Solomon Jones' article about Michael Vick

[merithyn]

http://www.philly.com/dailynews/local/20090815_Solomon_Jones__Vick_had_to_face_his_kids__and_that_s_the_hardest_part_of_all.html

AS A HUSBAND and father, my family is my most prized possession. It's my job to love them, protect them, provide for them and, most of all, present them with a living portrait of manhood.

That's why it struck a chord with me when I watched the news conference announcing that Michael Vick - who served 18 months in prison for bankrolling a dogfighting ring - had been signed by the Eagles.

Amid everything Vick said about contrition and redemption, one thing stood out for me as a father. The most difficult part of his ordeal, he said, was telling his children what he'd done.

Like all of us, I've made my share of mistakes and suffered my portion of consequences. But to risk damaging the portrait of manhood I've painted for my children would be devastating. Not just for them, but for me.

That's why I believe Michael Vick has already faced a punishment more severe than prison. He's done something most fathers pray they'll never have to do. He's admitted his greatest faults to his children.

But Vick has also admitted something more. He's admitted that he must change.

As a father, Eagles coach Andy Reid knows the value of that. Having watched his two sons make mistakes that resulted in jail time, Reid understands that none of us is infallible, and that there are times when a second chance is warranted.

I applaud Reid for demonstrating forgiveness. I commend him for facing a media more concerned with stoking the flames than dousing the fire. Most importantly, I admire Reid for presenting a portrait of manhood to which all of us should aspire.

Standing up for what is right isn't always popular. Embracing someone who has fallen isn't always easy. But sometimes, as a man, you must stand on the strength of your convictions, and ignore the cries of the crowd.

No one understands that better than Tony Dungy - a man who won a Super Bowl with the same quiet dignity with which he has lived his life, and endured the loss of a son to suicide along the way.

Dungy learned, like all of us do, that sometimes, despite our best efforts, the results are beyond our control. That hasn't stopped Dungy from mentoring Vick. In fact, I have the feeling that Dungy, an intensely spiritual man, is comforted in knowing that a higher authority is in charge.

It's a good thing, too. Were everything left to us, the voices of condemnation would drown out the voices of reason.

As a father, I hope those voices would scream as loudly if the people I love most were hurt. But based on what I've seen in other cases involving athletics, I'm not sure that would happen.

Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger was accused of raping a woman, and ESPN refused to cover it. Phillies pitcher Brett Myers beat his wife in public and rejoined the team within weeks. Louisville coach Rick Pitino had an extramarital affair- and allegedly paid to terminate a resultant pregnancy - and the university is standing by him, despite his contract's morals clause.

In none of those cases was the public outcry as loud or sustained as the one against Michael Vick.

As a father of two daughters, as a husband and son, as a man with female co-workers, friends and readers of every age and hue, that concerns me.

If the women I love and respect were ever mistreated, I would hope the perpetrator would be forced not only to face me, but to face the same public outrage that Michael Vick has endured for his treatment of dogs.

What am I saying? I'm saying that, as a man, I must stand on the strength of my convictions. I believe Michael Vick was wrong. I believe he must change. But I also believe that if our society values animals more than it values women, we have to change, as well.

I'm a bit offended by this article. First, he's equated women to dogs. Second, he's singled out situations that are nowhere near as horrific as what Michael Vick did (except for Brett Myers, but the wife dropped all charges and asked that he not be further punished for his actions; not exactly the Phillies' fault). Mind you, Ben Roethlesberger has never been convicted, merely accused. Not sure why he's even on this list.

Poorly written article or poorly held view?

[Razgovory]

Is this Indiana Jone's grandson?

[The Brain]

http://www.philly.com/dailynews/local/20090815_Solomon_Jones__Vick_had_to_face_his_kids__and_that_s_the_hardest_part_of_all.html

AS A HUSBAND and father, my family is my most prized possession. It's my job to love them, protect them, provide for them and, most of all, present them with a living portrait of manhood.

That's why it struck a chord with me when I watched the news conference announcing that Michael Vick - who served 18 months in prison for bankrolling a dogfighting ring - had been signed by the Eagles.

Amid everything Vick said about contrition and redemption, one thing stood out for me as a father. The most difficult part of his ordeal, he said, was telling his children what he'd done.

Like all of us, I've made my share of mistakes and suffered my portion of consequences. But to risk damaging the portrait of manhood I've painted for my children would be devastating. Not just for them, but for me.

That's why I believe Michael Vick has already faced a punishment more severe than prison. He's done something most fathers pray they'll never have to do. He's admitted his greatest faults to his children.

But Vick has also admitted something more. He's admitted that he must change.

As a father, Eagles coach Andy Reid knows the value of that. Having watched his two sons make mistakes that resulted in jail time, Reid understands that none of us is infallible, and that there are times when a second chance is warranted.

I applaud Reid for demonstrating forgiveness. I commend him for facing a media more concerned with stoking the flames than dousing the fire. Most importantly, I admire Reid for presenting a portrait of manhood to which all of us should aspire.

Standing up for what is right isn't always popular. Embracing someone who has fallen isn't always easy. But sometimes, as a man, you must stand on the strength of your convictions, and ignore the cries of the crowd.

No one understands that better than Tony Dungy - a man who won a Super Bowl with the same quiet dignity with which he has lived his life, and endured the loss of a son to suicide along the way.

Dungy learned, like all of us do, that sometimes, despite our best efforts, the results are beyond our control. That hasn't stopped Dungy from mentoring Vick. In fact, I have the feeling that Dungy, an intensely spiritual man, is comforted in knowing that a higher authority is in charge.

It's a good thing, too. Were everything left to us, the voices of condemnation would drown out the voices of reason.

As a father, I hope those voices would scream as loudly if the people I love most were hurt. But based on what I've seen in other cases involving athletics, I'm not sure that would happen.

Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger was accused of raping a woman, and ESPN refused to cover it. Phillies pitcher Brett Myers beat his wife in public and rejoined the team within weeks. Louisville coach Rick Pitino had an extramarital affair- and allegedly paid to terminate a resultant pregnancy - and the university is standing by him, despite his contract's morals clause.

In none of those cases was the public outcry as loud or sustained as the one against Michael Vick.

As a father of two daughters, as a husband and son, as a man with female co-workers, friends and readers of every age and hue, that concerns me.

If the women I love and respect were ever mistreated, I would hope the perpetrator would be forced not only to face me, but to face the same public outrage that Michael Vick has endured for his treatment of dogs.

What am I saying? I'm saying that, as a man, I must stand on the strength of my convictions. I believe Michael Vick was wrong. I believe he must change. But I also believe that if our society values animals more than it values women, we have to change, as well.

I'm a bit offended by this article. First, he's equated women to dogs. Second, he's singled out situations that are nowhere near as horrific as what Michael Vick did (except for Brett Myers, but the wife dropped all charges and asked that he not be further punished for his actions; not exactly the Phillies' fault). Mind you, Ben Roethlesberger has never been convicted, merely accused. Not sure why he's even on this list.

Poorly written article or poorly held view?

I don't understand your comments.

[Neil]

First, he's equated women to dogs.

Not really.  You're just looking for something to offend you.

Second, he's singled out situations that are nowhere near as horrific as what Michael Vick did

Not really.  For one thing, funding a dogfighting operation isn't horrific.  For another, beating your wife is worse than killing a few dozen dogs.

[CountDeMoney]

For another, beating your wife is worse than killing a few dozen dogs.

I disagree.

[Neil]

For another, beating your wife is worse than killing a few dozen dogs.

I disagree.

Your disagreement is noted, and dismissed.

Still, the funniest part of Meri's reaction is that, on the one hand, she's offended by having crimes against women and crimes against animals mentioned in the same breath, thinking that doing so diminishes women.  On the other hand, she feels that the crimes against women that were mentioned are trivial next to the crimes against animals.

[merithyn]

Your disagreement is noted, and dismissed.

Still, the funniest part of Meri's reaction is that, on the one hand, she's offended by having crimes against women and crimes against animals mentioned in the same breath, thinking that doing so diminishes women.  On the other hand, she feels that the crimes against women that were mentioned are trivial next to the crimes against animals.

Not trivial; different. Apples and oranges.

• Ben wasn't convicted; Vick was.
• Brett's wife dropped all charges (because she's an idiot) and they've been in marriage counseling since; the dogs are still dead and had no voice in any of this.
• Piton is an idiot, his wife was cuckolded, but no one was injured or killed; Vick directly lead to the death of dozens of dogs.

[alfred russel]

I'm a bit offended by this article. First, he's equated women to dogs. Second, he's singled out situations that are nowhere near as horrific as what Michael Vick did (except for Brett Myers, but the wife dropped all charges and asked that he not be further punished for his actions; not exactly the Phillies' fault). Mind you, Ben Roethlesberger has never been convicted, merely accused. Not sure why he's even on this list.

Poorly written article or poorly held view?

What the article is really trying to convey is that since Michael Vick will now be wearing a Philly uniform, it is okay for to cheer for him. Also there is probably a subtle suggestion of a racial angle, since all the guys mentioned are white. A better comparable case would be the player who killed someone driving drunk, but he won't have to sit out as long as Vick.

[CountDeMoney]

Your disagreement is noted, and dismissed.

Of course you would dismiss it;  you'd never want to disappoint Mr. Pewterschmidt, even though one dog is worth more than your wife.

[Neil]

Your disagreement is noted, and dismissed.

Of course you would dismiss it;  you'd never want to disappoint Mr. Pewterschmidt, even though one dog is worth more than your wife.

Actually, my family is the one with the money.  My inlaws have nicknamed my family 'The Rockefellers'.

Besides, no domestic animal is worth anywhere near a human.  Human life isn't worth much, but it's worth far more than a parasite.

[Neil]

Your disagreement is noted, and dismissed.

Still, the funniest part of Meri's reaction is that, on the one hand, she's offended by having crimes against women and crimes against animals mentioned in the same breath, thinking that doing so diminishes women.  On the other hand, she feels that the crimes against women that were mentioned are trivial next to the crimes against animals.

Not trivial; different. Apples and oranges.

• Ben wasn't convicted; Vick was.
• Brett's wife dropped all charges (because she's an idiot) and they've been in marriage counseling since; the dogs are still dead and had no voice in any of this.
• Piton is an idiot, his wife was cuckolded, but no one was injured or killed; Vick directly lead to the death of dozens of dogs.

Causing a human being discomfort is more serious than killing an animal.

Besides, the dogs would never have a voice anyways.  Here's a Neil Fact for you:  Animals can't speak.  They don't have the mouth, tongue or throat equipment for English.

[Eddie Teach]

For another, beating your wife is worse than killing a few dozen dogs.

I disagree.

Depends on the severity and frequency of the beatings imo.

[Razgovory]

Your disagreement is noted, and dismissed.

Still, the funniest part of Meri's reaction is that, on the one hand, she's offended by having crimes against women and crimes against animals mentioned in the same breath, thinking that doing so diminishes women.  On the other hand, she feels that the crimes against women that were mentioned are trivial next to the crimes against animals.

Not trivial; different. Apples and oranges.

• Ben wasn't convicted; Vick was.
• Brett's wife dropped all charges (because she's an idiot) and they've been in marriage counseling since; the dogs are still dead and had no voice in any of this.
• Piton is an idiot, his wife was cuckolded, but no one was injured or killed; Vick directly lead to the death of dozens of dogs.

Dogs don't really have a voice alive or dead.

[The Brain]

Your disagreement is noted, and dismissed.

Still, the funniest part of Meri's reaction is that, on the one hand, she's offended by having crimes against women and crimes against animals mentioned in the same breath, thinking that doing so diminishes women.  On the other hand, she feels that the crimes against women that were mentioned are trivial next to the crimes against animals.

Not trivial; different. Apples and oranges.

• Ben wasn't convicted; Vick was.
• Brett's wife dropped all charges (because she's an idiot) and they've been in marriage counseling since; the dogs are still dead and had no voice in any of this.
• Piton is an idiot, his wife was cuckolded, but no one was injured or killed; Vick directly lead to the death of dozens of dogs.

Causing a human being discomfort is more serious than killing an animal.

Besides, the dogs would never have a voice anyways.  Here's a Neil Fact for you:  Animals can't speak.  They don't have the mouth, tongue or throat equipment for English.

Parrots can speak. Granted, they are rarely dogs, if that's what you were trying to say and failed.

[DisturbedPervert]

The most difficult part of his ordeal, he said, was telling his children what he'd done.

His kids could very well think dog fighting is cool and that he's being unjustly held down by the man.  They probably have a gerbil fighting ring going on right now.