspective. Michael Vick is in the Michael Vick business and that business has not been a good member of the community.
Brett,
I don’t disagree that Vick had a “social sontract” and responsibility for his image that he’s not lived up to, but on principle I wonder how many of us in our morale and social roles as family, friends, husbands, wives, bosses or even service providers would care to be judge as harshly? Each of these roles have people looking up to them…do any of us really meet all those expectations.
It’s a whole other discussion on how we regard or “sell” expectations of pro athelete’s, especially those participating in the violent sport of football. Our society places them on pedestals as hero’s for our kids to worship, when the simple truth is that many of them are thugs. Is this their fault or ours?
In addition to those problem you listed we also have a serious problem in this country concerning trial by media and public opinion before and without due process of law. When someone is charged with a crime should we immediately fire them from their position, take away their livelihood and ruin their reputation?
I’m not trying to protect Vick’s rights here…I’m protecting mine and yours! Believe me, there are parts of me that would like to ruin the guy!
My point is, in these troubled times we need to hold fast to our founding principles of justice. Once found guilty then yes by all means let’s remove the guy from any position of respect. But what if Vick is found innocent by a jury and his only crime was being totally stupid? I’m thinking the contracts and hero worship will then take care of itself and I’m sure he won’t have a problem proving the stupid part!
Brett, I sincerely appreciate you taking the time to explain your point of view here, and I respect your right to your opinions.