Dogs, Humane Treatment & Humanity

In light of all the uproar over Pres. Obama making a positive comment about Michael Vick (who was convicted of charges relating to dog-fighting) being given a second chance (or redemption as I'd like to call it) -- I have learned one thing:

Dogs would show more humanity towards human beings long before Humans would show human-ness towards each other.

These past few days, I've read countless comments about the Michael Vick story.  Never mind that the fellow served a 2 year sentence and paid for his crime ... or that I do not know of any other case where someone went to Federal Prison for 2 years over a first-time, dog-fighting conviction.  Some called for Vick's career to end, while others said the vilest and the most racist things.  Then, there were the extremist who tried to convince us that they are such great lovers of humanity -- they advocated for the death of Vick!

I don't know if people who take a position for the sake of taking a position ... where they forget to respect and value each other as human beings first and imperfect beings second.   Don't we all fall from grace?  

But we live at a time where it is "me" first ... "my opinion" first ... "mine" first --  so many who will scream at the top of their lungs about the sanctity of human life have so little respect for living beings.

People do make mistakes ... and if we do not offer grace and believe in redemption -- I am afraid this world will not be a place worthy of any form of life.

To me ... life is something that happens from the inside out.

In relation to Michael Vick and the story ... this is a bigger story about the culture of animal fighting and those who do it for money ... and those who engage in it for sport because it is something that has happened for generation­s.

I've often thought that Michael Vick (with his athletic talents and rising stardom at that stage in his new NFL career) could have made money 100-fold through endorsemen­ts alone than dog-fighti­ng.

People make decisions based on so many factors (social, cultural, economic, familial, etc.).

The greater lesson is for us to discuss this and teach our children not just about the sacredness of all living things .... but also about the importance of discernmen­t and making wise choices.

Talent does not mean discernmen­t.  

Yes ... you are right... there's a disconnect between valuing life (animals and people) and everything living.  I imagine that you know someone who shows more love & respect to their dogs than they do to their spouse, children or neighbors?

Read the Article at HuffingtonPost