Michael Vick

[John S]

If you cannot forgive the man for his behavior you cannot root for him. Why can so many people forgive others whose behavior is equally heinous yet not this one? Are people more concerned with cruelty to animals than they are concerned with cruelty to humans?

Quite a few people have posted that they can't forgive the man.
YES - Some people are just as concerned with killing dogs as they are with cruelty to humans.
This situation is what each and every Eagles fan - like myself - has trouble coming to grips with. Can we forgive him while also rooting for him.

 

[John S]

If you cannot forgive the man for his behavior you cannot root for him. Why can so many people forgive others whose behavior is equally heinous yet not this one? Are people more concerned with cruelty to animals than they are concerned with cruelty to humans?

That is the problem some people have - Forgiving the man and rooting for him. That is the problem Eagles fans have.
YES - Some people are just as concerned about the killing of dogs as they are with cruelty to humans.

 

[TruththroughGod]

Michael Vick was a star quarterback for the Atlanta Falcons of the National Football League (NFL). He was convicted of running dog-fighting rings. Quite a few dogs were killed. He spent 2 years in jail.
When he was released, he was given a second chance by the Philadelphia Eagles. He is having a fantastic year and might be the best player in the NFL this year. Here is my question.

Could you root for an athlete, in any sport, who was convicted of killing dogs?

No. I can't root for or forgive anyone who kills dogs (or any innocent animal) for sport ...it's hard even to think of forgiveness for hunting, but I know that's necessary for some.

 

[TruththroughGod]

Quite a few people have posted that they can't forgive the man.
YES - Some people are just as concerned with killing dogs as they are with cruelty to humans.
This situation is what each and every Eagles fan - like myself - has trouble coming to grips with. Can we forgive him while also rooting for him.

My deal is that animals cannot speak like humans can. I would defend an animal or child in a heartbeat before I would defend a reasonable regrown person who knows better. When I say reasonable, I mean someone who is of sound mind and consciously knows what they are doing is wrong, inappropriate, etc.

 

[John S]

My deal is that animals cannot speak like humans can. I would defend an animal or child in a heartbeat before I would defend a reasonable regrown person who knows better. When I say reasonable, I mean someone who is of sound mind and consciously knows what they are doing is wrong, inappropriate, etc.

TruththroughGod - Then you see the dilemma that Eagles fans - like myself - are in.
Do we forgive him?
Yet we want our team to win.
Do you re-sign him to a contract?

 

[dies-l]

Sin is sin. Do you have a hierarchy of sin that you adhere to?

So society should treat a murderer the same as we would treat a gossip? If that's what you believe, then I see why we are not inclined to agree on this topic.

 

[TruththroughGod]

TruththroughGod - Then you see the dilemma that Eagles fans - like myself - are in.
Do we forgive him?
Yet we want our team to win.
Do you re-sign him to a contract?

Well, I'd just root for another team. Simple as that. Forgiveness is one thing, but I don't think he learned anything, since he got to start his life right where he left it, treated as though he did nothing wrong, as though nothing happened. If he was truly sorry for his actions and repented, etc (which I have a strong feeling he didn't/won't), then he could be forgiven...

He should pay, and by that I mean, he should not be re-signed to a contract.
Unfortunately, animal cruelty statutes are so new that the crimes are difficult for courts to penalize...because many feel that animals are animals and not as serious of a crime as something like rape or murder. Someday soon, I hope that changes... okay sorry for the rant...

 

[John S]

Well, I'd just root for another team. Simple as that. Forgiveness is one thing, but I don't think he learned anything, since he got to start his life right where he left it, treated as though he did nothing wrong, as though nothing happened. If he was truly sorry for his actions and repented, etc (which I have a strong feeling he didn't/won't), then he could be forgiven...

He should pay, and by that I mean, he should not be re-signed to a contract.
Unfortunately, animal cruelty statutes are so new that the crimes are difficult for courts to penalize...because many feel that animals are animals and not as serious of a crime as something like rape or murder. Someday soon, I hope that changes... okay sorry for the rant...

He DID pay. He spent 2 years in jail.
Apparently, you're not a sports fan. You CAN'T root for another team.
If he isn't signed by the Eagles, then he will be signed by another team.
I KNOW that I'm talking in circles.
When you were in high school, or college, could you have rooted for another high school or college? My guess is that the answer to that question is NO.

 

[TruththroughGod]

Right...I know that he spent two years in jail. It obviously wasn't long enough.

I am a sports fan...I can choose to root for whatever team I want to. I am not bound to root for one team over the other, or my states home team (they all suck anyway..)

When I was in high school, I could have rooted for any team I wanted...no one pinned me down and forced me to root for them, and the same is true today.

 

[John S]

Right...I know that he spent two years in jail. It obviously wasn't long enough.

I am a sports fan...I can choose to root for whatever team I want to. I am not bound to root for one team over the other, or my states home team (they all suck anyway..)

When I was in high school, I could have rooted for any team I wanted...no one pinned me down and forced me to root for them, and the same is true today.

You seem to be having the same problem that Eagles fans are having - you're difficulty or unwillingness to forgive him. I'm NOT saying that you should - but that is the problem - especially for people who claim to be a follower of Jesus.
No one pinned you down to root for your high school team but rooting against them would have been EXTREMELY hard going against that peer pressure.

 

[TruththroughGod]

It would be easier to forgive him if he honestly changed his behavior/showed he was sorry. From what I've read, that hasn't happened.

It wasn't hard for me to root against my high school team. They were good, but if they sucked I could have rooted for someone else or just ignored them..which, for the most part, I did...honestly, I had other things in high school to worry about...and, I wasn't popular anyway.