The NFL would like you to just keep loving football and forget they allowed a despicable human being, Michael Vick, play for their beloved League.
Do people deserve second chances, of course they do. Should we forgive and move on, of course we should. But there are just some cases where we need to reconsider our second chance and forgiveness policies. Millions of kids follow the NFLand now we have a hardened criminal coming back to play in League that is suppose to be a privilege not a right.
But now that the decision by Roger Goodell has been made, to allow Vick to play again we must move on but can we forget. Let’s now play out a scenario we’ll soon see parents in Philadelphia faced with and possibly elsewhere.
Hey Dad can you get me that Michael Vick jersey?
Now of course Michael Vickhas to perform well before anyone ever considers buying his jersey. But for arguments sake let’s assume he does play well as a Philadelphia Eagle. Do we forget and therefore forgive by letting in and purchasing his likeness and apparel for our kids? Ultimately forgetting what Michael Vick actually did. Allowing our kids to basically worship a habitual criminal.
In order not to forget, let’s recap some of the gory details of Vick’s crimes.
Personally electrocuted dogs with car batteries
Personally drown dogs by holding their heads under the water
Personally allowed his pet dogs to fight and be mangled while watching them fight.
Remember this was not a one-time mistake of judgment. This was a crime that he continued to illegally partake in and fund for years.
I’m not advocating that people go out and protest, give up their tickets, refuse to purchase from Eagle sponsors. That is totally the wrong thing to do; other parties should not be punished because of Vick. Fans should cheer when he’s on the field, when and if he scores a touchdown. However, I would never celebrate Vick as a person and purchase his jersey or likeness on anything, let alone my kids.
What will it say about a parent that allows a kid to wear a Vick jersey?
The case is over, he’s done his time in jail, and he’s been allowed to continue his career, that’s all behind us. But can we and should we allow ourselves to ever forget what he did? As parents we cannot and should not allow our kids to forget, nor should we give in and enable this person as any type of hero.
