30 for 30: Michael Vick (2 Viewers)

Context for torturing animals.... yeah okay


In no way to excuse what he did but context does matter

I remember at the time reading some vegetarians/vegans saying that there was little difference between dog fighting and how we treat cows, pigs and chickens so we can eat hamburgers, ham and wings

If people say how evil and cruel that animal treatment is and we’re going to burn in hell because of it we immediately dismiss it because our context says that it’s perfectly okay and it’s always been perfectly okay and steak and bacon is delicious
 
I will watch this and try to see what made it so terrible and unforgiving in a lot of people's eyes. I never paid attention to the details. I just knew it was dog fighting and it never stirred up any emotions in me.

It's one of those phrases (dog fighting) like "drag racing" or "fly fishing" that for reasons unbeknownst to me, some people like to partake in. I didn't feel any outrage, just surprise that someone would go to jail for it and and serve actual time.
Just recognize the overall cruelty/barbarity of it all..blood death and severed flesh with money exchanging hands, involving an animal western civi consider man's best friend

edit..and on a very large scale, like a large organization that went well beyond state lines as I recall!
 
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What happened years ago was reprehensible. And I understand why someone would have trouble forgiving his involvement.

But this is clearly a changed man who has genuinely humbled himself, learned from his past, and become a mature adult. Good for him.
 
He was one of the QB's I feared the Saints playing the most. Right up there with Joe Montana, Steve Young and any rookie/backup looking for their 1st NFL win.

Well when he ran it was always terrifying. But his passing never scared me. I remember at one point I was more afraid of him getting hurt and Schaub coming in.
 
Years ago my wife mentored several students from a background similar to Michael Vick's. She had them over one day while I was doing some landscaping. Due to fires that happened on our property many years before, working in the yard could be like an archaeological dig and on this day I dug up a concrete block where I was going to plant a shrub. The three kids were watching and one says "What's that?" his buddy responds "It's a concrete block. You like what you tie a dog up to"

I hope Michael Vick finds redemption.

Its not Mike that needs redemption. He did his time and has been a standout in the community. It’s the people who refuse to allow him to live it down that need the redemption.
 
I just finished watching part 2 and I did not expect to walk away feeling like I do. It was one of the best football stories I've ever watched. Very well-directed. It brought up so many emotions in me. Wave after wave. Segment after segment. Sometimes the complexity of human beings is very beautiful to me.

It's the ultimate example of having to learn something the hard way. I don't think we get to see that enough. At least not presented in this manner. It's going to sit with me for a few days, the way it does when you see a really, really good movie and you're still thinking about it a week later.
 
The lack of people willing to forgive is puzzling to me. People have done far worse and seem to get forgiveness far easier than Vick has. The man paid the price and seems to be a decent man now. Not sure what else he can do to make amends to those refusing forgiveness.
 
I am sure my forgiveness or lack of, does not keep him awake. I think some people do not realize the attachment others have to dogs. A dog only wants to be loved and love back. I have seen people hit dogs only to see the same dog come back to that person seeking affection. If you dont understand it it's ok. People are different. There are more than likely things out there that I could forgive that you couldnt. when my dog died when I was 1w I was devastated. I still have his picture on my fridge. When my last dog died 2 years ago in may it was like losing a child. My dogs are my family.
 
Just as background, I am an old white man who grew up in the segregated south. I haven’t watched yet, but as I wrote in another thread a couple of months back, he is near the top of my list of most admired athletes of my lifetime for the transformation he made in his life. He is a wonderful man now after learning from his mistakes as a young man. I watch him on sports talk shows now and find it hard to believe it is the same guy.
 

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